Cambodia Cuts Plastic Waste 74% With New Circular Economy Plan

Cambodia is proving that environmental protection and economic growth can go hand in hand with a bold new plan to transform how the country handles plastic.

The nation launched its Plastic Action Roadmap this week, setting a clear path to reduce plastic pollution by 74% over the next 14 years. The strategy tackles a pressing problem: Cambodians generated 546,000 tonnes of plastic waste in 2022, about 33 kilograms per person.

Environment Minister Eang Sophalleth says the plan abandons the old "take-make-dispose" model in favor of keeping plastics circulating in the economy instead of polluting rivers and landscapes. The shift addresses stark inequality in waste collection, where urban areas manage 70% pickup rates while rural communities lag at just over 50%.

Cambodia developed the roadmap with the United Nations Development Programme and the Global Plastic Action Partnership, bringing together government, businesses, community groups, and the informal waste workers who already do much of the recycling work. The plan specifically recognizes these workers as critical partners in the transition.

The numbers tell an inspiring story of what's possible. By 2040, Cambodia projects a 40% cut in greenhouse gas emissions and 37% reduction in government waste management costs compared to doing nothing. The transition could generate roughly 26,000 new jobs in recycling, waste management, and innovative materials.

The Ripple Effect

Cambodia's roadmap shows other developing nations that they don't have to choose between growth and environmental health. The plan aims to boost circularity to 52% by 2040, meaning more than half of plastic materials will be reused or recycled rather than dumped.

Clémence Schmid from the World Economic Forum calls the transition "a development opportunity that can create jobs, drive innovation and strengthen Cambodia's economic resilience." UNDP's Enrico Gaveglia notes the plan doesn't just improve waste management but reduces single-use plastic consumption and captures value from recyclable materials.

The strategy aligns with Cambodia's broader environmental modernization efforts through 2028, integrating plastic reduction into national development goals. It tackles pollution at both ends: reducing production of unnecessary plastics while increasing recycling and reuse of what remains in circulation.

Cambodia joined the Global Plastic Action Partnership in 2023 and quickly mobilized stakeholders across the entire plastics value chain. That collaborative approach means solutions address real-world conditions rather than imposing top-down mandates that might fail in practice.

One country's trash problem is becoming a blueprint for sustainable prosperity.