An illegal plastic waste container at a port in Sihanoukville city, Cambodia, on July 17 (Photo: AFP/VNA)Phnom Penh (VNA) –Cambodian officials affirmed that strict measures have been taken to curb theillegal import of plastic waste after detecting 83 containers filled with the wasteat a sea port last month.
Ministry of Environment spokesmanNeth Pheaktra said on August 6 that relevant agencies, especially the customsforce, will intensify inspections and share information with other countries inthe region.
Meanwhile, director general of the General Department of Customsand Excise (GDCE) Kun Nhim noted that Cambodian law bans plastic wasteimport in all forms, and violators will face penalty.
He said any company found importing plastic waste or otherhazardous waste will be fined and ordered to return it to the country orcountries of origin.
On July 16, Cambodian authorities discovered 83 containers filled withplastic waste at the Sihanoukville Autonomous Port in Preah Sihanouk province. The waste, weighing a total 1,592 tonnes, was shipped from the US and Canada byChunggyuen Plastic Manufacture Co., Ltd., during the time from September 2018to January 2019.
The GDCE fined the company over 1 billion riels (253,900 USD) and warned that the agency will take the company to court if it fails to sendthe waste back to the country of origin by the deadline.
Pheaktra said Cambodia encourages investors to set up plastic wastefactories to recycle “domestic” plastic waste because the country is alsosuffering from plastic pollution.
According to the spokesman, Cambodia discharges nearly 4 milliontonnes of rubbish a year, in which 20 percent is plastic waste.-VNA
VNA
