PHNOM PENH: Japan, through its embassy, has donated 10 garbage collection vehicles to the Ministry of Environment for deployment in 10 provinces in Cambodia. The donation of these vehicles comes under the KUSANONE Human Security Small Scale Project.

The handover ceremony was held at the Ministry of Environment on Monday, 18 July, with the Japanese Ambassador Mikami Masahiro and Environment Minister Say Samal in attendance.

The Japanese Embassy wrote on its Facebook page, "This project is expected to enhance waste collection capability and improve people's living and natural environments in the ten targeted areas. We hope that this cooperation will ensure the quality of life for people in Cambodia and help further strengthen the friendship between Cambodia and Japan."

Through this grant, the Ministry of Environment has added five more garbage collection vehicles, increasing the number to 15 units, for distribution to the Department of Environment and the municipal administration, providing cleaning, collection and transportation of waste in 15 districts and 11 provinces: Kampong Chhnang, Banteay Meanchey, Koh Kong, Kampong Speu, Kep, Takeo, Stung Treng, Svay Rieng, Pursat, Sihanoukville and Siem Reap.

According to the Ministry of Environment, these garbage trucks will support the collection, cleaning and transportation of solid waste in the stated local areas, expanding self-collection services to be more clean and timely. The Ministry added that they will help to ensure the sustainability and ownership of solid waste management through organizing, collecting, cleaning, transporting, storing, processing and extracting resources from garbage, as well as help to make the implementation of the Royal Government's policy of safe villages and communes be more effective.