Living on the Edge: Scavengers Struggle in Phnom Penh’s Recycling Sector
Informal workers face harsh conditions despite Phnom Penh’s Waste Management Strategy
On a scorching afternoon on Norodom Street, Sok San, one of 5,000 local scavengers known as “et jai,” tirelessly collects plastic bottles and cardboard to sell for recycling. At 53, Sok San relies on this labor-intensive job as his only source of income, highlighting the harsh realities faced by those in Cambodia’s informal recycling economy.
Despite Phnom Penh’s Waste Management Strategy and Action Plan for 2018-2035, which aims to integrate waste pickers into formal systems and eradicate poverty, relief remains scarce for many collectors. Chow Deret, 49, has been unable to work for seven months due to health issues caused by constant dehydration and the physical strain of his job. His daughters provide him with essential care, underscoring the family struggles tied to this occupation.
Srey Mom, 32, has spent two decades as an et chai after unsuccessful attempts to secure better-paying factory work. With her mother ill and three children dependent on her earnings, Srey Mom earns just $8-10 a day by selling cans and cardboard. Similarly, Phorn, 62, turned to scavenging as her only employment option, earning an average of $7 daily from collected materials.
The scavengers’ plight is compounded by the lack of transparency in the recycling process. None of the et chai interviewed know the final destination of their collected waste, leaving them in a vulnerable and unprotected position.
As Phnom Penh continues to develop its waste management infrastructure, the lives of thousands like Sok San, Chow Deret, Srey Mom, and Phorn remain precarious. The government’s efforts to formalize and support this essential workforce are crucial for improving their living conditions and ensuring sustainable urban development.
Despite Phnom Penh’s Waste Management Strategy and Action Plan for 2018-2035, which aims to integrate waste pickers into formal systems and eradicate poverty, relief remains scarce for many collectors. Chow Deret, 49, has been unable to work for seven months due to health issues caused by constant dehydration and the physical strain of his job. His daughters provide him with essential care, underscoring the family struggles tied to this occupation.
Srey Mom, 32, has spent two decades as an et chai after unsuccessful attempts to secure better-paying factory work. With her mother ill and three children dependent on her earnings, Srey Mom earns just $8-10 a day by selling cans and cardboard. Similarly, Phorn, 62, turned to scavenging as her only employment option, earning an average of $7 daily from collected materials.
The scavengers’ plight is compounded by the lack of transparency in the recycling process. None of the et chai interviewed know the final destination of their collected waste, leaving them in a vulnerable and unprotected position.
As Phnom Penh continues to develop its waste management infrastructure, the lives of thousands like Sok San, Chow Deret, Srey Mom, and Phorn remain precarious. The government’s efforts to formalize and support this essential workforce are crucial for improving their living conditions and ensuring sustainable urban development.
