Environment Ministry lauds success of ‘Clean Cambodia’ campaign, claim 7M participants
The Phnom Penh Post Fri, May 15, 2026
The Ministry of Environment announced on Friday, May 15, that its nationwide “Clean Cambodia, Khmer Can Do It” campaign has achieved major success, with around 7 million students, teachers, monks, civil servants and other citizens directly participating as of early 2026.
According to the ministry, the campaign — launched in May 2024 — has rapidly transformed from a simple public activity into what it described as a “vibrant national movement” promoting cleanliness in communities nationwide. Authorities say the initiative has helped change the mindset and behaviour of millions of Cambodians, encouraging them to care for and clean public spaces, roads and local communities.
Over the past two years, participants have contributed by carrying out at least 15 minutes of community clean-up activities every Saturday, or at least one day per week, in villages, communes, districts and provinces across the Kingdom. Common activities include collecting rubbish and plastic waste around homes, schools, pagodas and public areas.
The campaign, which has attracted approximately 20,000 participants per day, has played a significant role in reducing litter along national roads and within local communities, it said. Officials noted that the initiative has not only improved environmental cleanliness, but also strengthened cooperation between local communities and authorities.
The ministry added that the movement has supported the expansion of the “National Roads Free of Garbage and Plastic Waste” campaign, which has cleaned 94.12 per cent of its targeted national highways. Of them, 75 per cent were assessed as being between 80 and 100 per cent clean.
The campaign has also been linked with the “Today, I Will Not Use Plastic” initiative, which authorities say has helped transform trash collection from an activity into a movement, from a movement into a habit, and from a habit into what they described as “a culture of clean living from the heart”.
In addition, the distribution of thousands of waste bins — including separate bins for plastic waste and general rubbish — to schools, pagodas and health centres has helped strengthen waste separation infrastructure nationwide.
The ministry also highlighted the social and economic benefits of the campaigns.
Recyclable waste and plastic collected through the initiative has been processed into reusable products, while funds generated from recycling sales have been used to support the education of students in rural areas.
The ministry stated that the success of the “Clean Cambodia, Khmer Can Do It” campaign comes from the fact that it is no longer viewed as solely the responsibility of the ministry, but rather as a shared duty and source of pride for all Cambodians working together to make Cambodia cleaner, greener and more sustainable.
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