Cambodia plans to return 83 containers of plastic waste to the country of origin, whose name has not been identified, and fined the importer after the authorities found waste in containers at a port, an official said yesterday.
The announcement by the Ministry of the Environment comes amid rising public criticism in Southeast Asian countries for the import of waste from industrialized countries.
Pictures, published by local media, show containers at the port of Sihanoukville on the southwestern coast of Cambodia, laden with plastic waste.
"Officials are investigating the origin of plastic waste, so they can be returned to the country or countries of the source," said ministry spokesman Neith Viactra.
"The authorities will find the place where these containers filled with waste came from. In accordance with our law, we will also penalize the company that is found to have imported plastic waste. "
"Cambodia is not a waste dump."
"The officials opened the containers, which were classified as containing raw materials for recycling, the day before yesterday, after being left at the port for months."
"Cambodia banned the import of plastic waste two decades ago," he said.
• Increasing public criticism in Southeast Asian countries for the import of waste from industrialized countries.