PHNOM PENH: Minister of Environment Eang Sophalleth has called on provincial and municipal governors to enforce the current ban on the import of waste batteries and electrical and electronic waste (e-waste), warning that hazardous substances contained in such materials pose a serious threat to public health and the environment.
The minister reminded governors that the import of waste batteries and electrical and electronic waste has long been prohibited under the Environment and Natural Resources Code and the Sub-Decree on Solid Waste Management, dated April 27, 1999.
However, the Environment Ministry warned that some warehouses, distributors and retailers of second-hand electrical and electronic equipment have continued importing used appliances mixed with waste materials. These include air conditioners, refrigerators, freezers, washing machines, clothes dryers, televisions, desktop computers, laptops, mobile phones and tablets.
In an Aug 2 statement, the ministry said such waste is classified as hazardous because it contains toxic substances including mercury, cadmium, nickel, chromium, arsenic and lead. If improperly stored, dismantled or recycled without appropriate environmental safeguards, these substances can contaminate the environment and pose a real risk to public health, biodiversity and ecosystems.
The ministry also noted that several proposed investment projects involving the recycling of batteries and electrical and electronic equipment have sought permission to import hazardous waste from overseas as raw materials for domestic processing. It warned that such projects could have significant adverse impacts on public health and the environment and should not receive support.
To safeguard public health and the environment, the ministry urged provincial and municipal authorities to take legal action to prevent the import of hazardous battery and electronic waste into Cambodia.
The warning follows a separate ministry advisory issued on July 31, which cautioned against the burning of electronic waste, particularly batteries.
According to the ministry, burning such waste releases a range of toxic substances into the atmosphere, including lead, mercury, cadmium, cobalt, zinc, acids and other fine particulate matter. These pollutants can seriously harm human health, wildlife, biodiversity and the environment while contaminating air, soil and water, causing long-term damage to ecosystems.
Exposure to the smoke from burning e-waste can lead to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, kidney and liver damage, neurological disorders, reproductive health problems, developmental delays in children and an increased risk of cancer. Children, pregnant women, older people and workers involved in informal e-waste recycling are considered the most vulnerable groups.
The ministry explained that heavy metals released by burning batteries do not naturally break down. Instead, they accumulate in soil, rivers, crops, fish and wildlife before entering the food chain, posing long-term risks to biodiversity and environmental health.
Rather than burning used batteries, the ministry advised the public to collect and store them separately from household waste before sending them to licensed recycling facilities or approved hazardous waste disposal sites that operate in accordance with environmental safety standards. - Phnom Penh Post/ANN
