Cambodia Faces E-Waste Crisis as Battery Recycling Falters

Kiripost

Cambodia is grappling with a mounting e-waste crisis, as experts warn that just 0.5 percent of phone batteries are recycled—leaving thousands of tonnes to pollute landfills and burn sites. The stark figures emerged during the Cambodia Circular Economy Forum 2025, held in Phnom Penh from 10 to 12 September.

Dr Andre Ruckert of Ecologicon GMBH revealed that Cambodia imports all its batteries, with no domestic production. An estimated 24 million battery-powered devices are currently in circulation, yet only a fraction are properly recycled. In 2024 alone, the country imported 1,146 metric tonnes of batteries, but Ecobatt Energy Cambodia managed to recycle just 2.1 Mg of portable batteries.

The rest? A troubling mix of informal repair shops, municipal waste, open burning and environmental dumping. “Most batteries end up in the informal sector or are simply discarded,” said Ruckert. “Only a sliver is recycled.”

The World Health Organisation has flagged e-waste as one of the fastest-growing solid waste streams globally, with serious health risks. Children and pregnant women are especially vulnerable, facing increased risks of premature birth, respiratory issues and neurodevelopmental harm.

Chheuy Bona, Operations Manager at Ecobatt, stressed the urgency of public education. “People don’t realise the harm caused by storing used batteries at home or tossing them out,” he said. “We need standardised systems and better infrastructure.”

Ecobatt has installed 200 e-waste bins across Phnom Penh and other provinces, allowing citizens to dispose of low-quality batteries in malls and markets. The company also plans to launch an app to streamline collection, enabling users to flag locations for pickup.

Despite these efforts, Bona admits progress is slow. Between 2021 and 2025, Ecobatt collected just 36 tonnes of e-waste—minuscule compared to the volume entering the market. He called for stronger collaboration between government, industry and education sectors to build a national framework for e-waste management.

Without swift action, Cambodia risks drowning in its own digital detritus. The challenge now is turning awareness into infrastructure—and infrastructure into impact.

-2025-09-29