Sitting by a sidewalk tea stall with the fan whirring, listening to regulars catch up on the latest city news: Phnom Penh Deputy Governor Koeh Sokha dropped some big news at a municipal council meeting the other day. The new landfill out on Road 51 in Thmar Kuol village is scheduled to officially open its gates on January 1, 2027. Once that happens, the overflowing Dangkao landfill can finally retire.
Spanning a massive 143 hectares, the first phase of the new site has already been built up to international standards. But keeping the whole city clean is a massive money pit. Local officials pointed out that while monthly garbage collection fees bring in about $2 million, the actual operating costs are way higher, leaving the books perpetually in the red. Right now, three waste management companies are working round the clock to clear a staggering 4,100 tons of trash a day—a huge jump from the 2,700 tons daily managed by just a single company in the past.
Aside from the dump relocation, the meeting also touched on neighborhood security. Officials noted that local authorities across all districts have really stepped up the crackdown on online scams, thanks to close cooperation between residents and grassroots police. The Phnom Penh dust and motorbike exhaust aren't going anywhere, but as the tea stalls light up at twilight, listening to folks chat about these everyday happenings makes you feel like life here just keeps moving forward.
