Recycling of Garment Factory Waste

With growing consciousness of
environmental degradation, recycling is encouraged
everywhere. But there are poor communities who recycle for
survival and thereby contribute to environmental
conservation. This study is about one such poor community
living in the squatter settlement of Kongkear Phos, on the
outskirts of Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia. There are
many garment factories adjacent to this settlement. The
study investigates the potential of this poor community to
reuse factory waste to improve its income and living
conditions, and foster overall development. The settlement
began in 1993. Since 1995 its people are collecting scrap
from the factories to produce T-shirts, trousers, hats and
bags to sell in the market. This informal sector activity
has grown overtime and enabled residents to earn income and
support themselves. The recycling activities of these people
have also reduced the volume of waste in the city, saved
natural resources, prolonged the life of sanitary landfills
and reduced environmental pollution. This study should be of
interest to professionals, students, researchers or anyone
interested in utilizing industrial waste for recycling.