Our projects on the ground are only possible because our team operates the collection boat every day, transports the recovered waste to the Zero-Waste Center, and prepares it for further processing through sorting and handling. In Cambodia, our team works daily to clean rivers and waterways. We spoke with boat operators Chhoeurng Chann and Toem Phornn about the challenges they face on the water, their day-to-day work, and what motivates them to keep waterways free from plastic pollution.
What inspires you to join everwave?
Chhoeurng Chann: „What motivates me to work at everwave is the project’s mission to keep our country’s rivers without plastic and garbage, helping to protect the environment and nature. Besides that, everwave provides jobs for me and others in Cambodia, helping us support our families and daily lives.“
Toem Phornn: „What motivates me most to work at everwave is its positive impact on our environment. Since everwave began operations in Cambodia, it has helped clean our rivers significantly without garbage. The project not only improves environmental conditions but also provides job opportunities that help us support our families.“
What are the daily tasks and routines on the boat?
Toem: „My daily work schedule starts at 8:00 AM and goes until 11:00 AM in the morning, then continues from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM in the afternoon. Working on a boat can be challenging, but collecting garbage is manageable. However, we spend a significant amount of time each day collecting waste and traveling along the river from one location to another.“
What challenges do you encounter while working on the boat?
Chhoeurng: „The main challenges that I face while on the Mekong by boat are the smelling of garbage and during the heavy rain with wind, we’re difficult to collecting the waste on the river.“
How many kilograms of plastic do remove every day?
Toem: „Our team removes between 600 kg to 800 kg of plastic from the Mekong each day and sometimes over 1000kg depending on the day.“
In what way does your work’s contribution to cleaner oceans inspire or motivate you?
Toem: „This is a great achievement for me being part of a project that helps our country and the world move toward a life without plastic, while also inspiring the next generation to join in and protect our environment.“
What is your personal wish for the future?
Chhoeurng: „I hope that in the future, the rivers and oceans will be without of plastic and garbage. I also hope everwave will continue the project in our country and expand to other provinces beyond Phnom Penh.“
Toem: „I hope that in the future, our rivers will be free from plastic waste and garbage. I also hope everwave will continue its project in our country, and that I can continue working with everwave for the future as well.“