ICHCW

Cambodia PRTR (Pollutant Release and Transfer Register ) is an environmental database of potentially harmful releases to air, water and soil. It also includes wastes that are transferred for treatment and disposal from the site of their production. PRTRs are a practical way of implementing the public’s right to know and has proven to be an effective tool for environmental management by providing government, industry, and the public with emissions information. PRTRs have also been identified as a work area in SAICM’s Global Plan of Action becoming a broadly implemented tool worldwide on chemicals and environmental quality management.

A PRTR has several benefits to all sectors of a country or region. Governmental authorities may obtain an improved database for environmental data, obtain trend analyses and identify priority concern areas, regarding pollution and adverse effects of releases in human health. Industry can enhance co-efficiency, can obtain cost savings and may introduce new best available technologies. Civil society will have access to environmental data, awareness on environmental information will be raises and they could have public participation in decision making processes. 

In phase I, GEF, UNEP and UNITAR, Cambodia started a project was implementation in during 2009-2010, but the web was not created yet.

In May 2016, in cooperation with GEF, UNEP and UNITAR, Cambodia started a project involved in a global project on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) monitoring, reporting and information dissemination using Pollutant Release and Transfer Register (PRTR). During the implementation of this project, Cambodia have designed a national PRTR system through a multi-stakeholder process, including reporting of POPs during phase I. POPs control is a priority at international level and their elimination is being implemented in several countries. 

An important initial step in the process of designing a national PRTR system is to raise awareness among the various stakeholders regarding what a PRTR is, what opportunities it can provide, and the implications and responsibilities it holds for those who will be involved in and affected by its implementation. 

The implementation of a PRTR system and PRTR database management may not be effectively implemented without information technology introduced.  There are numbers of software that shall be incorporated for PRTR database management. Besides the application of Microsoft Office, other programs shall be introduced for data analysis such as SPSS, GIS (geographic information system).  In addition, other communication software shall be also introduced including networks, internet, website design programs (i.e. dream weaver, font page, etc.) and other necessary programs.

A Pollutant Release and Transfer Register (PRTR) brings information about which chemicals are being released or otherwise managed as waste, where, how much and by whom. Since 2016 Cambodia is implementing the UNITAR/UNEP project to establish a functioning Pollutant Release and Transfer Register (PRTR) in the country. By 2018, Cambodia is expected to start the pilot testing of the PRTR system, together with the development of a number of regulation and guidance materials to assist competent authorizes and industries/facilities to carryout PRTRs. During the first cycle of PRTR reporting Small-Medium Enterprise (SME), particularly agro-industry facilities, may not be able to implement PRTR, but they are expected to implement and report PRTR data in the upcoming years.

Most PRTRs were designed to meet the needs of specific facilities, with less attention being given to the comparability of the data across different PRTRs. Consequently, many PRTRs have differing requirements in terms of which chemicals and sectors are covered, and what thresholds trigger reporting. In 2018, the Department of Hazardous Substances Management (DHSM) will review facilities and identify the most suitable one for carrying out PRTR system during the demonstration period.

Greater harmonization of PRTR data within country – as well as many facilities which are using national guidance to establish their own systems – would provide increased opportunities for a national analysis of pollutant releases as well as facilitate comparisons between provinces. Facilities are encouraged to implement the national PRTR harmonization strategies and tools to realize the benefits from harmonized PRTRs as they set up or update their own PRTRs.

This document is published under the responsibility of the DHSM of the General Directorate of Environmental Protection of the Ministry of Environment (MoE).

• Developing a PRTR System
• PRTR Reporting Requirement
• PRTR Benefit
• Benefits of using PRTR system
• Cambodia PRTR Background
• Register to use the PRTR online reporting system