Abstract
This paper deals with the characteristics and composition of commercial solid waste (CSW) carried out in Phnom Penh city, Cambodia. Target commercial sectors are hotels, restaurants, schools, shops, beer gardens, offices, internet cafés, guesthouses, and microfinance agencies. The waste from 52 commercial sources were daily collected and the collected waste from each source was weighed, then segregated into 23 categories and recorded. As the result of waste characterization analysis conducted in 23 categories, we found that organic waste contained food waste predominantly. Sorted waste by source was mainly food, followed by glass bottles, PET bottles, papers, aluminum can and steel. And potential for recyclable materials are food (largest), followed by plastics, paper, steel and aluminum can. Aluminum can was well sorted in most sectors. PET bottle is well sorted in guest houses, schools, and hotels. It is concluded that sorting activities were high for internet cafés, restaurants and school, but less sorted in hotels, stores, and micro finances.
