In a bustling corner of Phnom Penh, Cambodian entrepreneur Has Kea, 41, is tackling plastic pollution one broom at a time. His small workshop upcycles 5,000 discarded plastic bottles *daily* into 500 durable brooms—diverting over 40 tonnes of waste from landfills and waterways in just 11 months. 💪🌱
How does it work? Workers spin bottles into strips, soften them in hot water, and sew them onto bamboo handles using metal wires. The result? Brooms that monks like Suon Kosal (who bought 80 last month) swear are 'unbreakable.' 🧹✨
Priced between $2.50 and $3.75, these brooms aren’t just eco-friendly—they’re boosting local economies. Kea buys bottles from trash collectors at premium rates, creating a circular economy where everyone wins. 🤑🔄 "This reduces pollution *and* improves livelihoods," he says, welcoming competitors to join the green revolution.
With Phnom Penh generating 38,000 tonnes of waste daily (20% single-use plastic), Kea’s hustle is a spark of hope—proving sustainability can be both impactful and profitable. 🌏💡
