The Project for the Environmentally Sound Management
of Used Lead Acid Batteries in the
Kingdom of Cambodia
REPORT
“Inventory of Use and Management of Used Lead Acid Batteries in Sihanoukville City”
Task Team’s Survey of Used Lead Acid Batteries in Sihanoukville City
The Task Team responsible for carrying out the survey on used lead acid batteries in
Sihanoukville City on 17-20 March 2004 were as follows:
Mr. Chrin Sokha, Deputy Director of the Dept. of Environmental Pollution
Control; Project Team Leader
Mr. Ken Chaviran, Chief of Environment Research and Technology
Management
Mr. Sreng Sophal, Vice Chief of the Solid Waste Management Office
Mr. Nov Chhun, Vice Office Chief, Representative of the Municipal
Environmental Department of Sihanoukville, MEDoS
Ms. Prak Vanny, Technical Officer - Representative of the Environmental
Office of Prey Noup District; MEDoS
Mr. Chan Sarun, Technical Officer - Representative of the Environmental
Office of Stung Hav District; MEDoS
Mr. Chea Sreng, Technical Officer - Representative of the Environmental
Office of Stung Hav District; MEDoS
1. Use of Lead Acid Batteries
S
ihanoukville City is 232km (143 m) South West of Phnom Penh and located along the
Coastal area adjacent to the sea with long beaches surrounded by Mountains. Sihanoukville
is the second largest city in Cambodia after Phnom Penh and it is the country’s only large port,
so it has been strongly considered by the Royal Government as a priority zone for national
economic development, such as improved infrastructure to accommodate increased tourism,
transportation demands, a growing industrial sector, and agriculture.
Sihanoukville City attracts local and international tourists because of its outstanding natural
resources especially its marine biodiversity. The City is 868 sq.m and comprises three districts,
namely; Meatapheap, Prey Noup and Stung Hay. It is divided into 22 communes that are further
sub-divided into 85 villages. The population of Sihanoukville City is approximately 161,743
(estimate 2002) with an average population density of 179 people per sq. km.
The location of Sihanoukville City on the
Coast and the periphery of a mountainous
area means, that the generally high
temperature varies little in the dry season,
although it can go below 20°C during the
coldest month. The annual rainfall is over
3,000 mm per year, higher than any other
region. However, the precipitation varies
widely from year to year. From late July,
there may be periods without significant
rainfall for ten or fifteen days, sometimes
longer, and referred to as the "short dry
season". Accordingly, local farmers tend to
delay planting to minimize the risk of
damage to the rice and crop seedlings.
Fig. 2 - The Lush Green of Sihanoukville City
The economic development of this city could pose serious environment problems if the growth is
not in accord with sustainable development. In this regard, used lead acid batteries (ULAB) are
considered and recognized to be one of the main factors causing adverse impacts to human
health and the environment.
To implement the work plan for the Project to establish an “Inventory of Used Lead Acid
Batteries in Cambodia” and provide the Environmentally Sound Management (ESM) of ULAB
throughout the country, the project Task Team, in cooperation with line institutions, has
conducted surveys on ULAB in four designated areas; the Phnom Penh Municipality,
Battambang Province, Svay Rieng Province and now Sihanoukville City. These four areas were
selected because of their economic and social diversity, so that the team could compare the
ULAB situation in areas with high and poor living standards, and in rural and urban
surroundings.
2. Use of Lead Acid Batteries
The surveys are focused on retailers; battery servicing (recharging/reconditioning) centers, solar
energy facilities, scrap yards, and ULAB recycling plants such as smelters or melters. In
addition to the survey, the Task Team also conducted a series of interviews to determine the
levels of awareness of the risks and hazards posed by ULAB to the environment and those
people involved in selling, using and recovering ULAB.
For household lighting, the population of Sihanoukville do not depend entirely on the electricity
provided by the local authority, except those who live in the main parts of the City. The
Population Census of 1998 revealed that people use lead acid batteries to provide about 0.5%
of the electrical demand, the city power company provides about 37.3 %, generators 2.5%, city
power and generators 1.8%, kerosene 57.3% and other power sources 0.7%. One noticeable
and disturbing fact unearthed is that lead acid batteries are being used extensively by fishermen
in rural areas to electrocute shoals of fish1.
2.1 Battery Retailers and Automotive Shops
In Sihanoukville, the battery retail shops in
the town are small, selling motor
accessories, spare parts or even carrying
out vehicle repairs. It would appear that
about 70% of the shops are located in
residential areas and 30% ain the market
areas. The battery retailers disclosed that
they sell all types of batteries in
Sihanoukville and they are supplied from
offices and companies in the Phnom Penh
Municipality. As an observation, all the
batteries displayed were brand new
batteries produced in Japan, Thailand,
Korea, Malaysia, Vietnam2 and so on. The
types of batteries differed from place to
place depending on the particular local
customer demand and sales varied from
Figure 3: Batteries for sale in the Meatapheap District
day to day.
According to the information given by the battery retailers, Sihanoukville’s population buy
batteries for domestic and many other purposes just like other areas throughout the country, for
instance, domestic lighting, TV and Radio, pumping water (that is - surface and ground water),
starting vehicle engines, spotting wild animal/birds at night time and as already mentioned
above, for marine fishing. Battery life seems to vary from eight to twenty four months, depending
on the make, the price, the use and the maintenance.
In the battery shops visited, the only workers were the owners and a few of their relatives. They
work from 7:00 am to 5:00 pm. In addition to selling batteries, the shops also provide other
services, such as, testing batteries to determine the state of charge and ascertain whether it
requires replacement or recharging, checking the electrolyte levels and where necessary
topping up with deionized water.
1
This is a most undesirable practice because the electric shock kills all living creatures close to the point of delivery
of the current. This form of fishing, whilst not as dramatic as using dynamite, is as devastating. Furthermore, unlike
dynamite, LAB are easy to obtain and can be used many hundreds of times at negligible cost. This form of fishing is
not sustainable and will have a disastrous impact on the local eco system.
2 Vietnamese battery production is less than 2% of total sales in Cambodia
In daily practice, those working in the shops
do not use any personal Protective
equipment (PPE), for example, gloves,
goggles or masks. Remarkably, none of the
shops
was
engageding
in
battery
reconditioning because the price for
reconditioning was more expensive than the
cost of a new battery and the quality is
always inferior.
Fig. 4 - Battery shop with recharging service in
Meatapheap District
2.2 Recharging Shops
Most of battery retail shops in Sihanoukville also offer a battery recharging service and at least
20% of the shops only provide a battery recharging service. The battery recharging shops are
mostly located in the rural areas and amongst the local communities close to the sea. However,
there are a few recharging shops located in the center of the town. The local authorities
informed us that there are 12 battery recharging shops operating in Sihanoukville, of which 3
shops are in the Meatapheap District (in town), 3 shops in the Stung Hav District, and the
remaining 6 are in the Prey Noup District.
According to information obtained from the owners of the battery recharging shops, we
concluded that only a small number of batteries are recharged in Sihanoukville Town, perhaps 5
to 20 batteries per day. However, battery recharging activity increases in the rural areas where
the electricity supply is either inadequate or unreliable. The number of batteries recharged per
day is somewhere between 50 to100 batteries, and especially high over a national holiday or
New Year. The one battery recharging requirement in Sihanoukville considered to be different
from other areas of the country is for marine fishing purposes.
In the dry season, battery recharging demand decreases because the fishermen move from the
waters around Sihanoukvilleto other places outside the Town’s boundary where the fishing
yields are much higher. The fishermen return during the raining season when local yields are at
there highest. Consequently, those battery recharging shops close to the sea are more active in
the rainy season.
Most of the shop owners told the Task Team that they had started their businesses about ten
years ago. As far as the recharging process is concerned, some shop owners use diesel
generators to produce a DC current, if the local power supply is inadequate for battery
recharging, but others in the City do use the local electricity supply. The charging time is
normally between 5 and 8 hours and the price for recharging is between 1000 and 2000 riels (0.
25 to 0.50 US$) depending on the battery’s capacity. Battery reconditioning is not being
undertaken at any of the premises for recharging batteries in Sihanoukville.
Observations of the recharging practices in Sihanoukville were confusing. In some cases the
battery caps were left in place and not loosened to allow gases generated in the recharging
process to escape, but it was unclear if this was because the batteries were the new generation
of valve regulated batteries, in which case the cap should be left closed, or whether it was just
bad practice. This will be clarified because if the batteries were not valve regulated, there is a
serious risk of explosion.
Fig. 5 - Unsafe Battery recharging procedures
are used in Veal Regn and Prey Noup Districts
Fig. 6 - Batteries being recharging in the owner’s
house in Sihanoukville Town
Another important point to be considered is whether there are any detrimental health effects on
those people living (both eating and sleeping) near to or in the rear of the battery recharging
room as shown in the above pictures.
3.0 Solar Energy and Lead Acid Batteries
Even though Sihanoukville is a city of industry, tourists, sea fishing and commerce, the local
authority have never considered or discussed the use of solar energy to provide power to these
businesses or educational institutions. It is surprising, because solar energy technology is
available and used in the Western, Northern, and Southeastern parts of Cambodia. Generally,
solar energy3 is used in schools, hospitals, Buddhist Temples, some public areas and so on.
4.0 Scrap Yard
The Scrap Yards in Sihanoukville City purchase a mix of scrap items from the local people and
scavengers such as, iron, aluminum, plastic, glass, bottles, tins, paper, cartons, ULAB, etc. The
statistics disclosed by the staff of the Municipal Department of Environment of Sihanoukville
indicated that currently there are 19 Scrap Yards open in the City of various sizes depending on
the scale of the operation. There are 13 Yards in Meatapheap District, 3 in Stung Hav District,
and 3 Yards located in the Prey Noup District.
3
These consumptions are supported by the Government, NGOs and some International organizations
The shops generally had a ULAB stock of
less than 5%, which was bought from local
people or scavengers mixed with other
scrap items previously mentioned. The Yard
owners bought ULAB from scavengers who
collected or purchased them directly from
the isolates villages or communes at low
prices
and
transported
them
to
Sihanoukville using their own bicycles or
hand carts.
Fig. 7 - Scrap Yard near the Sihanoukville
Sea Port
Nowadays, the respective scrap dealers
have their own scavengers to collect ULAB
from isolated areas throughout the Districts.
However, the owners revealed that they
only obtain about 2 or 5 ULAB per week
costing 600 to 100 riels/kg (0.15 to 0.25
US$). Unfortunately, those selling the
batteries discharge the acid before
weighing.
Not all the scrap yards are involved in the
melting of ULAB to extract the metallic lead.
The ULAB obtained from scavengers and
sold to traders in Phnom Penh every two or
three months amounts to 200 to 600 kg on
average, but can be up to 1000 kg.
Fig. 8 - Scrap Yard in the Tumnop Rolork Area
5.0 Management and the Environment
Those working in the battery recharging centers and the scrap yards in Sihanoukville are
generally exposed to health risks and may be a causes ofenvironmental pollution, including
damage to the local ecosystem. In any event, health impacts may also occur through their daily
lives if, for example, they use the workplace as a dining room or a playground for the children is
close to a recharging center.
5.1 Recharging Centers
The negative health and environmental impacts associated with recharging batteries are
generally most prevalent inside the charging center and the areas in the immediate vicinity of
the battery recharging center. The issues of major concern include the following:


Noise pollution occurs from the
generators
operating
during
rest
periods.
Bad smells emitted from lead acid
batteries during the charging process
and sometimes when topping them up
with the deionized water. Most of the
recharging shops do not have enough
ventilation because is the charging is
carried out in a small enclosed room.
One recharging shop owner in Veal
Regn, one of the main communes in the
Khan Prey Noup, said that he has felt
discomfort in his lungs and respiratory
system in the last few years and
concluded that perhaps this had
resulted from improper recharging
methods within a closed area.
Fig. 9 - Working without any PPE in the Veal
Regn Commune, Prey Noup District





Fig. 10 - Battery Recharging Shop with a
living area in the rear of the shop in
Veal Rinh, Prey Noub district
Battery electrolyte spillage from poorly
managed ULAB storage, careless
topping up, and sometimes disposal
onto the ground or into local streams or
fresh water.
Most workers do not use any PPE, for
instance, mask or gloves during their
work.
There is no fire extinguisher installed in
the shop for emergency use.
Anybody and anything, including
domestic animals, can freely enter or
move across the recharging areas.
Worst of all, the owners and his/her
relatives live and eat at a place close to
the recharging areas.
Children play with their friends near to
the recharging areas placing themselves
at high risk of exposure during gassing
emissions from batteries being charged
correctly or not.
Most interviewees responded to the questions relating to environmental and health impacts with
limited understanding and awareness of the risks. Moreover, as far as their own experiences of
up to 10 years they all said that they had never been concerned about these issues or
considered the consequences. However, they accepted the Task Team’s explanation of the
risks and dangers posed by poor handling and agreed with the safety advice given accepted
that adoption of such countermeasures would be beneficial to the environment and reduce the
risk to human health.
5.2 ULAB in the Scrap Yard
Some environmental and human health impacts are recognized to be linked directly with people
who work in the scrap yards, affecting the areas close to the yards, the workers children and
domestic animals as well. A few of the negative observations noted by the Task Team at the
scrap yards included:




Scrap items are placed untidily inside and outside the yard, causing public nuisance,
loss of natural aesthetics and so on.
Workers do not wearing gloves, goggles or masks during their work. Working practices
are especially poor and they constantly handle batteries with their bear hands when
electrolyte is clearly seen to have been leaking onto the casing.
ULAB collected from local people or scavengers are stacked near to eating places or
living rooms in an untidy condition. . Figure 12 below shows a pile of ULAB beneath a
bed in a living room. This storage method can cause high risks to people who stay in this
room, especially young children.
The dust from mixed scrap items causes environmental degradation and endangers the
health of the neighboring population.
Fig. 11- the Untidiness of the scrap was noted
by the Task Team in a yard near the seaport
Fig. 12 - Stockpile of ULAB under a bed in a
living room in the Veal Regn Commune
5.3 Awareness of the Risks to Human Health and the Environment
After the survey in this City, we acknowledged that the people/workers’ awareness of the
environmental and health impacts resulting from their daily lives and occupations involving new
and used lead acid batteries is limited in both urban and rural areas. The people responsible for
battery recharging and the scrap yards do not really care about consumer or occupational safety
at their premises.
There are no restrictions to anyone walking into the work areas, especially children, who could
easily enter the battery recharging areas or the battery storerooms.
Battery electrolyte is regularly spilled or poured into the ground or water sources without
treatment.
Owners regularly place stockpiles of ULAB in a bedroom, a dining area and anywhere else they
can find, regardless of its prime use.
6. Conclusions and Recommendations
The daily management of ULAB in Sihanoukville and the attitude of those people involved
towards ULAB is posing a high risk to the environment and public health. Significantly, there is
no management aspect identifying the responsible government institution, not even the local
authorities. Consequently, there are no education programs on human health or proper
protection in their daily occupations.
In this regard, some effective countermeasures should be developed and promoted as follows:







Clearly identify roles and functions for the responsible institutions, so that, through
proper coordination of resources they achieve sound environmental protection and good
public health.
Promote participation from educational institutions, NGOs, the private sector, and
especially the local authorities in managing/recycling ULAB based on environmentally
sound technology.
Carry out an educational program of health care and sound environmental management
for local communities against the negative impacts resulting from people’s daily
occupations, especially the Commune Boards.
Set up specific legal instruments targeting ULAB management/recycling in an effective
way, including the preparation of a national action plan for managing used lead acid
batteries. .
Regularly monitor, control, and follow up the various activities of key stakeholders
towards the management of ULAB, including the use of legal instruments.
Find out enable managing/recycling technology for Cambodian circumstance.
Assess the environmental and human health impacts resulted from the storage/recycling
of used lead acid batteries and reporting to the Government and concerned ministries as
well.
Chrin Sokha, Mr.
Deputy Director
Dept. of Environmental Pollution Control
Ministry of Environment, Cambodia
Project Team Leader
Date: 27 March 2004