Difficulties on top of difficulties in classification work
According to the Law on Environmental Protection 2020, waste is considered a resource that contributes to promoting a circular economy associated with sustainable development. Therefore, instead of treating it by burning and burying it as it is now, we are moving towards the trend of recycling waste. At this time, sorting waste at the source becomes the first and most fundamental step.
Sharing at the seminar “Waste classification at source: Solving the problem for localities”, Mr. Nguyen Thi - lecturer at the University of Natural Resources and Environment said that waste classification in Vietnam is combining manual and mechanical methods. This method both pollutes the environment and affects urban traffic.
“Regarding classification, most people have not done it yet, still putting different types of waste together. Regarding collection, they mainly use rudimentary means, without covering, causing leakage and foul odors. Waste transportation is also quite far from the center, the main method of waste treatment is landfill. This both causes pollution and waste resources,” Mr. Thi shared.
According to Mr. Thi, the pilot waste classification at source is being carried out in many localities across the country. However, each locality has a different way of implementing it.
“The differences in economic and technological potential between localities will lead to different waste classification and treatment processes. In the coming time, it is necessary to continue to find suitable solutions for localities based on the provisions of the Law on Environmental Protection 2020,” Mr. Thi assessed.
Solving economic problems for localities
Waste collection and treatment infrastructure in big cities has not kept up with the pace of urbanization and population growth. Facilities such as public waste sorting bins are limited and not synchronized. According to Associate Professor, Dr. Bui Thi An - Director of the Institute of Natural Resources, Environment and Community Development, this is also the main reason why source sorting has not achieved the expected results.
“Most localities do not have enough resources to implement a comprehensive waste classification solution. For people to classify, there must be enough trash bins corresponding to each type of waste. Collectors must be equipped with appropriate vehicles, and must quickly classify when arriving at the collection point.
In addition, localities need to choose appropriate waste treatment technology that meets standards. To do this, localities must prepare solid economic resources," Ms. An shared.
Discussing this issue, Mr. Nguyen Thi agreed that finance is an eternal problem, the solution of all solutions.
Every year, the State allocates budget for environmental protection activities and this source of money accounts for up to 2% of GDP. Localities can use this source of funding for waste classification at source. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment is also developing a circular to guide localities in implementing the law on investment in the form of public-private partnership (PPP) in wastewater and domestic waste treatment.
In addition, the financial mechanism comes from the extended producer responsibility policy, requiring producers to collect and process a certain proportion of products compared to the amount of goods sold on the market. At the same time, there are green financial sources, green credit, green bonds or endogenous financial sources from people's emission activities.
“Thus, we have a lot of financial resources to promote waste classification at source. I believe that in the coming time, especially when promoting the circular economy, waste classification at source will be synchronized,” Mr. Thi expected.
