Current status of domestic solid waste in Vietnam
Mr. Ho Kien Trung - Deputy Director of the Department of Environmental Pollution Control (Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment) - said that according to statistics, up to now, the total amount of domestic solid waste generated nationwide is about 67,110 tons/day. Every day, the whole country spends an average of about 3.35 million USD to collect, transport and treat all domestic solid waste generated (equivalent to about 1,222.75 million USD/year). This is not a small number for a developing country like Vietnam.
However, currently, about 65% of the total amount of domestic solid waste in Vietnam is treated by direct landfill; about 16% of the total amount of waste is treated at compost processing plants and about 19% of the total amount of waste is treated by incineration and other methods such as recycling, gasification, making fuel pellets...
With the current state of management and treatment of domestic solid waste in Vietnam, it can be seen that every day, we waste a lot of money and environmental benefits from waste if it is not classified, recycled, and reused. Instead, we have to spend a lot of money to collect and treat it.
Solution
Regarding the solution, Mr. Ho Kien Trung assessed that by collecting, classifying, reusing, and recycling waste properly, we can turn what used to be waste, which cost money to process, into valuable resources, maximizing value, and extending the life cycle of the product.
“If exploited well, it will create a huge source of revenue for reinvestment in localities and businesses, promoting the development of a circular economy and the development of the recycling industry in Vietnam,” Mr. Ho Kien Trung affirmed.
According to Mr. Trung, to turn waste into resources, the classification of solid waste from individuals and households plays a very important role in minimizing the amount of waste that needs to be treated, maximizing the ability to reuse and recycle waste.
Thereby contributing to promoting the formation of a circular economy, a zero-waste economy; recovering valuable materials in large enough quantities to form and develop the waste recycling industry; at the same time reducing costs for households and individuals (due to not having to pay for collection, transportation, and treatment of solid waste that can be reused and recycled); reducing social costs for collection, transportation and treatment activities...
“For the classification work to be truly effective, the role of local authorities and workers, also known as "GREEN WARRIORS", is very important in classifying domestic solid waste,” Mr. Trung said and explained that this is the main, important force and the deciding factor in the success of classifying domestic solid waste because in addition to the assigned tasks.
"GREEN WARRIOR" will not only carry out the collection work but also guide people, households and individuals to carry out the classification, and also supervise people in classifying domestic solid waste according to regulations. In addition, if we have appropriate mechanisms and policies, it will further promote the classification efficiency of "GREEN WARRIOR" in the process of collecting domestic solid waste.
Regarding the treatment of domestic solid waste, in addition to the workforce and specialized units, according to Mr. Trung, for local authorities, it is necessary to base on the characteristics and composition of domestic solid waste generated in the area; technical infrastructure of the collection, transportation and treatment system of domestic solid waste in the area; the system of facilities receiving solid waste after classification for reuse and recycling to regulate the classification of domestic solid waste from individuals and households to help this activity be most effective.
