On the afternoon of July 22, representatives of the leaders of the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Vinh Long province and local authorities had a direct dialogue with households living around the An Hiep landfill.
At the dialogue, most people proposed to immediately overcome the environmental pollution situation, not to let it happen again as in the past.
Mr. Pham Minh Tri - Vice Chairman of An Hiep Commune People's Committee - said that An Hiep landfill has the function of receiving waste from 15 communes and wards with a capacity of 200 to 220 tons/day. However, the works in the landfill have not been completed such as: covering ponds 11, 12, leachate treatment system... so there is still a foul smell. In addition, landslides occurred in areas close to the pond. This is the reason why people strongly complained and stopped garbage trucks.
An Hiep Commune People's Committee proposed to build an anti-erosion embankment at An Hiep landfill because it is located near Ham Luong River. However, this project requires large costs, exceeding the budget capacity of the landfill operator and the People's Committee of An Hiep commune, so it needs support from departments and branches of Vinh Long province to implement the embankment construction plan.
Mr. Vo Van Ngoan - Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Vinh Long province - said that the An Hiep landfill is currently covered with tarpaulin for about 90% of the area, only 2 ponds containing items 11 and 12 have not been covered with tarpaulin, so the stench continues to appear. In the immediate future, the plant will immediately operate a wastewater treatment plant from the ponds before discharging into the environment, and will also cover the ponds with 11 and 12 tarpaulins to limit leakage and odor from leaking out.
For pond No. 14, biological spraying will be increased and a mist spraying system will be installed to reduce the stench spreading to surrounding residential areas. In addition, the People's Committee of Vinh Long province has also directed the Project Management Board for Investment and Construction of Agricultural and Rural Development Works to promptly survey and establish a project to prevent landslides in the landfill area. Environmental pollution at An Hiep landfill will be completely handled as soon as possible.
Previously, as Lao Dong reported, on July 21, a garbage truck arrived at An Hiep landfill but was stopped by people near An Hiep landfill (An Hiep commune, Vinh Long province) and not allowed to enter the landfill area.
Immediately afterwards, local authorities were present to mobilize and propagate, and at the same time committed to the people that on July 22, representatives of the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Vinh Long province and related sectors will coordinate to organize a field survey at the landfill, directly meet and dialogue with the people to find solutions. After being mobilized, the people agreed to disperse, and the garbage truck was forced to return.
This is the third time in 3 consecutive years (July 2023, July 2024 and now July 2025), local people have organized garbage collection because they are upset about the recurring pollution.
