Instead of being a burden on society, waste is currently being redefined as a strategic resource for recycling, helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and respond to climate change. According to you, what role does considering "waste as a resource" play in creating an efficient circular economy in Vietnam today?
- This viewpoint has been clearly institutionalized in Article 142 of the 2020 Law on Environmental Protection, with specific requirements for circular economy: Reduce consumption of raw materials, extend the product life cycle and reduce emissions, not causing adverse impacts on the environment.
According to the requirements of the circular economy, we are shifting from a linear economy (Production - Consumption - Waste disposal) to an economy where waste is regenerated into resources. The waste of one business will become an essential input material for another business. We need to design an economy with an ecological orientation, prioritizing low-carbon emission solutions to reduce consumption of raw materials and fuels, and reduce emissions and waste into the environment.
Reality shows that waste is still a heavy pressure on major cities in the development process. According to you, what leverage do we need to truly turn this pressure into a profitable economic opportunity?
- Throughout 40 years of implementing the renovation, industrialization and urbanization, our economy has made outstanding developments. However, currently we are facing three issues at the same time: Waste, wastewater and emissions.
This pressure is clearly present in craft villages, industrial parks, and wastewater in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City. In which domestic waste increases every day, data shows that Vietnam generates about 69,000 tons of domestic waste every day. Waste treatment is a major issue in the coming time.
In the past period, we have applied solutions such as burning waste to recover energy. But if not treated properly, it leaves consequences for the environment. In the coming time, it is necessary to have measures according to the Law on Environmental Protection such as sorting waste at source, implementing industrial symbiosis, cleaner production in industrial parks, converting traditional industrial parks to ecological industrial park models to solve the problem of converting waste into resources.
Sir, so what is the actual recycling rate in Vietnam currently at and what are the most valuable resources that we are inadvertently wasting?
- Although there is currently no complete statistic on which types of waste are being wasted, however, any type of waste that can be used as input for production and is wasted is wasteful. For example, during the mining process, soil, sand, and gravel are completely removed and can be used as construction materials, while mines after exploitation can be converted into water reservoirs. However, it is necessary to assess the recovery of minerals in that waste. Or ash and fly ash during coal burning is a raw material for construction...
In the agricultural sector, there are many waste products that can be utilized such as by-products from rice, coffee, cocoa or perennial plants... Currently, the carbon credit price for biochar based on agricultural by-products that can be created is the highest value on the market, at a level of 120 to 150 USD/ton. This is a source of financial support for agriculture and also a way to treat and solve waste in agriculture, while contributing to solving the challenge of air pollution.
Circular economy can be applied in most production and business sectors such as industry, agriculture, transportation, energy and many other fields.
How do you assess the benefits that this model brings to each subject in society, from people to businesses?
- Waste treatment according to the circular economy model brings benefits not only to businesses or communities, but also to humans, organisms and nature. Waste, especially microplastics, when entering the ecosystem can return, directly harming human health. Similarly, soil pollution arising during industrial production can also have adverse effects, negatively affecting humans, organisms and the natural environment.
Therefore, implementing the circular economy is to return to the model of nature. The nature of nature, like the Amazon rainforest ecosystem, is an almost absolute circular model. If humanity aims for the goal of no more waste and emissions by 2050, the benefits will be very large for humans, organisms and nature. Conversely, if the circular economy is not implemented, according to estimates by the United Nations Environment Organization, by 2050 the world will need three Earths to meet the current consumption level.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment is playing the role of "conductor" in this endeavor. So what is the next key goal to bring the orientation of "turning waste into resources" into reality, sir?
- The 2020 Law on Environmental Protection has very specifically institutionalized the circular economy model, from expanding the responsibility of manufacturers to regulations on ecological labeling. The Law on Water Resources also has regulations related to this model. Thus, to date, the legal corridor for deploying the circular economy is basically complete.
In addition, the National Action Plan for Circular Economy has been promulgated; the Prime Minister has also made decisions on green classification, environmental criteria for issuing green bonds, green credit to support businesses...
On that basis, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment will continue to promote propaganda, mobilization and guidance to help the business community and people understand the benefits of switching to a cleaner technology-applied production model, thereby bringing positive efficiency to the economy.
Thank you for your sharing!
