Inside a factory that turns plastic waste into electricity in Vietnam (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – Several Vietnamese citiesare striving to recycle and reuse waste, with waste a growing concern in thecountry and around the world.
Waste is an environmental problem, especially inbig cities, and as living standards improve, more waste is generated.
Economic development and population growth areincreasing household and medical waste in Vietnam’s cities more rapidly than inmany other countries.
About 5,400 tonnes of solid household waste aregenerated in Hanoi each day, with the figure in Ho Chi Minh City some 8,300tonnes per day, which forecasts say will hit 13,000 tonnes by 2025.
However, up to 90 percent of solid householdwaste in Hanoi and 76 percent in HCM City is still buried. The rest is burned,recycled or converted into organic fertiliser.
Temporary landfill sites are already overloaded,and the environment will be seriously affected unless advanced technologies areapplied.
In Hanoi, the municipal Party Committee isaiming to treat some more solid waste with technology and to bury less waste.
The capital city plans to start construction ofa waste treatment factory using high technology in Bac Son commune of Soc Sondistrict in the third quarter of 2017. This plant is set to treat 4,000 tonnesof waste a day.
Also, the Construction Department of Hanoi plansto submit a roadmap for applying advanced solid waste treatment technology tothe municipal People’s Committee in the first quarter of next year, aiming at alower volume of buried waste.
HCM City authorities meanwhile encourageinvestors to use modern waste treatment technologies to reduce the rate ofburied waste to 50 percent in 2020 and 20 percent in 2025.
At a recent meeting with Governor of Sweden’sOstergotland county Elisabeth Nilsson, Chairman of the Hanoi People’s CommitteeNguyen Duc Chung said one of his city’s top priorities is to apply modernEuropean technologies in environmental improvement.
Hanoi plans to have a waste-to-energy plant in2019, and it will seek private investment in waste treatment, he noted.-VNA
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on March 18 inspected a waste-to-energy (WTE) technology model – a made-in-Vietnam invention successfully applied in Dong Van 2 industrial park in Ha Nam province.
Authorities in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho had a working session with US-based Biomass Energy Systems, Inc. (BESI) on June 5 to discuss joint projects in waste treatment and renewable energy supply.
China’s Everbright International began the construction of an energy-from-waste (EfW) incinerator, the first of its kind in Vietnam, in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho on June 30.
The Deposit Return System is seen as a potential instrument for effectively advancing Vietnam’s vision of a circular economy, as outlined in Article 142 of the 2020 Law on Environmental Protection.
The figures were highlighted in a Pre-Feasibility Study on a DRS tailored for single-use beverage packaging in Vietnam, conducted by Eunomia Research & Consulting.
Young people should not view AI as salvation but rather as a tool under human control. Young creators should focus on learning and accumulating practical knowledge, using AI as a tool to carry out artistic projects in the most effective and cost-efficient manner.
Saigon Hi-Tech Park’s ambitious 50% renewable energy goal far exceeds the city’s 15% target, positioning the park as a trailblazing “living lab” for sustainable energy solutions.
Vietnam's economic losses from natural disasters are estimated to account for 1 to 1.5% of GDP annually - a steep price that will continue to rise unless the country takes strong action.
Wutip, the first storm in the East Sea so far this year, has wreaked havoc across central Vietnam, claiming lives, displacing residents, and causing widespread damage to houses, crops, and infrastructure, the Department of Dyke Management and Disaster Prevention and Control reported as of 6:30 pm on June 13.
The tremor occurred at 7:39:46 am (Hanoi time), with the epicentre located at latitude 14.924°N and longitude 108.236°E, at a depth of approximately 8.1 kilometres. The natural disaster risk level was classified as 0 – the lowest on the scale.
Addressing a session on “Accelerating Financing for Resilience: Tailored Solutions for Disaster Risk Reduction,” Deputy Minister Hiep emphasised Vietnam's proposal in building sustainable financing in response to natural disasters, which aligns with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction's goals.
Vietnam has demonstrated its strong commitments by participating in global sustainable development forums, signing multiple free trade agreements, and attracting support from international partners for the implementation of the SDGs.
The fight against plastic pollution could not succeed through isolated efforts, but it must be a collective endeavour involving the entire political system, businesses, citizens, and the international community, said Minister of Agriculture and Environment Do Duc Duy.
Lang Son Global Geopark, with its outstanding geological values, cultural heritage, and unique natural landscapes, represents a valuable addition to UNESCO’s global geoparks system.
In 2019, Quang Ninh became one of the first localities in Vietnam to launch a province-wide campaign against plastic waste, mobilising the participation of the political system, the business sector, and the general public. Other localities—such as Hai Phong, Da Nang, Binh Duong, and Ho Chi Minh City—have also effectively implemented waste-sorting initiatives at source, along with models for plastic-free markets and urban areas.
This year’s World Oceans Day on June 8 is themed 'Wonderful Oceans: Sustaining What Sustains Us', while World Environment Day is on June 5 with the theme: 'Beat Plastic Pollution'.
According to Director of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Environment Le Huu Toan, a fire prevention and control plan has been in place since the dry season began, including round-the-clock patrols and rapid-response teams to snuff out fires before they could spread.
Renowned artists including Ha Anh Tuan, Den Vau, and Phan Manh Quynh, along with many directors and attendees, took part in planting hundreds of rare tree species such as mun (Diospyros mun) and cho chi (Parashorea chinensis) in the Thung Bong area of the Cuc Phuong National Park, contributing to forest ecosystem restoration.
The dispatch noted that since the beginning of 2025, natural disasters have claimed 29 lives and left several others missing. A total of 67 houses have collapsed, and 2,342 homes have been unroofed or damaged.
Its Forest Protection Sub-department has applied various specialised software and information technologies in forest management and protection and fire prevention.
In 2005, Nghe An had 570 captive bears, the largest number in Vietnam. Thanks to efforts by local authorities, forest rangers, and rescue forces, the number has fallen to just 15.
Inside a factory that turns plastic waste into electricity in Vietnam (Photo: VNA) 
