Is it possible to deny collection for waste unsorted at source?
Unsorted waste could be denied collection according to a draft document proposed by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment. Dr Vũ Thanh Ca, senior lecturer at Hanoi University of Natural Resources and Environment spoke to Voice of Vietnam (VOV) about the feasibility of this tentative policy and the necessary mechanisms for implementation.
What is the significance of the policy to deny collection of unsorted waste?
This is a necessary policy and one of the key regulations for waste classification in practice. Denying collection towards unsorted household waste will be a crucial decision.
This is because without waste sorting at the source, it is impossible to employ advanced waste classification technologies to ensure environmental sanitation and utilise garbage as a resource for a sustainable, circular economy related to waste.
Garbage piles up at a waste treatment plant in Tây Ninh Province. — VNA/VNS Photo Thanh Tân |
Concerns have been raised about how this measure can lead to littering, or how feasible the policy is for apartment buildings that collect waste through trash chutes. What is your opinion on this matter?
It is necessary to monitor waste classification in households.
Unsorted waste can be returned to the source, along with a fine to compensate for the trash collectors’ effort in this process.
In some cases, we can publicise the violating households on their local neighbourhood’s bulletin board to increase the pressure and propel residents to sort out their household waste.
Apartment buildings each have a management board. They must advocate, mobilise and make decisions together with the residents.
If waste is not sorted before collection, it can be returned to the building’s management board.
Any person who does not follow waste sorting practices can affect the whole residential building and that will pressure the community into action.
What are the lessons learned from other countries in the world in regard to waste sorting at the source?
Most developed countries in the world have required waste classification at the source.
Japan employs a community-based approach, which means surveillance camera systems are put to use and public oversight is promoted.
If they find anyone who throws away garbage without sorting or not on schedule, they will return the trash bags at the door of the violating household.
Meanwhile, South Korea has strict regulations and hefty fines. Depending on the level of violations, the penalty can range from VNĐ4 million (US$160) to VNĐ20 million ($790).
Each country has their own specific policy on the issue, but all aim for sorting at the source, radical treatment of waste and making use of trash as a resource.
What are the necessary mechanisms to ensure that denying collection for unsorted waste will be a feasible policy?
A priority is to issue a detailed guideline on how to sort out waste at source. This information needs to be widely available so that everyone can have access to the knowledge.
There should also be advocacy campaigns to mobilise engagement from the public.
Another important thing is to employ a good infrastructure. It would be meaningless if waste is sorted out at the source and but then collected together.
Currently, we do not have customised vehicles to transport sorted waste. It is also necessary to have a schedule for specific waste collection.
We must also put in place strict regulations and develop pivotal laws for a thorough, comprehensive legal framework for implementation.
If we do not start right now and take stringent actions, it will be extremely difficult to achieve the desired results.
See also
First provincial biodiversity museum launched in Quảng Nam
06:00 | 19/05/2024 Environment
Enhancing informal sector’s role in EPR implementation
06:00 | 18/05/2024 Environment
Centre opened to serve environmental data integration, monitoring network operation
06:00 | 16/05/2024 Environment
Capacity building for policy makers, large emitters on ETS and carbon market
08:48 | 15/05/2024 Environment
Environmental audit to be effective management tool in Việt Nam
06:00 | 15/05/2024 Environment
HCM City boosts efforts to manage canal pollution
06:00 | 13/05/2024 Environment
See more news
Finland-funded climate change adaptation projects reviewed
06:00 | 12/05/2024 Environment
Hà Nội’s wastewater project to undergo trial operation
06:00 | 11/05/2024 Environment
PM orders intensified carbon credit supervision
06:00 | 09/05/2024 Environment
PM asks for effective preventive solutions against forest fires
06:00 | 05/05/2024 Environment
Heat records broken, more hot weather forecast for May
06:00 | 04/05/2024 Environment
Vietnam faces climate change challenges
06:00 | 02/05/2024 Environment
First low-carbon tourism certificate granted in Hội An
10:30 | 01/05/2024 Environment
Central city seeks stricter controls on forests
06:00 | 30/04/2024 Environment
Severe heatwaves forecast for Northern and Central Việt Nam
06:00 | 28/04/2024 Environment
Localities expand activities to develop carbon credit market
11:00 | 26/04/2024 Environment
Hà Nội Metro announces profit from the Cát Linh–Hà Đông metro line
10:00 | 19/05/2024 Economy
Cement makers call for scraping of clinker export tax
09:00 | 19/05/2024 Economy
Tourism sector goes green for sustainable development
08:22 | 19/05/2024 Tourism
Digital transformation in logistics - a key to unlocking sustainable e-commerce and economic development
07:00 | 19/05/2024 Economy
First provincial biodiversity museum launched in Quảng Nam
06:00 | 19/05/2024 Environment
Multimedia
Việt Nam plans to preserve ethnic minorities’ intangible cultures at risk of disappearing
06:00 | 15/05/2024 Lifestyle
The Hải Phòng Red Flamboyant Festival celebrated the city's special UNESCO status
16:49 | 13/05/2024 Lifestyle
HCM City: top spot in Việt Nam for slow travel lovers
09:00 | 13/05/2024 Tourism
The Anam Cam Ranh named among Vietnam’s best family hotels
06:00 | 11/05/2024 Vietnamese Brands
Nguyễn Dynasty Urns in Huế make it to the UNESCO Memory of the World List
07:00 | 11/05/2024 Lifestyle
Tax, land rent payment deadlines to be extended this year
06:00 | 19/05/2024 Policy
Ministry proposes tax filing deadline extension for 2024
06:00 | 17/05/2024 Policy
Viet Nam targets to have 2 million enterprises by 2030
07:00 | 15/05/2024 Policy
Law on Telecommunications hoped to promote development of new telecoms services
06:00 | 13/05/2024 Policy
Energy giants plan for national power plan
06:00 | 18/05/2024 Energy
Vietnam charts vision for sustainable, modern fisheries
06:00 | 16/05/2024 Industry
Vietnam should seize opportunity to join global semiconductor supply chain
08:00 | 15/05/2024 Industry
Việt Nam's wood industry strives to match sustainable wood demands
07:00 | 14/05/2024 Industry
Desk established in Dong Nai to support Japanese investors
09:02 | 16/05/2024 Investment
Vietnam should not miss opportunities to attract FDI
08:00 | 14/05/2024 FDI
New wave of Chinese investment
06:00 | 12/05/2024 FDI
Vietnam attractive destination for Dubai enterprises: Forum
09:04 | 11/05/2024 FDI
Banks raise interest rates to attract depositors
16:47 | 17/05/2024 Finance-Banking
Credit access obstacles lifted for collective economic entities
06:00 | 16/05/2024 Finance-Banking
Government urged to narrow domestic, global gold price gap
08:36 | 15/05/2024 Finance-Banking
Biometric verification ensures safer money transfers
17:23 | 13/05/2024 Finance-Banking
First provincial biodiversity museum launched in Quảng Nam
06:00 | 19/05/2024 Environment
Enhancing informal sector’s role in EPR implementation
06:00 | 18/05/2024 Environment
Centre opened to serve environmental data integration, monitoring network operation
06:00 | 16/05/2024 Environment
Capacity building for policy makers, large emitters on ETS and carbon market
08:48 | 15/05/2024 Environment
Semiconductor investment prioritized
06:29 | 17/05/2024 Science - Technology
Full cyber stream ahead Bắc Giang focuses on digital society development
06:00 | 11/05/2024 Science - Technology
35 localities piloting four-wheel EVs for tourists, despite no official legal regulations
07:00 | 09/05/2024 Science - Technology
2024 VinFuture Prize records 1,469 nominations
06:00 | 07/05/2024 Science - Technology
HCM City to complete 183km of metro routes by 2035
06:00 | 17/05/2024 Society
Railway sector gets creative to attract passengers
07:00 | 15/05/2024 Society
Việt Nam’s largest high-speed ship service from HCM City to Côn Đảo launched
07:00 | 14/05/2024 Society
Central Highlands to become renewable energy hub
08:58 | 13/05/2024 Society
Vietnamese agricultural products to take part in Foodservice Australia 2024
15:08 | 17/05/2024 Vietnamese Brands
PV GAS launches Month of Workers
10:22 | 16/05/2024 Companies
National Brand Program promotes prestigious Vietnam
13:09 | 15/05/2024 Vietnamese Brands
Largest made-in-Vietnam bulk carrier launched
17:07 | 13/05/2024 Vietnamese Brands
Việt Nam plans to preserve ethnic minorities’ intangible cultures at risk of disappearing
06:00 | 15/05/2024 Lifestyle
The Hải Phòng Red Flamboyant Festival celebrated the city's special UNESCO status
16:49 | 13/05/2024 Lifestyle
Nguyễn Dynasty Urns in Huế make it to the UNESCO Memory of the World List
07:00 | 11/05/2024 Lifestyle
European Literary Days focuses on gender
06:00 | 09/05/2024 Lifestyle
Tourism sector goes green for sustainable development
08:22 | 19/05/2024 Tourism
Vietnamese tourism information centre opened in India
08:00 | 18/05/2024 Tourism
Mysterious 'floating' lake discovered in Quảng Bình
16:54 | 13/05/2024 Tourism
HCM City: top spot in Việt Nam for slow travel lovers
09:00 | 13/05/2024 Tourism