Germany Helps Vietnam Manage Urban Waste

German and Vietnamese experts gathered at a conference in Hanoi Oct 14 to discuss solutions to manage solid waste in urban areas, state media reported Thursday. The Vietnam News Agency said the conference this time focuses on measures for sustainable management of wastes including partnership with Germany. During the event, participants discussed semi-centralized supply and disposal system (SDC) in urban areas in Vietnam that could protect natural resources by recycling water and extracting nutrients for other using purposes. The event was co-held by Vietnam’s University of Civil Engineering and Germany’s Capacity Building International Organization and Darmstadt University of Technology. The German government has funded EUR160 million for a EUR200 million ($299 million) wastewater and solid waste management program since 2005 in Vietnam. Prof. Nguyen Viet Anh from the Hanoi University of Civil Engineering told the conference that Vietnam is estimated to lose $780 million due to urban waste..