Vietnam Likely to Discharge 44M Tons of Waste Yearly by 2015

Vietnam is likely to dump 44 million tons of solid waste per year by 2015, greatly threatening environment and community health, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MoNRE) said. The figure was released by MoNRE in a report on preparations for a national target program to handle and improve environmental pollution in the 2011-2015 period. The ministry predicted the figure will rise to 68 million tons by 2020 and 91 million tons by 2025, some two or three times higher than current figures. Only 70% of solid waste is collected in urban areas and the remaining waste is affecting urban landscapes, taking up large areas of land and cannot be recycled, the ministry added. Statistics in 2008 showed that Vietnam produced a total of 28 million tons of solid waste which was mainly buried at waste disposal sites. Meanwhile, each urban area in the country has only one or two waste dumps and 85% of urban areas apply waste disposal measures failing to meet the standards. MoNRE Minister Bui Cach Tuyen emphasized the need to focus on financial sources for handling the pollution and rehabilitating the environment in areas that are poisoned by unhygienic waste dumps. He also proposed building a toxic waste treatment center in a bid to improve the environment in seriously polluted areas as part of the national program. Solid waste treatment is estimated to cost Vietnam VND2.34 trillion ($111.42 million) per year and the figure is likely to reach VND3.9 trillion per year in the coming years. Last May, the government adopted a program on solid waste treatment in 2011-2020, under which 90% of total industrial solid waste and 100% of non-toxic medical solid waste will be collected and treated by 2020. (Tuoi Tre – Youth Feb 9, vietnamplus.vn Feb 9)