Circular economy requires solid waste management in Hanoi

Experts said Hanoi should lead the country in urban solid waste management to meet the demand for circular economy development based on technological diversification.

According to Bui Thi An, former member of the National Assembly's Committee on Science, Technology and Environment, the development of a circular economy, with a focus on recycling scrap and waste, is seen as a sustainable and environmentally friendly way to develop Vietnam's big cities, especially the capital Hanoi.

"To improve the effectiveness of environmental protection, Hanoi must give priority to solving hot issues and focus human and financial resources on each problem," the Vietnamese government portal quoted An as saying.

Hanoi also needs to raise public awareness for environmental protection together with transparency about the plan, budget, and implementers so that experts and scientists can keep an eye on it and provide feedback," she stressed.

Bui Thi An said the application of the circular economy to urban solid waste management in some countries has yielded remarkable results. "In Vietnam, the volume of solid waste in 2020 increased nearly 2.4 times compared to 2010. The volume is expected to increase 3.2-fold by 2025, while solid waste per capita will rise from 0.95 kg per day in 2009 to 1.6 kg in 2025."

She stated that Hanoi has a mission to be a pioneer in applying international experience, keeping pace with the world's advanced management methods and tools, and applying the leading technologies in urban solid waste management. 

Many garbage bins of different colors, indicating different types of waste, have been placed on the streets of Hanoi to sort waste. Photos: VGP

As mandated by the 2020 Environmental Protection Law, Bui Thi An emphasized that the most important thing is to sort waste at the source to reduce the amount of waste that ends up in landfills.

"Hanoi should identify the most important solid waste treatment technologies in the coming years so that appropriate measures can be taken. For example, whether food waste should be sorted for composting or burial, or what kind of solid waste should be burned to generate electricity," An said. 

Hanoi must quickly issue technical guidelines on waste sorting at source and it is possible to pilot in some districts and then replicate good models, she added, noting that the most important for sorting solid waste at source is to raise people’s awareness. “One of the main reasons for the failure of previous projects to sort waste at source is that people are not aware of their important contribution to the city's environmental protection and they have not adopted waste sorting habits.”

"The municipal authorities should keep regular communication to raise people's awareness and schools in the city should teach students how to sort waste at source so that they can apply it at home," An suggested.

To support the circular economy, Hanoi and other urban areas nationwide must continue to develop synchronized mechanisms and policies for the classification, collection, treatment, and recycling of domestic solid waste, said Dr. Nguyen Trung Thang, Deputy Director of the Institute of Strategy and Policy on Natural Resources and Environment under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.

"Cities and provinces need to find optimal waste treatment solutions soon. New modern waste treatment facilities and waste sorting at source are key to improving the city's waste treatment capacity. The treatment of domestic solid waste is not only a challenge but also a vital issue for the capital's sustainable development now and in the future," Thang said.

He added that Hanoi must continue to refine policies to boost the circular economy in enterprises, attract the private sector to invest, and work together to improve waste management infrastructure. "For plastic waste, it is important to develop regulations on taxes, fees, and handling violations related to plastic waste." 

Recyclable waste collection point in Phan Chu Trinh Ward, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi.

Hanoi should develop specific policies on environmental fees and penalties and encourage businesses to participate in waste collection, treatment, and recycling.

Moreover, the application of sanctions is also an effective solution to enforce waste classification regulations at source in the near future. According to Thang, burying garbage must be stopped to prevent pollution.

"Regardless of how advanced waste treatment technology becomes, waste still needs sorting. Sorting waste not only meets processing requirements. It also helps ensure the durability and longevity of the processing system and machinery. Harmful emissions from the incineration process can only be prevented if waste is classified according to the correct standards," he added.

Statistics from the Hanoi Urban Environment Company (Urenco) show that the city generates about 7,000 tons of solid waste every day, of which 51.9% (more than 3,600 tons) is food waste and only 7.1% (about 500 tons) is recyclable solid waste.

Urenco is working on a waste segregation plan for power generation that will separate waste into many categories, such as recyclable, organic, combustible, and non-combustible, with a focus on reducing the amount of waste in Hanoi's landfills.

The Nam Son Waste Treatment Complex receives an average of 4,000 tons of waste per day, while the Xuan Son Complex receives the remainder in the form of combined incineration and landfill.

According to Hanoi's Solid Waste Management Plan to 2030 with a Vision to 2050, the city will have 17 waste treatment zones with a capacity of up to 1,200 tons per day.

A solid waste management plan is also being developed by the Hanoi Department of Natural Resources and Environment to sort garbage at the source, collect, reuse, recycle, and treat waste, as well as to treat waste and plastic waste for recycling and establish circular economy models.