Hanoi opens waste-to-energy plant on Cleanup Day 2025

THE HANOI TIMES — Hanoi has collected nearly 850kg of waste and inaugurated a major waste-to-energy facility as part of its response to World Cleanup Day 2025, the world’s largest civic-action campaign to tackle global waste.

The cleanup, organized with support from Tu Liem Ward authorities and partners including Hirdaramani Vietnam, Easia Travel, and FUWA BIOTECH, gathered more than 300 volunteers who spent the weekend cleaning up Pham Hung Street in Hanoi.

Volunteers were trained in waste sorting and provided with gloves, tongs and collection bags to ensure safety and efficiency.

The program welcomed Hannes Hanso, Ambassador of Estonia to China, concurrently accredited to Vietnam, Mongolia and Thailand. Estonia is the birthplace of the “Let’s Do It! World” movement that launched World Cleanup Day.

In his keynote address, Hannes Hanso appreciated Hanoi's active role: “When millions of people perform small acts together, we can achieve great change for future generations. I hope this movement will keep thriving in the capital city of Hanoi, and in Vietnam, as well as worldwide.”

Themed “5% pioneers - Global impact”, this year’s event presented research from the UK's University of Leeds, which suggests that when just 5% of a community takes action for a shared goal, it can reach a tipping point in behavior and social awareness.

Nguyen Thi Cam Tu, national coordinator of Let’s Do It Vietnam, said that people don’t need to be a celebrity or a leader to create change.

“Every individual who takes action is already part of the 5% pioneers. Cleanup activities not only improve the environment but also shift behavior from littering to waste sorting, reducing and reusing,” said Tu.

Alongside community activities, the Hanoi People’s Committee last week inaugurated the Seraphin waste-to-energy plant at the Xuan Son solid waste treatment complex in Tung Thien Ward. The plant marks a major step toward sustainable waste management in the capital.

Hanoi currently generates around 7,600 tons of household waste each day, placing significant pressure on infrastructure, the environment, and residents’ quality of life. Landfilling has long been the dominant method, but it is outdated and carries significant risks of soil, water, and air pollution. Against this backdrop, the launch of the Seraphin plant is seen as a breakthrough solution.

The facility is capable of treating 2,250 tons of waste daily, equivalent to around one-third of the city’s total household waste, and generating 37 MW of electricity per hour, enough to supply tens of thousands of households.

"The Seraphin plant is only the beginning, as the city aims to end the landfilling of household waste entirely in the coming years, replacing it with advanced treatment technologies such as waste-to-energy, recycling, and reuse," said Nguyen Trong Dong, Vice Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee.

Beyond Hanoi, more than 1,000 volunteers across Vietnam joined World Cleanup Day activities in localities such as Danang, Ho Chi Minh City, Cantho, and Quang Ngai, collecting over three tons of waste nationwide.

Launched in Estonia in 2008, World Cleanup Day has become a global movement spanning more than 190 countries. In December 2023, the United Nations officially recognized the day in its calendar of International Days and Weeks, emphasizing its role in tackling global environmental challenges via the community.