Hanoi targets using recycled construction waste in all public projects

THE HANOI TIMES — By 2030, all publicly funded construction projects in Hanoi will be required to use recycled materials instead of natural resources, according to the city's recently approved plan.

This requirement is outlined in the city government's approval of the 'Master Plan on Construction Waste Management in Hanoi to 2030'. While the use of recycled materials is encouraged in privately funded construction projects, it is mandatory for public projects.

In the decision issued on June 8, the city aims to ensure that 90% of all construction waste generated in urban areas is collected and treated in compliance with environmental standards. Of this, 60% is to be reused or recycled into products and materials using appropriate technology.

Construction waste includes soil, stones, broken bricks, plant debris, and substandard materials generated during design, site preparation, and construction.

Hanoi has the second-highest demand for construction materials in Vietnam after Ho Chi Minh City. A study conducted in 2022 by the University of Transport and the Hanoi University of Natural Resources and Environment, published in the Journal of Natural Resources and Environment, reported that Hanoi generated over 4,000 tons of construction waste in 2021. This figure is expected to increase to over 9,400 tons by 2025. 

Regarding treatment sites, Hanoi will continue to use two existing locations until 2026: the 6.5-hectare area at the Phap Van–Cau Gie interchange in Hoang Mai District and the Nguyen Khe landfill in Dong Anh District.

By 2030, the city plans to raise the solid waste treatment and recycling capacity to between 4,180 and 4,780 tons per day.

To promote the use of recycled construction materials, project developers must prioritize the recycling and reuse of waste on-site. In addition, landscaping for transportation and other infrastructure projects must use the arable layer of soil that has been peeled off.

Projects that use recycled materials from construction waste and protect the environment must be prioritized in bidding.

Furthermore, the city will refine policies and regulations to encourage the use of recycled construction waste products, such as crushed materials and unglazed bricks.

Hanoi has already promoted the recycling of construction waste and invested in collection and crushing equipment. A pilot project has been implemented to crush construction waste and reuse it as the foundation material for the Ring Road No. 3 stretch from Mai Dich to Nam Thang Long.

However, these pilot programs and their replication still face challenges due to the lack of a comprehensive legal framework and technical standards for implementation.