VietNamNet Bridge – Nearly 70 percent of Vietnam’s population are living in rural areas, producing over 31,500 tonnes of household solid waste a day, of which between 40 and 55 percent is collected, data has showed.

Only 40 - 55 percent of household solid waste in rural areas is collected at present (Photo: VNA)

The rate of collected solid waste is higher in suburbs, at 60 – 80 percent, but below 10 percent in remote areas.

Nguyen Hong Tien, Director of the Ministry of Construction’s Technical Infrastructure Agency, blamed the situation on poor traffic infrastructure, scattered settlements, people’s lack of awareness, and local authorities’ mismanagement.

He suggested the establishment of self-managed waste collection teams as an effective way to solve the problem amid a current shortage of money for environmental protection activities.

He cited such teams in some northern localities such as Hanoi, Vinh Phuc, Bac Ninh, and Nam Dinh as an example.

Local households there pay a monthly sum from 10,000 – 20,000 VND (0.47 – 0.95 USD) to fund the teams’ operation, thus helping ease the pressure of household waste on the environment, Tien said.

As many as 45 out of 63 cities and provinces nationwide have to date come up with their own master plans for solid waste management.

In Ho Chi Minh City alone, 50 percent of solid wastes are collected by private firms or cooperatives.

VNA/VNN