Some 85 percent of urban waste was gathered and treated last year, up 0.5 percent from 2016, according to the Ministry of Construction.

The ministry reported that 57 out of 63 centrally-run cities and provinces nationwide have approved their solid waste management plans.

Notably, a project on strengthening urban solid waste treatment management launched by the Ministry of Construction and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City has hit a number of important targets.

Mai Thi Lien Huong, head of the ministry’s Department of Technology Infrastructure said that after four years, the project has helped improve urban solid waste management capacity of the localities, implementing Hanoi’s plan in the field and making a similar plan for Thua Thien-Hue. 

The project also collected data on solid waste management, while organising conferences and training courses in both Japan and Vietnam, thus raising management officials and enterprises’ awareness of environmental protection.

According to Naoki Kakioka from JICA in Vietnam, data gathered over the past four years will be helpful for Vietnam in enhancing solid waste management.

Recently, the Ministry of Construction issued guidelines on pricing the price of solid waste treatment services.

The ministry is also finalising a plan on investment in waste treatment system and solid waste treatment services.-VNA