The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Natural Resources and Environment (DoNRE) said about waste treatment technologies in response to public outrage as some facilities caused environmental pollution.
Seven facilities have implemented waste management projects, while others would do so soon, said a leader of DoNRE. Participating facilities include the Ho Chi Minh City Environmental Company (Citenco), Vietstar Company, Thanh Cong, Vietnam Waste Solutions Company (VWS), and Tam Sinh Nghia have been allowed to treat waste; however, Citenco, the Da Phuoc Waste Treatment Complex and Vietstar.
Nguyen Van Phuoc, DoNRE’s deputy head, said the city always supports sustainable development in connection with environmental protection and the city would apply advanced technologies in treating waste.
However, he admitted that it is unavoidable to use the methodology of burying waste, since the city discharges 6,500 tons per day, and this volume is increasing by 8 percent a year and is expected to reach 14,000 tons by 2020.
It is scheduled to bury 40 per cent of the whole waste, burn 10 per cent, compost 40 per cent into fertilizer and 10 per cent and recycle 10 per cent.
He emphasized that each available technology has its own strengths and weaknesses. Decision to choose which technology should be utilized depends in the economic situation with a particular area. Even in developed countries, burying and burning of waste occurs, along with more modern methods such as recycling.
The Da Phuoc Complex of VWS and Vietstar will complete construction of a factory which will compost organic waste, creating fertilizer in the process and will recycle other materials including plastic pellets, but as for now, they continue simply burying waste.
Following up on publicly-voiced concerns, relevant agencies and the Cu Chi People’s Committee have ordered Vietstar to distribute chemicals to kill flies and deodorize the area surrounding dumpsites in Cu Chi as well as cover the waste left outdoors in order to appease residents’ dissatisfaction over the foul smells and unsightliness produced by the waste.
