Dr. Dao Xuan Hung, Editor-in-Chief of the Natural Resources and Environment Magazine delivered the opening speech

The forum featured notable attendees, including Mr. Ho Kien Trung, Deputy Director General of the Pollution Control Department; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Dinh Tho, Director of the Institute of Strategy and Policy on Natural Resources and Environment; Mr. Pham Van Loi, Deputy Director of the Institute of Environmental Science, Sea and Islands; Dr. Dao Xuan Hung, Editor-in-Chief of the Natural Resources and Environment Magazine; alongside various experts, managers, and scientists in the environmental field from both domestic and international backgrounds.

In his opening speech, Dr. Dao Xuan Hung emphasized that managing household solid waste is a collective responsibility. The involvement of local authorities and businesses is crucial, and citizens' participation is fundamental to effective environmental protection. Proper sorting and utilization of household solid waste can transform it into a valuable resource, generating significant revenue for reinvestment and promoting circular economic development.

Dr. Dao Xuan Hung said that the Natural Resources and Environment Magazine hosted the 3rd Environmental Forum with the theme "Household solid waste management and the role of businesses" to actively disseminate and communicate the Environmental Protection Law of 2020. This forum aims to guide the business community and localities in managing, investing in, and sorting waste at the source, as well as treating household solid waste towards sustainable development.

Mr. Ho Kien Trung highlighted the forum's significance, particularly in light of the approaching deadline for all 63 provinces and cities to implement household solid waste sorting, as mandated by the Environmental Protection Law of 2020.

The Environmental Protection Law of 2020 marks a significant shift in waste management philosophy, treating waste as a resource if sorted, enhancing recycling and reuse capabilities, and minimizing waste requiring treatment. The law promotes the recycling industry and circular economy development in Vietnam, adhering to the principle that polluters pay and those who generate more waste pay more.

Experts proposed solutions using technology for household solid waste treatment

Over the past two years, since the Environmental Protection Law of 2020 came into effect, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has collaborated with various ministries, sectors, and localities to organize activities to build waste sorting models and finalize legal documents on household solid waste management. The legal framework is nearly complete, with one remaining document on economic and technical standards for waste collection, transportation, and treatment expected to be issued by the end of June and effective from September 2024. This will help provinces and cities establish appropriate technical standards and service fees.

Many localities, especially centrally governed cities, have begun large-scale pilots for household solid waste sorting, applying advanced technologies such as recycling, gasification, energy recovery incineration, and composting. These initiatives aim to adjust economic-technical standards and service fees to fit local conditions. Some localities have also piloted service fees based on waste volume and capacity using specific waste packaging.

Mr. Ho Kien Trung emphasized the positive results from pilot models, which have started to generate economic value from household solid waste and significantly increased community and citizen awareness and responsibility.

Mr. Ho Kien Trung, Deputy Director General of the Pollution Control Department, spoke at the Forum

To promote effective household solid waste sorting, Mr. Ho Kien Trung mentioned the need for strong, coordinated involvement from local governments, businesses, and citizens. He acknowledged the numerous challenges localities face, including inadequate infrastructure and a lack of markets and technologies for sorted waste. He also highlighted the slow and indecisive action from some local governments.

"At today's Environmental Forum, participation from many provincial and city Departments of Natural Resources and Environment, as well as from units involved in waste collection, transportation, recycling, and treatment, is observed. Representatives from domestic and international environmental organizations and numerous passionate experts and scientists in environmental and waste management are also present. This is seen as a valuable opportunity for experiences to be exchanged, challenges to be addressed, and solutions to be proposed for effective and synchronized household solid waste management and sorting, in accordance with the Environmental Protection Law of 2020," emphasized Mr. Ho Kien Trung.

At the forum, experts, managers, and scientists from Vietnam, Japan, and the World Bank in Vietnam shared experiences and solutions for household solid waste management and treatment, promoting a circular economy. Topics included using preferential policies to support waste treatment, addressing waste management issues in Con Co district, and emphasizing the role of the community in waste sorting at the source.

Additionally, experts from research institutes, environmental businesses, and technology developers presented advanced models and modern technologies, proposing effective solutions in waste treatment, sorting, and recycling. Specific technological solutions included using solid waste as alternative fuel in cement production, high-tech waste-to-energy incineration, and financial support for developing waste treatment facilities in Japan.

Ngoc Huyen (NRE Newspaper)