The problem of solid waste removal may become more complicated for Hanoi in the near future.
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| Solid industrial waste has reached 750 tonnes per day in Hanoi. |
The municipal Department of Natural Resources and Environment addressed the issue at a meeting on March 31, adding that the city’s volume of solid waste has been increasing by 15% per year.
The trash from the Hanoi households has mounted to 5,000 tonnes per day, according to the department.
Solid industrial waste has reached 750 tonnes per day. Only about 60% of this waste is disposed of properly, leaving the rest to float away in rivers or rot in the streets and alleys.
Waste treatment has become a great concern for the capital, as most treatment facilities are outdated, and the most used method is landfills, said Pham Van Khanh, Deputy Director of the department.
According to Khanh, between 85% and 95% of landfills pose a threat to the environment.
An official from Urban Environment Limited Company (URENCO), which is responsible for waste treatment in Hanoi, said, “Nam Son landfill, about 50 kilometres from the city centre, has seen an overflow of non-biodegradable products, such as plastic bags.”
Plastic bags account for about 200 tonnes of the litter thrown out every day in Hanoi, he added.
