Under the directive, contractors must preserve natural ground levels where possible and reuse excavated soil within the same project.
For projects already under way or about to begin, developers must process and recycle construction waste at the site where space permits, using the recycled materials for backfilling, foundation work and other construction purposes.
The directive comes as Hanoi clears land for 1,428 projects, generating an estimated 3,000-3,400 tonnes of construction waste a day. About 90 per cent consists of recyclable inorganic materials, but the city lacks sufficient recycling capacity.
Illegal dumping of construction waste remains a persistent problem, particularly in suburban areas and along rivers, canals and public land, contributing to environmental pollution and wasting recyclable materials.
According to the Hanoi Department of Agriculture and Environment, the city currently has four construction waste treatment facilities with a combined processing capacity of about 1,670 tonnes per day.