The Can Tho Department of Agriculture and Environment said on October 8 that the city generates, collects and processes about 1,200-1,700 tonnes of household waste daily, with collection coverage reaching nearly 97 per cent in urban areas.
However, waste collection remains difficult in some rural areas due to scattered settlements, narrow roads and inadequate collection and transport infrastructure.
The city's 29 open-air dumps receive about 210 tonnes of waste daily from 35 wards and communes. Of these, seven are overloaded, six are nearly full and 16 still have capacity.
The department estimates that 270,000-300,000 tonnes of waste remain accumulated at operating dumps.
Several closed disposal sites also hold substantial volumes, including about 400,000 tonnes at Dump No. 8, 700,000 tonnes at Dong Thang Waste Treatment Complex and more than 1.2 million tonnes at Tan Long landfill.
Can Tho's waste-to-energy plant currently processes about 530 tonnes daily, while the Hau Giang waste-to-energy plant handles around 160 tonnes from the former Hau Giang area.
The department has proposed diverting another 135 tonnes of waste daily from 23 wards and communes to the Hau Giang plant to ease pressure on overloaded dumps.
Meanwhile, Minh Thong Trading and Services Co Ltd processes about 148 tonnes daily using incineration without energy recovery. The Soc Trang waste treatment plant has a designed capacity of 320 tonnes per day.
Can Tho currently operates two planned waste transfer stations in Cai Khe and Long Tuyen but continues to rely on about 15 temporary collection points because of infrastructure shortages.
Some are located near residential areas, roadsides and public spaces, raising concerns about odours, landfill leachate and urban cleanliness. A new transfer station is being prepared in Tan An Ward.
The department has also identified illegal dumping hotspots on vacant land, in new residential developments and in sparsely populated areas.
Local authorities have been instructed to step up inspections, clear accumulated waste, install no-dumping signs and consider surveillance cameras at recurring hotspots.
Waste collection contractors must also comply with agreed schedules to prevent rubbish from accumulating in residential areas, particularly in the city centre and during holidays.