About 450 tonnes of garbage is littered across the roads of Ha Tinh City, causing major pollution problems and turning the city into a dump.
Ha Tinh City has never been as filthy as it has been for the last 10 days. Countless trash bags are stacked on the streets and overflowing the sidewalks of the city. The amount continues to grow by the day.
“Never before have I seen this much trash piled up this high, it’s everywhere. The daily rubbish collectors have, all of a sudden, disappeared, and we don’t know why,” Hoai, a resident of the city said.
From streets to parks, hospitals and even kindergartens, the trash is all over the place, causing foul smells and harming the environment.
At the corner of one market, a sea of rubbish has been created right next to the fruit stalls. A seller at the market shared, “This sea of rubbish has been here for quite a while. The horrific odor is so disturbing that the number of customers at the market has dropped.”
Unable to cope with the smell, many locals decided to burn their rubbish. However, this temporary solution produces smoke, poses a fire risk and can disrupt traffic.
Finding the cause
It was reported that over a week ago, a group of locals in Van Phuc Hamlet, Van Yen Ward, Ha Tinh City, began to block the access to a garbage dump.
People said it was because the garbage that was dumped in the area was not treated properly, and now the site is overloaded, yet no effective solution has been carried out to fix the problem.
According to a report, everday, Ha Tinh City produces an average of 50 tonnes of rubbish. There are now about 450 tonnes lying around the city, specifically near residential areas. To temporarily treat the problem, 500 large bins had been distributed for residents to put the garbage in and covered with canvas. Chemicals have also been used to try to stop the rotting smell from spreading.
The People’s Committee has ordered Van Ward’s authorities to explain and ask the local people who blocked access to the dump and to stop what they are doing and allow waste to be brought in for treatment. The committee added that any intentional violation will be strictly disciplined.
With the risk of current dumps being overloaded, the city’s authorities are currently planning to establish a new site for waste treatment. The new site’s location will be decided once the authorities have a consensus from local people.
In order for this project to be started quickly, the Chairman of the People’s Committee has asked the provincial authorities for financial help.
Garbage is littered across the roads
Rubbish bins lined up in front of a house.
Stacked up in growing piles.
In front of a hospital, rubbish is covered with canvas.
Garbage on one side, fruit on the other.
A “sea” of rubbish near a market.
Some tried to burn the trash.
