Guidelines on classification of daily-life solid waste of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment. Photo: Source of Department of Natural Resources and Environment

The percentage of households classifying waste is still low

Implemented since 2008, up to now, the classification of domestic solid waste at source in Dong Nai province has not been responded by many organizations and individuals. Even many households have not signed contracts for centralized waste collection.

Chairman of Bien Hoa City People's Committee Nguyen Huu Nguyen said that by the end of June 2021, there were more than 205,000/215,000 households in the city registered for waste collection, reaching 95%. Although the city has organized propaganda and campaigning many times, in many forms, there are still about 10,000 households that have not registered for centralized waste collection. Self-treatment of domestic waste in the form of burying, burning or discharging into the environment significantly affects waste collection and preservation of urban beauty. The classification of domestic solid waste has recently been done better in state agencies, markets, schools, businesses, but most people have not done it yet.

Mr. Nguyen Huu Binh, Deputy Head of Office of Natural Resources and Environment of Vinh Cuu District said that in 2020, the rate of households registering to classify the domestic solid waste at source of the district is quite high (90%) but due to means and equipment for waste collection have not been guaranteed, the results are not as expected.

“The district has 23 waste collection points, but only 5 are solidly built. 12 communes and townships have established waste collection teams, but their means are rudimentary. The district budget is not enough to support equipping trash cans, propagating waste classification, building gathering points, so the efficiency is still low. Many households in rural areas have treated their domestic waste, "- Mr. Binh shared.

According to Deputy Director of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tran Trong Toan, currently, nearly 90% of domestic solid waste in the province is collected and brought to concentrated treatment areas. More than 10% of the remaining is mainly in rural areas where there is no collection route, so people handle it themselves according to instructions. Regarding the classification of domestic solid waste at source, currently, localities have developed plans and organized the implementation to each household, but the rate of registration for implementation and waste classification is not high. The reason is that the means of waste collection are not guaranteed, many localities lack waste collection stations, and people's sense of responsibility in complying with regulations on environmental protection is still low. That is why many households have not registered for centralized waste collection, discharged the waste at the wrong places.

 Implemented from 2022

Person classifies waste when going to the market

According to the provisions of the Law on Environmental Protection 2020, effective from January 1, 2022, collection and transportation companies have the right to refuse to collect and transport solid waste from households and individuals that do not classify them or do not use the correct packaging and notify the competent agency for inspection and handling in accordance with the law. Individuals and households must be responsible for classifying and transferring classified waste to places of collection or transfer the solid waste to the waste collection facilities.

In cities, households and individuals must store and contain solid waste after classifying into packages and transferring them in groups. Households and individuals living in rural areas must classify and transfer waste in groups. It is encouraged to use the food waste as organic fertilizer and animal feed.

According to the natural resources and environment sector, domestic solid waste arising from individuals and households can be classified into 3 groups: waste capable of being reused, recycled (people can reuse or sell to waste companies); food waste can be used as pet food or organic fertilizer at home; Other solid waste (for example, construction waste, broken glassware). Thus, people have both revenue from the sale of waste and savings on waste collection fees when the province applies a collection of solid waste collection fees based on the volume of waste.

In terms of the environment, classifying the household waste into groups will reduce the waste decomposition process, reduce odors, and protect the living environment. In addition, this activity helps to save state budget costs for domestic solid waste treatment, reduce landfill area, recover materials, recover energy, create raw materials for composting, save resources and reduce the environmental pollution from waste treatment.

Leaders of Bien Hoa City said that the city has implemented a plan to classify waste at source in 2021 and in the 2021-2025 period to each neighborhood. The goal is that by the end of this year, 80% of individuals and households will classify the waste at source; By the end of 2022, this rate will be 100%. Currently, most markets, city offices, and schools are equipped with trash cans for waste classification. Through the epidemic, the city will promote propaganda for people to register for collection and classification of solid waste. The city's 2 interdisciplinary working groups and 30 groups in wards and communes will strengthen inspection, reminding and sanctioning cases of improper disposal of waste.

Decree No. 55/2021/ND-CP dated May 24, 2021 of the Government amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Government's Decree No. 155/2016/ND-CP dated November 18, 2016 stipulating on sanctioning administrative violations in the field of environmental protection effective from July 10, 2021, the case of failure to classify domestic solid waste at source will be administratively sanctioned. A fine ranging from VND15-20 million shall be imposed for failing to classify or keep solid waste according to regulations, failing to sign a contract or not transfer the solid waste to a unit that has the function of collecting, transporting and treating the waste.

The Law on Environmental Protection, effective from January 1, 2022, stipulates that solid waste collection and transportation companies have the right to refuse to collect and transport solid waste from households and individuals that have not been classified or used the proper packaging.

Phan Anh