The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to provide technical guidance on domestic solid waste treatment in Vietnam

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to provide technical guidance on domestic solid waste treatment in Vietnam (Internet image)

Regarding this issue, LawNet would like to answer as follows:

On November 2, 2023, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment issued Official Dispatch 9368/BTNMT-KSONMT on technical guidance on the domestic solid waste treatment .

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to provide technical guidance on domestic solid waste treatment in Vietnam

To continue to guide the People's Committees of provinces and centrally run cities to implement activities of classifying household solid waste according to the provisions of Clause 5, Article 79 of the Law on Environmental Protection 2020, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment issued "Technical guidance on domestic solid waste treatment ".

Technical guidance on classifying household solid waste provides maximum identification of the types of household solid waste generated from households and individuals and classifies it into 3 main waste groups in accordance with the provisions of Clause 1, Article 75 of the Law on Environmental Protection, including: (1) Solid waste that can be reused and recycled; (2) Food waste; (3) Other domestic solid waste (technical instructions on classifying domestic solid waste attached).

And implementing regulations on the classification of domestic solid waste in the locality, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment requests the People's Committees of provinces and centrally run cities to implement the following contents:

(1) Research and apply Technical Instructions on the domestic solid waste treatment (issued together with this Document) to develop plans and implement activities to classify household solid waste generated by households and individuals in the area to ensure compliance with the provisions of the Law on Environmental Protection 2020 and guiding documents; Some of the following contents should be noted:

- The domestic solid waste treatment aims to promote increased reuse and recycling of waste and discarded products, maximize the value, and extend the life cycle of products and materials; Encourage agencies, organizations, communities, households, and individuals to participate in recycling and treatment programs of waste produced and imported by organizations and individuals according to the provisions of the Law on Environmental Protection and its guiding documents; Minimize the amount of waste that must be processed.

- The domestic solid waste treatment needs to be consistent with the technical infrastructure for environmental protection and existing waste treatment technology; natural, economic, and social conditions; waste management content in provincial plans and national environmental protection plans; and local financial resources.

(2) People's Committees of provinces and centrally run cities shall organize propaganda and dissemination for agencies, organizations, communities, households, and individuals to classify household solid waste generated by households and individuals; deploy household solid waste classification no later than December 31, 2024.

During the implementation process, if there are any problems, the Committee is requested to report them to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (through the Department of Environmental Pollution Control) for timely guidance, review, and adjustment in case of necessity.

Regulations on domestic solid waste treatment in Vietnam according to the Law on Environmental Protection 2020

Specifically, Article 78 of the Law on Environmental Protection 2020 stipulates the domestic solid waste treatment as follows:

- The State shall encourage and provide incentives for entities involved in investment in and provision of domestic solid waste treatment services; encourage co-processing of domestic solid waste.

- People’s Committees at all levels shall select domestic solid waste treatment facilities through bidding in accordance with regulations of law on bidding. In case of failure to make a selection through bidding, the method of order placement or task assignment shall be adopted as prescribed by law.

- Domestic solid waste treatment providers must fulfill environmental protection requirements as prescribed by this Law. It is not recommended to make investment in domestic solid waste treatment providers that cover only one commune.

- Domestic solid waste must be treated using appropriate technologies and satisfying technical regulations on environment. The Government shall provide for a roadmap for restricting treatment of domestic solid waste using direct landfill disposal technology.

- The Minister of Natural Resources and Environment shall promulgate criteria for domestic solid waste treatment technologies; provide guidelines for domestic solid waste treatment models in urban and rural areas.

- Provincial People’s Committees shall formulate planning and reserve land area for domestic solid waste treatment facilities, promptly transfer land to build and operate domestic solid waste treatment facilities within their provinces; provide funding for construction and operation of systems for collection, storage, transfer, transport and treatment of domestic solid waste treatment; works, measures and public equipment serving domestic solid waste management within their provinces.

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