Finding Solutions for Environmental Protection in Bac Ninh

The seminar was jointly organized by the Institute for Community Capacity Development and Environment, under VUSTA, the Bac Ninh Provincial People’s Committee, the Bac Ninh Provincial Department of Agriculture and Environment, and Environment and Society Magazine. The seminar examined the current situation of waste collection and reception, as well as the operation of environmental cooperatives and waste-to-energy plants. It also proposed technological solutions and measures to promote the recycling value chain, with a view to comprehensively addressing the problem of accumulated waste.

Attending the seminar were leaders of provincial departments and agencies, representatives of commune and ward-level People’s Committees, as well as enterprises involved in waste collection, transportation, and treatment across the province.

Delegates attend the seminar

In his opening remarks, Dr. Nguyen Tien Tung, Director of the Institute for Community Capacity Development and Environment, said: “The volume of waste generated worldwide and in Vietnam is increasing rapidly, creating an urgent need for effective management, collection, and treatment to reduce impacts on the environment and human health. In practice, waste that is not properly controlled can clog drainage systems, pollute rivers and oceans, generate toxic gases when burned, and place significant pressure on landfills. In response to this situation, many countries are promoting source separation, recycling, reuse, and the application of treatment technologies suited to the characteristics of different types of waste, including waste-to-energy, biological treatment, and composting.” He also emphasized: “The selection of technology must be based on waste composition, moisture content, calorific value, the scale of waste generation, legal requirements, and the location of treatment facilities. An effective waste management system must be organized in an integrated manner, from prevention and waste reduction to separation, collection, transportation, recycling, reuse, and treatment, with the aim of establishing a closed-loop system that makes maximum use of resources from waste and ensures long-term environmental protection.”

Dr. Nguyen Tien Tung, Director of the Institute for Community Capacity Development and Environment

At the seminar, discussions focused on assessing and clarifying the current situation, as well as the shortcomings and limitations in waste collection, transportation, and treatment. On that basis, delegates proposed a number of key solutions, including reducing waste generation at the production stage; improving the effectiveness of source separation; strengthening control over waste collection, transportation, and treatment activities; selecting and investing in appropriate treatment technologies; promoting resource recovery; and promoting the development of a circular economy.

Based on the discussions, the seminar identified directions for waste collection and treatment associated with environmental protection in Bac Ninh Province in the country’s new era of development. Accordingly, it is necessary to shift from an approach focused primarily on waste treatment to proactive prevention and reduction of waste generation at the source. For ordinary industrial waste, the requirements are to improve the quality of waste separation, increase recycling rates, and make maximum use of the value that can still be recovered from waste.

Dr. Hoang Luong, Institute of Energy and Environmental Science and Technology, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, speaks at the seminar

According to Dr. Hoang Luong of the Institute of Energy and Environmental Science and Technology under the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, one proposed solution is: “First, a ‘Green Waste Account’ model could be piloted using QR codes or a simple application to record, award points, and encourage households to separate and recycle waste. At the same time, a ‘Zero-Waste Residential Area’ model could be implemented, linking the results of waste separation, reductions in spontaneous waste dumping, restrictions on waste burning, and reductions in the amount of waste requiring treatment to community benefits.”

Mr. Pham Quoc Hung, Deputy General Director of ASEAN Bac Giang Green Energy Environment Joint Stock Company, speaks at the seminar

At the seminar, Mr. Pham Quoc Hung, Deputy General Director of ASEAN Bac Giang Green Energy Environment Joint Stock Company, said that AGE would like to propose five issues:

First, economic-technical norms and pricing schemes for new environmental technologies for which actual operational data are already available should be assessed and approved at an early stage, avoiding situations where “waste has been treated but no price has yet been established”.

Second, public service commissioning should be organized through a unified process, from waste-source zoning, cost estimation, and contracting to required certification, acceptance, and payment.

Third, land-use terms, service contract terms, and asset lifecycles should be aligned so that enterprises are eligible to access medium and long-term financing and green credit.

Fourth, bidding should follow the principle of technology neutrality, with evaluation based on environmental performance, lifecycle costs, recycling rates, the level of localization, and intellectual property protection.

Fifth, an inter-agency focal point should be established to monitor the implementation of incentives for science and technology enterprises and innovative startups, ensuring that policies on land, financing, public service commissioning, and market access translate into tangible results.

M. Tran Tien Luc, Institute for Community Capacity Development and Environment

According to M. Tran Tien Luc of the Institute for Community Capacity Development and Environment, the management of hazardous waste requires tighter controls throughout the entire process, from generation and storage to transportation and treatment, ensuring that no waste is lost or diverted at any stage. At the same time, a data-driven management system should be gradually developed. Fully identifying waste-generating enterprises, waste types and volumes, transport providers, and treatment facilities would provide a basis for management agencies to strengthen monitoring and oversight.

For businesses, there is also a need to shift the mindset from “spending money to treat waste” to “investing to reduce waste”. This is a long-term approach, as paying for treatment only addresses waste at the final stage, whereas investment in improved technologies and production processes can help reduce the amount of waste generated in the first place.

Mr. Ngo Quang Truong, Deputy Head of the Environmental Management Division under the Bac Ninh Department of Agriculture and Environment, affirmed: “Waste separation and treatment still face many challenges, particularly in the case of household waste, damaged electronic equipment, end-of-life vehicles, and construction waste. Source separation needs to be implemented in a manner suited to the actual conditions of each locality, while waste recovery and recycling should be strengthened and investment in specialized treatment facilities increased. In Bac Ninh, the province is promoting investment in two waste-to-energy plants, which are expected to add approximately 750 tons per day to the treatment capacity for household waste. Meanwhile, certain types of waste, such as organic sludge and construction waste, remain difficult to reuse due to requirements concerning technical regulations and standards, requiring further development of appropriate management and treatment solutions.”

Mr. Ta Van May, Editor-in-Chief of Environment and Society Magazine

According to Mr. Ta Van May, Editor-in-Chief of Environment and Society Magazine, “we will continue to work alongside regulatory agencies, businesses, and communities to recognize and promote good models and effective practices, while also frankly identifying and communicating issues that require further attention and resolution in waste collection, transportation, and treatment. Environment and Society Magazine hopes that today’s seminar will lead to more frank discussions, practical initiatives, and feasible proposals to further improve the effectiveness of waste collection, transportation, and treatment across the province.”

According to the organizers, the discussions at the seminar showed that environmental protection in general and waste management in particular are placing increasingly demanding requirements on the socio-economic development of the province. Alongside the pace of urbanization, the development of industrial parks and clusters, and population growth, the volume of waste generated is increasing, requiring comprehensive, long-term solutions suited to the actual conditions of each locality. In this process, in addition to the core role of state management agencies, the active and responsible participation of businesses, organizations, associations, and individual citizens is essential.

To ensure that the solutions discussed at the seminar are put into practice, stronger coordination among authorities at all levels, sectors, and relevant organizations is an important factor. At the same time, it is necessary to continue strengthening public communication and raising community awareness, encouraging people to develop the habit of sorting waste and disposing of it in designated places; and to strengthen inspection, supervision, and handling of environmental violations. Mobilizing social resources, encouraging waste collection, recycling, and reuse models, and promoting advanced treatment technologies will also help reduce pressure on the environment, limit the amount of waste that must be landfilled, and make more effective use of resources.