The study on the design of a model for source solid waste separation in nong trang market viet tri city phu tho province

THAI NGUYEN UNIVERSITY UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURAL AND FORESTRY --- --- DOAN HAI LINH THE STUDY ON THE DESIGN OF A MODEL FOR SOURCE SOLID WASTE SEPARATION IN NONG TRANG MARKET - VIE

THAI NGUYEN UNIVERSITY

UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURAL AND FORESTRY

-  -

DOAN HAI LINH

THE STUDY ON THE DESIGN OF A MODEL FOR SOURCE SOLID WASTE

SEPARATION IN NONG TRANG MARKET - VIET TRI CITY –

PHU THO PROVINCE

BACHELOR THESIS

Study Mode : Full-time

Faculty : International Programs Office

Batch : 2013 - 2017

Thai Nguyen University of Agriculture and Forestry Degree Program Bachelor of Environmental Science and Management

Student Name Doan Hai Linh

Student ID DTN1353110364

Thesis Title

“The study on the design of a model for Source Solid Waste Separation in Nong Trang market - Viet Tri city – Phu Tho province”

Supervisor Dr Duong Van Thao

Abstract:

Solid waste management has been identified as one of the most serious problem

to environment in Phu Tho province Source solid waste separation is considered an effective means of reducing solid waste and protect environment This report was conducted to study on building a model for sorting solid waste initially in Nong Trang market – Viet Tri city This investigation is an attempt to: determine the adequacy of facilities to handle solid waste; and to assess both quality and quantity of behavior factors such as: knowledge; awareness of sellers about source solid waste separation in Nong Trang market – Viet Tri city – Phu Tho province This research also presents the percentage of people awareness about some appropriate propaganda contents such as

TV program (28%), poster (21%), newspaper (14%) and the assessment of those impacts on seller’s knowledge, awareness, and action: after propaganda there are 80%

of people can know different type of SW; 100% of people know the harmful of solid waste and the purpose of waste seperation after classifying Among the major

recommendations is that public education campaigns should be developed to encourage sustainable solid waste management behavior, increasing construction of material facilities for the collection, transportation and treatment of solid waste; increasing the awareness of people about solid waste and source solid waste separation; using suitable model of source solid waste separation in each market in Viet Tri city; building more landfill suitable with condition of each market

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

To finish this thesis, I received enthusiastic help from many people working in the Department of Natural Resources and Environment of Phu Tho province, friends and family

First of all, I would like to send my sincere thanks to the teachers in Training and Development International Center - Thai Nguyen University of Agriculture and Forestry for creating favorable conditions, caring and support for me during the study time

In particular, I want to deeply thank to Dr Duong Van Thao for given permission to accomplish my Bachelor thesis there, and also his contact motivating supervision during my studies in the research

I would also like to thank the assistance of staffs who are working at Department of Natural Resources and Environment Phu Tho, Environmental Protection Angency for creating favorable conditions for me during the drafting process to completed this thesis

Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to record my sense of gratitude to thank my family and friends who always helping me to finish this thesis successfully

Sincerely,

Doan Hai Linh

TABLE OF CONTENT

ACKNOWLEDGMENT i

TABLE OF CONTENT ii

LIST OF TABLE v

LIST OF FIGURE vi

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS vii

PART I INTRODUCTION 1

1.1.Research rationale 1

1.2 Research’s objectives 3

1.3 Research questions 4

1.4 Limitations 4

PART II LITERATURE REVIEW 5

2.1 The overview of Nong Trang market 5

2.2 The definition of solid waste 5

2.3 Generation and components of solid waste 6

2.3.1 Generation of solid waste 6

2.3.2 The components of solid waste 7

2.4 The impact of solid waste on the environment 9

2.4.1 Impact on soil environment 9

2.4.2 Impact on water environment 10

2.5 The purpose of solid waste management 11

2.5.1 The purpose of solid waste management 11

2.5.2 System of solid waste management 11

2.6 Some experiences of source solid waste separation in the world 12

2.6.1 Experience of Japan 12

2.6.2 Experience of Singapore 13

2.6.3 Experience of Germany 14

2.7 The lessons for Vietnam 15

2.8 Solid waste management in Vietnam 17

2.8.1 Status of separation and collection waste 17

2.8.2 Solid waste disposal 20

2.8.3 Reuse and recycle 22

2.8.4 Situation arising and the classification of solid waste in Phu Tho province 22

PART III METHODS 25

3.1 Material 25

3.2 Study design 25

3.3 Participants 25

3.4 Location and research background 25

3.5 Sample size and sample techniques 26

3.6 Data collection 27

3.7 Data analysis and processing 27

PART IV RESULTS 29

4.1 The percentage of demography of population and respondents in Nong Trang market 29

4.2 Assessment the current status of solid waste collection in Nong Trang market 30

4.3 Volume and composition of waste in Nong Trang market 31

4.3.1 The amount of waste generated 31

4.3.2 The components of solid waste in market 32

4.4 The awareness of seller about solid waste and source solid waste separation 33

4.4.1 Awareness of seller on solid waste 34

4.4.2 Awareness and attitude of seller about source solid waste separation 34

4.5 The effectiveness of propaganda 37

4.6 Propose model of source solid waste separation to reduce solid waste in Nong Trang market 38

PART V CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION 42

5.1 Conclusion 42

5.2 Recommendation 43

REFERENCES 46

APPENDIX 1

APPENDIX 2

APPENDIX 3

LIST OF TABLE

Table 1: Components of domestic solid waste in Phu Tho province 8 Table 2: The mass of domestic solid waste arising in the city, districts, and towns (up

to 2015) 24 Table 3: Number of seller in Nong Trang market 29 Table 4: The number of respondents interviewed in each seller group in Nong Trang market 29 Table 5: The volume of waste generated in Nong Trang market 31 Table 6: The average volume of SW generated from each group 31 Table 7: Assessment of seller about management system of SW in Nong Trang market 33 Table 8: The awareness of seller about SW 34 Table 9: The awareness of seller about SSWS 35

LIST OF FIGURE

Figure 1: The location of Nong Trang market (Google map) 5

Figure 2: The generation of solid waste 6

Figure 3: The system of solid waste management 12

Figure 4a: Solid waste separation in Japan 13

Figure 4b: Solid waste separation in Singapore 14

Figure 4c: Solid waste separation in Germany 15

Figure 5: Rate of waste collection in Vietnam, urban vs rural 18

Figure 6: Waste collection system in Nong Trang market 30

Figure 7: The components of SW in Nong Trang market 32

Figure 8: The percentage of propaganda forms 37

Figure 9: The awareness of people before and after propaganda 38

Figure 10a: Source solid waste separation by option 1 39

Figure 10b: Source solid waste separation by option 2 40

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS

HCMC Ho Chi Minh City

ODA Official Development Assistance

RCRA The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act

SSWS Source Solid Waste Separation

URENCO Urban Environment Company

VEM Vietnam Environment Monitor

PART I INTRODUCTION

Environment plays an important role for human life and the development of socio-economic in each country The environment was degraded and severely polluted, and it becomes a global problem Therefore, environmental protection is the responsibility of governments, department, socio-economic organizations and individuals to protect people health

In several years, with the development of socio-economic, production, business, service and industrial zones which have been expanded and developed rapidly On the one hand, it contributes positively for the development of our country On the other hand, it creates a large number of solid domestic wastes

In addition, with the socio-economic achievements, population growth rapidly

is a big challenge for development, including solid waste increase sharply With high living standards, the rate of solid waste for each person also increased over time

The risk of environmental pollution caused by solid waste is becoming an important problem in Viet Nam that is requiring management and treatment to protect environment

1.1 Research rationale

Nowadays, our country is developing in the direction of industrialization and modernization, with that development, the process of urbanization in Vietnam is growing continuously in terms of scope, quantity and quality Besides the positive, there are some limitations are environmental pollution, namely the pollution of soil,

in Viet Tri city has formed many markets around residential area It lead to solid waste increasing strongly

Until now, the awareness of human about solid waste separation is still limited Almost all waste discharges directly into the environment without treatment Wastewater discharge directly into rivers and lakes is about 510,000m3/day, solid waste is around 6,500 - 7,000 tons/day, with over use chemicals in plant protection which has caused the environment severely polluted This pollution will seriously affect people and ecosystems such as ice melt, greenhouse gas emissions, global warming, typhoon, and flood Therefore, environmental protection is urgency, it is not belong to the problem of each country, but it is the responsibility of the whole world

(Phu Tho Statistical Department , 2013)

On the other hand, Viet Tri city is the centre of the production facilities, industrial zones to attract a large amount of employees in other provinces and districts Some markets or services for human increase, leads to increasing rapidly of solid waste The disposal of solid waste do not have plan; the collection, transportation and treatment of solid waste is not properly regulated In addition, people's living standards improve, the demand for high product quality leads to increase solid waste Solid waste discharged into the environment causing air pollution, effect to human health, economic damage, agriculture, social - economic development Furthermore, management of solid waste in Phu Tho province include collection, waste treatment is not done properly Environmental protection and solid waste management becomes really necessary and need have some solutions to reduce it directly Therefore, we should focus on solving requirements restrictions at the minimum amount of waste

bring to the landfill and increase the maximum amount of waste bring recycling and processing To implement this requirement, we have access to a very effective way to

do that most of the advanced countries of the world have already applied as an effective way of managing the most to garbage operation That is the Source Solid Waste Separation (SSWS) It refers to the separation of municipal solid waste into several categories at the generation source according to the different characteristics of each material before further treatment Currently, Viet Tri is piloting source solid waste separation program in some markets around the city Stemming from this problem, in order to find the management measures to contribute reducing environmental pollution caused by solid waste in Phu Tho province, I conducted

research projects: "The study on the design of a model for source solid waste

separation in Nong Trang market - Viet Tri city - Phu Tho province”.

1.2 Research’s objectives

The general objective of the study is raising people awareness about environmental protection, especially changing the habit and sense of community in the classification and disposal of Solid Waste (SW) in accordance with regulations, to mitigate environmental pollution caused by the SW In 2020, 100% of the markets in Viet Tri city can separate waste at source suitable with treatment technology

In particular, there are some specific objectives:

• To investigate the awareness and attitude of people about SW and SSWS

• To design of media propaganda about the SW and SSWS based on sellers

• To assess the effectiveness of measures to enhance understanding, awareness and actions of sellers about initial solid waste sorting

• To build a model of SSWS in each market in Viet Tri city – Phu Tho province

1.3 Research questions

1 What are the classifications of SW in Nong Trang market?

2 How do the SW managed by the people in Nong Trang market?

3 What is the level of awareness on SSWS among respondents?

4 What is the proposed enhanced model SSWS?

PART II LITERATURE REVIEW 2.1 The overview of Nong Trang market

Nong Trang is one ward of Viet Tri city, Phu Tho province with the total area

was 1.93 km², the total population was 12,681 people and the population density was

6,570 people/km² Nong Trang market is located in Nong Trang ward that is a center

of economic growth, development in industry and service (Department of Natural

Resources and Environment Phu Tho, 2012)

Figure 1: The location of Nong Trang market (Google map)

2.2 The definition of solid waste

The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) states that "solid waste"

means any garbage or refuse, sludge from a wastewater treatment plant, water supply

treatment plant, or air pollution control facility and other discarded material, resulting

from industrial, commercial, mining, and agricultural operations, and from community

2.3 Generation and components of solid waste

2.3.1 Generation of solid waste

Solid waste is derived from different sources Sources of solid waste (SW) is mainly from industry, agriculture, service and trade residential areas, offices, schools, hospitals, market, etc, as shown in Figure 2

Figure 2: The generation of solid waste

(Source: Nhung, B T., 2014)

Solid waste can arise from many different sources, in different places, depending on the source of solid waste, the characteristics of the production processes and time, the different in volume, size and characteristic composition The source solid waste separation plays an important role in the management of solid waste

Agriculutral production

Solid waste

Entertainment

Hospital

Industrial zone, factory

2.3.2 The components of solid waste

Normally in solid waste, waste from residential account for the highest proportion (50-70%) The value of solid waste is depending on the expansion of construction, repair and expansion of services The specific composition of solid waste changes follow by geographic location, time, season, economic conditions and

depending on the income of each country (Ministry of Natural Resources and

Environment, 2010). The composition of solid waste is shown in Table 1

In Vietnam, the rate of solid waste depend on what kind of urban and fluctuated from 0.35 kg/person/day to 0.80 kg/person/day In the research and statistics show that the amount of solid waste discharged in Phu Tho province is about 6,000 – 6,500 tons/day, about 0.8 - 1.2 kg/person/day The rate of solid waste increased sharply: 15-

20% each year (Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, 2010)

Table 1: Components of domestic solid waste in Phu Tho province

(Source: Department of Natural Resources and Environment Phu Tho, 2015)

Comparing the data components of solid waste showed that components such as food and nylon was the highest percentage of weigh, humidity and ash, while animal bones only 0.0 to 0.9%, the reason is because of the expansion of construction, repair

and services The specific composition of solid waste changes follow by geographic

location, time, season, economic conditions and depending on the income of each area

2.4 The impact of solid waste on the environment

2.4.1 Impact on soil environment

The soil is polluted by some main causes:

Due to the large amount of industrial waste such as coal slag, mining waste, chemical, etc., affect the soil and the soil ecosystem The reason is because of the waste of land, the waste of water treatment, the use of organic fertilizers in agriculture, which have not yet been processed, bacteria, etc., caused diseases transmitted from soil

to plants after that it can affect on human and animals (Ministry of Natural Resources

and Environment, 2012).

Solid waste disposed on land or buried in land containing persistent organic matter that changes the pH of soil Garbage is also home for insects, rodents, bacteria, molds, etc These species carry contagious organisms that infect communities

(Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, 2012).

Hazardous waste are from industrial and agricultural production, it will be changed when the waste is introduced into the soil, which will change the grain composition, increase the density, decrease the water permeability, reduce the humus

content, etc In conclusion, solid waste is the main cause of soil pollution(Ministry of

Natural Resources and Environment, 2012)

2.4.2 Impact on water environment

Water leaches into the ground from solid waste which is put into the soil, ash, make polluted in groundwater Water throughout landfills, pits, drains, ponds, lakes, rivers and streams contaminate surface water Moreover, this water contains diseases,

causing germs, heavy metals, organic matter, inorganic salts (Ministry of Natural

Resources and Environment, 2012).

2.4.3 Impact on air environment

• Organic waste produces harmful gases such as CH4, CO2, NH3, etc, which pollute the air environment

• Gases emitted from pits or fertilizers: CH4, H2S, CO2, NH3, organic toxic gases,etc., also affect the air environment

• Gas generated from the process of collecting, transporting and burying garbage

containing germs and toxic substances in garbage (Ministry of Natural Resources and

Environment, 2012).

2.4.4 Impact on human health and urban landscape

The impact of garbage on human health is the impact on the environment Environmental pollution affects human health through the food chain At the landfill,

if it not bury and treats the garbage appropriate, it will become a place to generate mosquitoes and make some diseases for human Moreover, toxic waste at landfill can cause many serious diseases to human, threatening the health of the

people(Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, 2012)

2.5 The purpose of solid waste management

2.5.1 The purpose of solid waste management

The primary goal of solid waste management is reducing and eliminating adverse impacts of waste materials on human health and environment to support economic development and superior quality of life; protecting health and the environment by providing reasonable measures for minimising the consumption of natural resources; avoiding and minimising the generation of waste; reducing, re-using, recycling and recovering waste; preventing pollution and ecological degradation; securing ecologically sustainable development

2.5.2 System of solid waste management

At the core of all we do for Solid Waste Management is a Solid Waste Management System (represented by Figure 3) Through this system, the ultimate goal

is to reduce the amount of waste that must be placed in landfills for disposal, while being environmentally responsible and fiscally sound

Figure 3: The system of solid waste management

• Organic waste which is easy to decompose is make organic fertilizer, collected every day in factory

• Inorganic waste including bottles, boxes are going to the factory for recycling classification

Source of waste generation

Sorting, storage, reuse at the source

Transit and transportation

Disposal

Sorting, handling and

recycling of solid waste

Collecting focus

Source of waste generation

Sorting, storage, reuse at the source

Transit and transportation

Disposal

Sorting, handling and

recycling of solid waste

Collecting focus

• The waste is difficult to recycle but it can burn will go to the incinerator These types of waste are required separate in different color bags and each household will

brings to the landfill (Khoa, L V., 2010)

Figure 4a: Solid waste separation in Japan

(Source: Khoa, L V., 2010)

2.6.2 Experience of Singapore

Singapore is 100% urbanized and become the cleanest urban area in the world

To achieve this results, Singapore was invested in collection, treatment and also have some laws to protect environment at the same time In Singapore, solid waste is collected and separated by plastic bag The solid waste can recycle will take to the factory for incineration In Singapore, there are two main components involved in the collection and treatment, more than 300 private companies that collect industrial

directly collecting solid waste in their house they will pay $17 per month, but for

indirectly collecting they just pay only $7 per month (Institute of legal science, 2015)

Figure 4b: Solid waste separation in Singapore

(Source: Institute of legal science, 2015)

2.6.3 Experience of Germany

Technology of Germany's most popular disposal coupled with recovery of biogas and micro-organic fertilizer Specifically as follows: in the household waste has been classified, in public places not strictly classified, received and carried out further classified Organic waste is put into the closed composting device as the pressure tank with gas recovery devices produced in the fermentation process organic resolution

(Amrehn, J., 2012)

Advantages:

• Handling thoroughly, ensuring environmental hygiene

• Withdrawal of the product is of high-value gas, serving industries plant in our neighborhood

• Recovery of fertilizer soil improvement works

• Supply of recycled materials for the industry

Limits:

• Requires large investment funds and funds maintained high

• Recovery of fertilizer quality is not high

In the street Inside the house

Figure 4c: Solid waste separation in Germany

(Source: Amrehn, J., 2012)

2.7 The lessons for Vietnam

From the experience of previous countries, Vietnam needs to study to know the lessons and apply them to suitable with the geographic, population, economic and social conditions of our country, avoiding the restrictions that other countries encountered

Vietnam needs extensive education on knowledge, awareness of people about waste and source solid waste separation For example, Japan educates people about waste and how to classify waste, the role and effect of waste from kids to adult

We also need to pay attention to the scrap collectors because they tend to pollute and spoil the urban environment In Vietnam, this situation is very popular, we need to strictly handle these cases so that this situation does not happen again In Vietnam, especially in Ha Noi, there are residential areas in very small corners where garbage trucks are unable to reach them, but many households live there Therefore,

we need to have garbage collection facilities suitable to each area

The collection and disposal of waste in particular and environmental protection,

in general, can only be resolved satisfactorily resolved when there is active participation, active community This participation shows right from the identification

of issues, the measures, how to solve specific environmental problems caused by waste The involvement of the community also means an increase in the ownership and responsibility of the community in environmental protection in order to ensure their right to live in a healthy environment, clean, beautiful, and enjoy environmental benefits To do this, the country has undergone persistent advocacy, outreach and even conduct coercive people waste separation at source

Investment by the government and society to the recycling facility to full capacity to receive, further sorting and recycling of garbage has been preliminarily classified at a source Thus, the level of economic development - social, enlightenment and awareness of the community, the infrastructure investment reaches required to

perform processing, recycling most of the waste out of line day has a very important role

2.8 Solid waste management in Vietnam

2.8.1 Status of separation and collection waste

The waste management system is plagued by a number of problems, some of which include inadequate management, lack of technology and human resources, a shortage of transportation vehicles and insufficient funding In 2000, there were only

95 organizations – only 2 of which were privately-owned – working in the waste

management industry and together, they served 82 cities or towns (Thi, N T T., 2005)

Solid waste management falls under the jurisdiction of several governmental bodies at the national, provincial and municipal levels although there is no unified or standardized system of waste collection Thus, waste collection rates and efficiency vary from one locale to the next depending on two factors: proximity to the urban center as well as the size of the city In many cities, the Urban Environment Company (URENCO) – contracted out by the local People’s Committee - collects, transports and disposes of domestic waste and in most cases, industrial and healthcare wastes as well Waste collection rates were low even though they have been improving; from 2000 to

2003, the average collection rate for cities across the country increased from 65 to

71% (VEM, 2004) There is still a great deal of disparity from one city to the next; for

example, the percentage of waste collected in the city of Long An was 45% while in

Hue, it was 75% (VEM, 2004) On average, cities with population size greater than

of waste into nearby rivers, lakes and at sites near home, or burning, or burying the trash is widespread

In contrast to the urban collection rates, rates in the rural areas were dismally low In high-income rural areas, the amount of trash collected was a mere 20%, indicating that collection services for low-income rural population were practically non-existent, a notion supported by Figure 5

their rooms; and market customers pay on the basis of the number of kiosks (Watson,

A D., 2004) Waste collection fees are 500 Vietnamese Dong (VND) per capita per

month for residential customers while businesses pay 2,000-30,000 or VND (Thi, N T

T., 2005). While these fees are sufficient for covering the bulk of operational costs and collectors’ salaries, cities like Hanoi, HCMC and Da Nang, contend that the fees do

not allow them full cost recovery In recent years, they have reported an average

annual deficit of 200 million dong, the equivalent of 13,000 USD (Watson, A D.,

2004). If fees only cover operating costs at best, this means that the URENCOs cannot afford capital expenditures or investments; indeed, they rely on the People’s Committee to fund such investments, money which is allocated by the central government In recent years, much of the money for equipment and infrastructure improvement has come from Official Development Assistance (ODA) of developed nations

The method of waste collection varies from one place to the next In the urban districts, citizens place their waste out on the open gutters of the street in front of their dwelling for URENCO employees to pick up, a process that occurs a few times daily The trash is transported by handcarts that the URENCO collectors push on foot door-to-door When the handcarts, which have a capacity of 0.4 m3, are full, they are pushed

to a designated transfer station not far away where a waste truck will take the waste to the nearest dumpsite or landfill In places where there are no transfer points, residents are provided with a communal container and are responsible for disposing their waste into the containers A URENCO truck comes by daily to unload the communal container and transport it to the dumpsite Suburban districts have a similar process

In general, solid waste is not sorted at the source or at the transfer points More notably, regardless of the type of waste being collected – whether domestic, industrial, healthcare, hazardous or nonhazardous – it is all disposed of in the same landfill

2.8.2 Solid waste disposal

Almost all municipal waste is taken to landfills There are 91 landfills located

throughout Vietnam but only 17 are sanitary landfills (VEM, 2004) Open and

controlled dumps are the predominant form of waste disposal facility Of 61 provincial

capitals, only 12 have engineered and sanitary landfills (VEM, 2004) Most of them do

not have the necessary ground linings or adequate top covers; many of them are

located within 200 – 500 meters of residential areas (Yen, N T., 2004) Many landfills

and dumps are poorly operated, posing an enormous health threat to local populations due to ground and surface water contamination from untreated leachate

In cities like Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) and Hanoi, with help from ODA, existing sanitary landfills are being upgraded with the latest technology One particular sanitary landfill, Go Cat, located outside of HMC has been constructed at the cost of 261.5 billion VND (approximately 20.8 Million USD), 60% of which was funded by

the Netherlands and the rest by the city (Quoc, N B., 2004) The landfill covers 25

hectares (ha), with total capacity being 3.65 million tons, daily capacity of 2,500 tons/day

It includes a system for collecting and treating approximately 400 m3 of leachate water

daily (Krijgsman, R., 2005)

This landfill also has a gas extraction system consisting of vertical gaswells and

an extraction plant that presently extracts gas over an area of 7 ha At a rate of approximately 700 Nm3/hr (Krijgsman, R., 2005) The collected gas fuels an engine, producing approximately 925 kWh presently (Krijgsman, R., 2005)

At full capacity, the biogas recovery system – which includes a gas well, gas capturing pipe and dehydrating equipment – will have the capacity to capture 879,650

tons of gas (646,050 tons of CO2 and 233,000 tons of CH4) Total power generation capacity will be 2.43 MW with an annualoutput of 16 GWh (Yen, N T., 2004) The

operators have already signed a contract to sell the electricity at a rate of 0.04

USD/kWh (Yen, N T., 2004).

Also planned for HCMC is a composting plant with an initial capacity of 600

tons/day that, in full capacity, will be able to handle 1,200 tons daily (Krijgsman, R.,

2005). There are a number of composting facilities in Vietnam, all operating in the north One, Cau Dien composting plant was upgraded in 2000 to treat 50,000 tons/year

of solid wastes In certain cases, the lack of experienced personnel has been disadvantageous to the effectiveness of composting facilities Case in point: in Viet Tri city, a well-known composting produces low quality compost that takes longer to produce due to lack of experience and understanding of biological processes involved

in composting (Yen, N T., 2004)

Incinerating waste is not a common practice in Vietnam A few hospitals in the country have waste incinerators which they use but overall, the healthcare industry’s waste is primarily disposed in landfills For the hospital waste that is incinerated, little data is available on the amount or type of waste being incinerated because they do not

keep records (Thi, N H., 2001) Whatever the case, even though the incinerators are

assessed by the government for technical standards and gas emissions, Vietnam lacks the technology to be able to analyze dioxin concentrations emitted by the incinerators

(Thi, N H., 2001).

2.8.3 Reuse and recycle

Rates of recovery and recycling in Vietnam are high No information is available on the amount of waste recycled annually at the national level although it is known that in Hanoi, approximately onefifth of municipal waste is recycled, which is higher than many Asian cities In general, recycling practices at the household level are quite high due to the fact that many families will give away used items or sell them back to used repair shops

As in many developing countries, the informal recycling sector – which includes waste-pickers and scavengers - in Vietnam plays a significant role in waste management activities At the open and controlled dumps, there are no operational procedures in place and thus, many waste pickers go there to sort through the trash for recyclables Though no information is available at the national level, it is estimated that in 1995, the value of recyclable materials traded by the informal sector in HCMC was approximately VND 135 billion (approximately 9 million USD), which amounted

to VND 15 billion less than the city’s total budget for waste management that year

(VEM, 2004) In 2000 in Hai Phong, the value of plastics, paper, metal, and glass

traded was estimated to be VND 33 billion (2.2 million USD) (VEM, 2004) The most

recyclable materials were plastics (valued at VND 11 billion), followed by paper

(VND 10 billion), and metals (VND 8.5 billion) (VEM, 2004)

2.8.4 Situation arising and the classification of solid waste in Phu Tho province

Along with the socio-economic development, the environment is receiving amounts of solid waste from human activities every day Solid waste is defined as