A Gap Analysis in Selected Asian Countries, 3R Knowledge Hub ...

opportunity for waste recycling businesses
which is in line with Vietnam’s policy to
establish a waste recycling industry by 2010.
Recycling and reusing are mostly for domestic
waste. For many decades, domestic waste has
been recycled through the sale or offer of waste
to vendors or junk shops. Families usually
stock recyclable wastes, such as paper, glass
and metal. Informal vendors buy these articles
and sell them back to recycling workshops.
Programs on waste separation at sources have
been implemented in Hanoi, HCM City, Dong
Nai, Hue, Nghe An, Nam Dinh, Hai Phong,
Quang Ninh, and elsewhere. However, waste
separation remains new for most urban
residents. The majority of communities are
unaware of the importance or the economical
and environmental benefits of solid waste
separation at source, even in areas where a
separation at source program is in place.
Recycling Rate in Vietnam Handicraft Villages
Recycle materials
Plastic
Paper
Metals
Ba Lai SW
Transfer Station
District 6 in
HCMC
Image source: Dr.
N.P. Dan, HCMC
University of
Technology
Raw materials for
recycling (tons/year)
25,200
51,700
735,000
TOTAL
Source: Institute of Environmental Science & Technology, 2004
Tran Binh Trong Transfer Station
Image source: Dr. N.P. Dan, Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology
The informal recycling sector has a significant
financial impact on local economies. The
informal sector collects the majority of the
recyclable and reusable waste in urban areas. In
1995, the value of recyclable materials traded
by the informal sector in Ho Chi Minh City was
estimated to be VND 135 billion, which was to
VND 15 billion less than the city’s total budget
for waste management that year. In Hai Phong,
the value of plastics, paper, metal, and glass
traded was estimated to be VND 33 billion in
2000. The most recyclable materials were
plastics (valued at VND 11 billion), followed by
paper (VND 10 billion), and metals (VND 8.5
billion). A 1996 survey of the informal sector in
Hanoi estimated that 18 to 22% of all waste was
being diverted from the landfill by the informal
recyclers. Given that roughly 1.4 million tons of
waste is produced in Hanoi every year, savings
on disposal costs from recycling currently
range from VND 38 billion to 47 billion.
Products
(tons/year)
22,900
45,500
700,000
768,400
Recycling %
90
80
95
95
Chapter 3: Country Analysis
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