18-12, Nishiochiai 2-chome,
Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 161-8575, Japan
Phone: +81-3-5906-0211
FAX: +81-3-5906-0112

Waste Management

BACKGROUND & PURPOSE OF PROJECT

In Vietnam, 15 million tons of solid waste was produced in 2003 and approx. 80% of this waste comes from urban areas. Hanoi city (921km2) has a population of 3 million people and produces 1.0kg of waste per person per day (2004). The city's garbage collection rate is approx. 70% and its reuse/recycling rate remains at approx. 20%. Solid waste left on public roads and illegally disposed of into lakes causes the deterioration of drainage systems and the contamination of underground water supplies. To resolve these environmental problems, Hanoi city is trying to promote the recycling of solid waste under a national environmental policy that aims to have 30% of household garbage being recycled by 2020. In terms of current recycling activities, while a limited type and amount of valuable materials such as metals and glass bottles are being collected by scrap merchants, these activities are not carried out for reasons other than mere personal economic gain. Therefore, the early establishment of a waste management system based on the 3R (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) initiative is required to promote sustainable development in Hanoi while considering the environment. Under these circumstances, the Vietnamese government requested Japan, a country with ample experience in the area of solid waste management, to provide support on the basis of a technical cooperation project.
This project aims to address the problem of urban waste that has developed as a result of rapid social and economic development and urbanization in Vietnam by establishing a harmonious waste management system focusing on the 3R's that would be based on the separation of kitchen waste and on recycling.

CHARACTERISTICS, CONCEPT, STANCE & SKILLS OF PROJECT

In this project, the garbage production structure of Hanoi city was investigated, and 3R environmental education activities based on the "Mottainai" spirit were promoted among the inhabitants of 4 districts making up the Hanoi city center.
Furthermore, participative pilot projects promoting separated collection of garbage and recycling were designed and implemented in collaboration with Vietnamese counterparts. In this pilot project, standardization of the methods of separated collection and recycling was considered, and action plans and planning manuals were created to promote this activity to the whole region of Hanoi.
Finally, educational activities were implemented for the promotion of 3R initiatives focusing on the separated collection and recycling in Hanoi city, and the strategy paper indicating the improvement of urban waste management was formulated.

EFFECT OF PROJECT

1. Improvement in the waste collection in the pilot areas through the activities encouraging separated collection and composts.
2. Formulation of the action plan to expand the target area of the pilot project to the greater area of the Hanoi city.
3. Improvement in the consciousness of local citizens in the pilot project area through the 3R environmental education and public relation activities based on the "Mottainai" spirit.
4. Implementation of promotional activities for programs emphasizing the separated collection of garbage and environmental education.
5. Preparation of a strategy paper that aims to improve the collection system of urban waste based on the program for the separated collection of garbage.