Vietnam ’s 16 economic sectors need almost 7.6 billion USD for
environmental protection, especially the aquatic sector with 1 billion
USD needed.
Dang Van Loi, Deputy Director of the
Pollution Control Department under the Vietnam Environment
Administration (VEA) said only 65 percent of 180 functional industrial
zones nationwide were equipped with waste water treatment systems by the
end of last year.
Each day, major urban areas dump
an estimated 29,800 tonnes of solid waste. Of that, about 83 percent is
collected and treated. In rural areas, the figure was about 30,500
tonnes per day with only 60 percent of it collected for treatment.
Up to now, 17 cities and provinces nationwide are in the process of
approving solid waste management plans while another 25 localities are
drawing up plans. The remainder, are giving consideration to the issue.
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment is
working on a master plan to treat solid wastes in three key economic
zones, including seven waste treatment facilities being built between
now and 2020 at a total cost of nearly 600 million USD.
According to the VEA, in addition to issuing policy to develop
environmental science and raising public awareness of environmental
protection, Vietnam needs to attract more domestic and foreign
businesses, with a view to turning waste into useful products or energy
using modern technology.-VNA