The northern province of Phu Tho aims to apply modern waste treatment technologies in urban and rural zones in a bid to improve the quality of living conditions and protect the environment.

By the end of this year, the locality targets to have all new local production facilities and hospitals equipped with clean water and waste treatment technologies.

Domestic and industrial waste is expected to be classified in 30 percent of local households and 70 percent of businesses while industrial zones deploy waste treatment systems that meet environmental requirements.

Rain water and domestic waste water sewage facilities will also be upgraded in urban areas and industrial clusters and adequate supply of clean water will be ensured for all urban residents and almost all rural areas.

Efforts will also be made to restore local mining areas and develop and protect forests, ensuring forest coverage exceeds 50 percent.

Publicity campaigns will be organised to raise community awareness of environmental protection in residential and industrial areas and in trade villages.

Management and supervision have been strengthened to restrict the import and use of old vehicles and machines while mobilising domestic and international resources to protecting the environment.

In the first half of this year, some 89.59 percent of urban waste were collected and treated. The rural figure is closer to 44.3 percent, according to Deputy Director of the provincial Department of Natural Resources and Environment Luu Van Doanh.

The province has deployed a number of cooperatives, businesses and projects to address local pollution hotspots.

Medical waste from local hospitals has also been collected, classified and treated safely at the facilities, Doanh added.

A waste water treatment system, worth more than three billion VND (140,000 USD) with a daily capacity of 200 cubic metres has been developed in the locality, said Bui Van Thuoc, Director of the Phu Tho Waste Treatment company.

In early 2014, construction was started on a concentrated waste water treatment facility in the Thuy Van Industrial Zone in Viet Tri city at a total cost exceeding 100 billion VND (4.67 million USD), according to Chairman of the city’s People’s Committee Le Hong Van.

The 5,000-cubic-metre daily capacity facility, is expected to address pollution in the industrial zone, Van said.-VNA