As many as 45 out of 63 cities and provinces nationwide have come up with their own master plans for solid waste management, said a senior official at a Hanoi workshop on August 11.

In urban areas, about 31,500 tonnes of wastes, or 84 percent of the total, were collected and treated per day, said head of the Construction Ministry’s Technical Infrastructure Department Nguyen Hong Tien.

In Ho Chi Minh City alone, 50 percent of solid wastes are collected by private firms or cooperatives.

While in rural areas, non-State sectors are more interested in models of collecting, transporting and treating solid wastes.

Participants suggested the adoption of technologies tailored to each project’s scale and region, and incentives for stakeholders.

According to Deputy Construction Minister Phan Thi My Linh, the ministry has issued documents guiding the realisation of a decree on solid waste management.

Hideki Wada from the Japan International Cooperation Agency said Japan will assist Vietnam in dealing with issues relevant to environment and solid waste management.

It will suggest viable ideas after making fact-finding trips to landfills across the country, he said, adding that Vietnam should encourage the public involvement in the work.-VNA