Vietnam will collect, reuse, and recycle most of its solid waste by using environmentally friendly methods by 2050, and minimise the amount of buried solid waste, according to a new Government strategy.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung on December 17 approved the waste management strategy, which outlines specific plans to 2025 as well as general expectations until 2050.

By 2025, the plan calls for all cities to have a solid waste recycling plant each and for all households to sort their waste. Solid waste treatment complexes will be built at major economic centres nationwide.

To prevent pollution, 100 percent of solid waste from urban areas and toxic and non-toxic industrial solid waste will be collected and treated.

Ninety percent of solid waste from construction and 90 percent of solid waste from rural residential areas will be collected and treated as well.

The use of plastic bags at supermarkets and commercial centres will be reduced by 85 percent compared to the 2010 figure. The plan also emphasises the need to reuse and recycle.

Policies on solid waste management will be improved during that time, and a database and observation system on solid waste will be set up. Scientific research on waste reuse and recycling will be encouraged.

Raising public awareness about environmental issues and establishing a fund on recycling solid waste are also part of the plan.

To generate additional funds, the Government will mobilise investment on solid waste management and seek support from Official Development Assistance (ODA) from international donors.

Under the strategy, there will be a total of 10 solid waste management projects until 2025.

Sore eyes, diarrhoea, cholera, typhoid, and dermatological and respiratory ailments can occur as a result of exposure to solid waste.

According to preliminary statistics, Hanoi and HCM City are the greastest sources of solid waste.

Despite having only 24 percent of the national population, the two cities release more than 6 million tonnes of solid waste every year, accounting for 50 percent of the amount nationwide./.