Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung toured the Vietnam Waste Solution (VWS) company – a well-regarded solid waste treatment operator based in Ho Chi Minh City - on February 2, the third day of the traditional Lunar New Year.

PM Dung hailed VWS’s operation model and its application of advanced technology imported from the US that, according to him, has met Vietnam ’s highest requirements to treat solid waste.

He said its existence is crucial as HCM City is home to nearly 10 million people, who generate a huge amount of waste per day, not to mention those in localities nearby.

The Government leader reminded VWS to stringently avoid polluting the environment through its operations.

He called on municipal authorities to clear any obstacles preventing the company from making progress, and told the firm that it could seek assistance from ministries when necessary.

During his visit, the PM also presented gifts to workers who were on duty during the holidays.

Based in Binh Chanh district’s Da Phuoc solid waste treatment complex, the 150 million USD VWS plant is the first private solid waste treatment firm in Vietnam to adopt land-filling technology.

Starting in January 2007, VWS has a daily treatment capacity of 10,000 tonnes of waste. It now handles 3,000 tonnes for HCM City and 20 tonnes for the southern province of Long An per day.

It is also working on a facility covering some 2,000 hectares in Long An.-VNA