Environmental protection in HCM City showed a distinct improvement last year
compared to 2009, with all industrial parks and export processing zones bringing
their consolidated wastewater treatment systems into operation, according to the
Department of Natural Resources and Environment.

Garbage is treated in HCM City’s Dong Thanh dump. The Department of Natural Resources and Environment has worked closely with agencies and neigbouring provinces to tackle pollution and improve waste treatment. (Photo: VNS)

The city collected and
treated properly 1.9 million tonnes of household waste and 43,000 tonnes of
construction debris last year, the department said.

It also said that the
city is now able to treat all the solid waste including those from toxic
industries and the healthcare sector.

Of 37 enterprises
previously identified as serious polluters, 35 have vastly improved their
operations to reduce the environmental pollution caused by them, the Sai Gon
Giai Phong (Liberated Sai Gon) quoted the department as saying on Monday.

The department and
district administrations have also implemented effectively the task of
collecting environmental fees from enterprises and households.

Nguyen Van Hong,
deputy director of the department, said the city mobilised all human sources and
economic sectors to participate in waste treatment.

Investors in waste
treatment are applying advanced technologies to help the city meet its
environmental protection targets for the 2009-2020 period, according to Hong.

The city has also
closely cooperated with the neighbouring provinces of Binh Duong, Tay Ninh, Long
An, Dong Nai and Ba Ria - Vung Tau to solve inter-provincial environmental
pollution issues, including the upgrading of Ba Bo Canal, controlling untreated
wastewater released into Sai Gon and Vam Co Dong rivers as well as the Thay Cai
- An Ha Canal.

The city has also
worked with Long An Province to build a solid waste treatment area to serve both
localities.

To enhance
environmental protection in the coming time, the department is encouraging
expedited work on waste treatment projects carried out by the Tam Sinh Nghia and
Tasco companies to ensure they go into operation by the end of this year.

The department said it
would also cooperate with relevant agencies to inspect environmental pollution
at various projects and manufacturing establishments.

Furthermore, it would
expand and increase international co-operation in environmental protection
activities, the department said.

This year, the
department plans to implement a programme to separate and classify rubbish into
different types at the household level to facilitate the task of waste
treatment.

VietNamNet/Viet
Nam News