A worker transports rubbish for waste treatment at the Green Environment Co in HCM City. Recycling enterprises have been urged to improve their technology.

HCM City has more than 300 recycling enterprises, mainly located at districts 6, 8, 10, 11, Binh Tan and Tan Phu. These firms collect various scrap material including paper, glass, metal, aluminium, copper, plastic and rubber.

However, Khoa says most of these are small-scale enterprises which use outdated technology.

Their recycling focuses on two types - incineration or grinding waste materials and adding chemicals to produce new products. More complex electronic scrap like TV sets and fridges are not recycled properly, he adds.

A study conducted by the fund shows 94 per cent of recycling enterprises do not have waste treatment systems and about 84 per cent do not have emission treatment systems.

All the waste produced by these enterprises is freely dumped into the environment, severely contaminating it.

The use of outdated technology also means recycled products are often of poor quality, the use of which can be harmful to health, Khoa says.

He says the country currently has no policy which encourages, supports and facilitates development of the recycling industry and ensures that recycling activities happen spontaneously.

Public awareness of recycling is very limited and there are several officials in the field who do not realise fully the importance of recycling.

Investors who have built recycling factories in HCM City also complain about complicated procedures and the lack of appropriate support from authorities, especially officials at ward and district levels.

Although HCM City has established three funds - the Reusing Fund, the Industrial Pollution Minimisation Fund and the Waste Recycling Fund - they have not been able to effect much change because of limited capital and rates that are unattractive to enterprises using the funds’ services.

Recycling Day

HCM City will organise the second Recycling Day on May 17 at the Le Van Tam Park to raise public awareness and promote the habit among residents and enteprises.

A “Swap old scraps for new” programme will be held through the day to encourage people to swap their scrap among themselves or with the organising committee to get new products.

Those attending the event will also be given books and other materials related to recycling, and cultural performances will promote environmental protection.

VietNamNet/VNS