Int’l research firm sees potential in VN’s solid waste market

Research and Markets company has affirmed that solid waste management
industry in Vietnam was potential and the industrial solid waste
management market would continue to grow fast.

In a
summary report posted onto http://www.researchandmarkets.com, the
leading supplier of international market research and market data wrote:
"Vietnam is currently one of the fastest growing and untapped solid
waste management markets in the Asia-Pacific region" and "The share of
urban population further increased which infused municipal solid waste
generation growth to reach new height."

The report
showed that fast industrialization and urbanization has been promoted in
Vietnam with urban population rising to 31.7 million and accounting for
37 percent of the national population in the first half of 2009. This
trend has intensified in 2010.

It added that among
the sectors, industrial solid waste is growing at the fastest rate in
the country. Sectors including, food and beverages, wearing apparel,
tanning and dressing of leather, wood and products of wood, fabricated
metal products are the backbone of Vietnams industrial sector and
together represent 65 percent of all industrial employment and 57
percent of all industrial firms in the country. Amid the fast
developments in industrial production, the industrial solid waste
generation has reached an estimated 5.7 million tonnes in 2010 and has
been anticipated to post phenomenal growth at 19 percent during
2011-2014.

It wrote: "The government has approved
the waste management strategy outlining specific plans to 2025. The plan
states that any organization or individual releasing waste that causes
pollution must pay for damages. By 2025, the government aims for
developments of solid waste recycling plant in all cities for households
to dispose and treat their waste. In addition, to control pollution,
100 percent of solid waste from urban areas and toxic and non-toxic
industrial solid waste will be collected and treated. Besides, 90
percent of construction solid waste and rural residential solid waste
also aimed to be collected and treated."

According
to the Research and Markets company, the business and social environment
in Vietnam has become favourable for foreign investments owing to the
WTO accession and relaxed regulatory policies./.

Related Articles

• Jan-Sept aviation market growth put at 20%
• Japan finalises port city strategy research
• Greenback firmer on signs of rising demand
• PM foresees bright future for co-operation with Africa
• Vietnam Air accepts web check-in for int’l flights

Theme park builder concerned about nearby waste complex

HCMC – The developer of the Disneyland-style Happyland Vietnam project in the southern province of Long An on Wednesday expressed grave concern over a nearby, huge waste treatment project still under preparation.

The US$2 billion Happyland Vietnam tourism and recreational project is to be developed by a subsidiary of the HCMC-based Khang Thong Group. This theme park, expected to cover 300 hectares along the Vam Co Dong River in Ben Luc District, suddenly finds itself located in close proximity with what will become a dumpsite nearly six times larger.

This huge “land of happiness” is expected to start construction early next year and to open from April 2014 with an estimated 14 million visitors a year, said Nguyen Anh Diep, CEO of Happyland Entertainment Development Joint Stock Company under Khang Thong Group.

Diep told the Daily on Wednesday that “the company is very concerned about negative impacts on his Happyland project because of bad odor from the Thu Thua Waste Treatment Complex” some 3km away.

The waste treatment site – which is still in the process of making the feasibility study – is to be developed by Vietnam Waste Solutions Company Limited (VWS), also the developer of Da Phuoc Waste Treatment Complex in HCMC that has already caused huge grievances to local residents.

“Environmental pollution could be occurring like what has been happening at Da Phuoc Waste Treatment Complex. If air is to be polluted, millions of visitors at the tourism area would suffer,” Diep said.

The future operation of the huge dumpsite will also damage the view of the park, he said.

Diep explained Happyland Vietnam was designed with a riverfront section stretching some 3.7 kilometers along the Vam Co Dong River, so it will be very inconvenient for visitors to see waste being transported from HCMC to the waste facility on barges passing by the river everyday.

Talking to the Daily on the phone on Wednesday, a leader of Long An Province said the province would strictly oversee the waste treating process of the Thu Thua Waste Treatment Complex to control environmental pollution when it starts operation. However, the leader gave no further comment on negative environmental impacts on the tourism project.    

The dumpsite investor, meanwhile, is proceeding with the project, and is to hold a press conference on Thursday to announce the feasibility study including treatment technologies and investment capital.

Pham Thi Thuy Nga, communications manager of VWS, told the Daily on Wednesday that the company was expected to spend some US$700 million on this huge waste treatment facility over a period of 20 years.

Earlier, the Ministry of Construction and authorities of HCMC and Long An had given approval for VWS to develop the waste treatment area in Tan Thanh and Thu Thua districts of Long An to help treat large amounts of household waste for both Long An and HCMC.

The plan for developing Thu Thua Waste Treatment Complex was agreed upon in 2002 by Long An and HCMC governments. Meanwhile, the investor of Happyland Vietnam project got an investment certificate for the tourism and recreational site around two years ago.

Related Articles

• Theme park builder concerned about nearby waste complex
• Charm Engineering to build huge complex in Binh Duong
• Government vows to bail out insolvent shipbuilder Vinashin
• PM sets agenda for insolvent shipbuilder
• East Asian university forum opens in Hanoi

Textile firm discharges waste

HA NOI — Two employees of Pangrim Neotex, a Korean textile company, were caught discharging around 1,000cu.m of untreated waste water into the Hong (Red) River in Viet Tri City on Sunday, according to Phu Tho Province's Environment Police Bureau head Ngo Quy Trieu.

"A sample of the waste water was sent to the provincial Department of Natural Resources and Environment for testing to determine the company's violation," Trieu said.

Yoon Wou Suk, a representative from the company, admitted to the wrongdoing. However, Suk explained that the company's waste treatment facility was in operation as of 1997 but the company was building a new treatment facility, which is expected to open in just over one year.

The provincial People's Committee fined the company VND23 million (US$1,173) last year for violating environmental regulations.

In 2003, the Prime Minister approved a plan to impose harsher punishments on companies that cause severe environmental pollution. This includes Pangrim Neotex.

Under the current regulation, polluters will be fined between VND100,000-500 million ($5.2-25,500) depending on violation. — VNS

Related Articles

• Greenback firmer on signs of rising demand
• More Vietnamese goods head for regional markets
• High rice price cuts exports
• Woods eager to carry momentum into BMW stomping ground
• Vietnam Air accepts web check-in for int’l flights