Bac Ninh: Addressing pollution from scrap collection facilities.

BAC NINH - Hundreds of scrap metal collection points are located within residential areas in Bac Ninh province. These collection activities not only cause environmental pollution and detract from urban aesthetics but also pose potential risks to public order and traffic safety. Despite strong measures taken by local authorities and relevant agencies, violations continue to recur.

Potential risks

Along national highways 31, 17, and 18; provincial roads 293, 295B, and 287; inter-communal roads; and the Hanoi -Bac Giang expressway access roads, in residential areas from lowland to mountainous communes of the province, and even on the extended Hoang Van Thu road and Le Loi road (Bac Giang ward), there are bustling scrap collection points and collection facilities. At the scrap collection facility of Ms. Nguyen Thi Huong, located along national highway 279 in Thanh Van 1 village, Luc Ngan commune, a pile of scrap metal, including bicycles, wheelbarrows, rusty iron and steel, and plastic bags, can be seen from afar, stacked 2-3 meters high and stretching for tens of meters, encroaching on the edge of the highway amidst a densely populated residential area. According to reports, whenever it rains, the leachate from this scrap yard emits a very unpleasant odor. When asked about the business conditions for buying and selling scrap metal, Ms. Huong said she was unaware and did not have a business license as required by law.

Police officers inspect a scrap metal purchasing facility in Nengh ward.

In residential area 3, Nui residential area (Tu Lan ward), there are also many scrap metal collection points. Recyclable materials are piled up in large heaps in yards, gardens, and along the roadside connecting Viet Tien and Ngoc Van communes. Whenever the scrap metal gets wet, the owners of these collection points spread plastic bags and scrap paper haphazardly along the road, detracting from the aesthetics of the cultural residential area. Residents of residential area 3, Tu Lan ward, said: When Viet Tien commune, Viet Yen town (before the merger), was building a model new rural commune, the scrap metal collection households still paid attention to maintaining environmental hygiene; but after the commune achieved the new rural commune standard, things have now gone back to how they were before.

In the province, there are many cases of scrap metal collection points being set up near industrial zones to sell waste iron, steel, materials, and lubricants from construction sites and operating factories within these zones. Many of these cases violate the law. Besides causing environmental pollution and detracting from the aesthetics of residential and urban areas, numerous scrap metal collection facilities have recently experienced fires, resulting in loss of life and property.

Tighten management

It is known that the authorities at all levels of Bac Giang and Bac Ninh provinces previously directed and implemented the review, handling, and dismantling of many scrap metal purchasing facilities that violated public order and traffic safety regulations; posed fire and explosion risks; and erected illegal warehouses on agricultural land... Notably, in 2024 and early 2025, the police of Viet Yen town (formerly) coordinated with relevant agencies to simultaneously inspect 173 scrap metal and iron purchasing facilities in the area. Through these inspections, 34 facilities were found to be in violation and were dealt with.

It can be affirmed that scrap metal collection is necessary because it allows for the utilization of many waste products for recycling and reuse, saving production costs. However, the management of scrap metal collection and storage is not strict enough, leading to the increasing number of unauthorized storage points and warehouses in residential areas and streets, causing pollution, unsightly conditions, and posing a potential fire hazard. Many localities and authorities do not know how many scrap metal collection facilities exist in their areas, including the People's Committee of Luc Ngan commune and Tu Lan ward.

Mr. Tran Do Thao, Chairman of the People's Committee of Tu Lan Ward, shared that after the merger, the implementation of a two-tiered local government system still faces many difficulties, so the ward has not yet had time to compile and review the scrap metal collection facilities in the area. It is known that this is also the reason given by many wards and communes in the province, leading to lax management of scrap metal collection and storage facilities. Mr. Vi Van Tu, Chairman of the People's Committee of Luc Ngan Commune, said that in November, the locality will review and rectify the scrap metal collection facilities in the area, ensuring they operate in accordance with regulations.

According to the Department of Agriculture and Environment, to ensure that scrap metal collection activities are properly regulated, local authorities need to focus on inspecting and evaluating the compliance with land, environmental, and fire safety laws by scrap metal collection facilities in their areas. This will allow for timely corrective action to avoid impacting public order and security. Simultaneously, they should strengthen the dissemination of legal regulations; promptly detect and prevent violations; and identify shortcomings in management and operation to advise competent authorities on effective remedial measures.

Text and photos: Dai La

Source: https://baobacninhtv.vn/bac-ninh-khac-phuc-o-nhiem-tu-co-so-thu-gom-phe-lieu-postid431490.bbg