The nightmare of open-air landfills.

On windy days in Hanoi, the pungent smell of garbage from open-air landfills in the suburbs is carried by the wind, seeping into residential areas, clinging to rooftops, and even affecting the meals of many families living near the garbage collection and processing sites. Beyond the unpleasant odor, these uncovered and inadequately managed landfills are becoming a major cause of air pollution, dust, groundwater contamination, and soil degradation, threatening public health and the regional ecosystem.

Báo Tin Tức•26/11/2025

Photo caption

Along the Kim Ngưu River, within a distance of less than 1 km, dozens of open-air garbage dumps can be seen, causing environmental pollution and affecting health and the urban landscape of Hanoi . Photo: Phuong Anh/TTXVN

This has been the situation for many years in several communes such as Soc Son, Phu Xuyen, and Chuong My, where large and small-scale landfills still operate using traditional burial methods, and even many unauthorized collection points exist.

At many open-air landfills, household waste, plastic packaging, leftover food, construction debris, etc., are piled high in layers without being covered in a timely manner. Under sunlight or during humid weather, the temperature rises, causing the waste to decompose rapidly, producing many toxic gases such as: H2S (hydrogen sulfide) which has a rotten egg smell and irritates the eyes; CH4 (methane) which is flammable and poses a fire hazard; and NH3 (ammonia) which irritates the respiratory tract. Particularly noteworthy is the fine dust around the area, originating from transport vehicles, the waste turning process, and the dry surface of the landfill.

On average, Hanoi generates 6,000-7,000 tons of waste daily, but the majority is still disposed of through landfilling, quickly leading to landfills becoming overloaded. Furthermore, many landfills are not properly constructed due to residents dumping waste in the surrounding areas, creating numerous small, spontaneous dumps, or temporary dumping by collection units, lacking proper covering and leachate collection ponds. Meanwhile, waste treatment technology remains outdated, primarily relying on traditional landfilling, and environmental monitoring is also inadequate.

Mr. Nguyen Van Quan, a resident of Nam Son commune (Hanoi), shared: "There are days when the smell of garbage is so strong in my yard that it's hard to breathe. It's even more pungent at night. The children here cough constantly, and we have to keep the doors and windows closed all the time."

The consequences of these open-air landfills are not only air pollution but also soil and groundwater pollution, which have long-term effects on the health and quality of life of the people. A more worrying issue is leachate – a thick, black mixture containing heavy metals, decaying organic matter, and pathogenic bacteria – seeping into the soil and flowing into residential areas via groundwater. This leachate contains substances such as lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), ammonia (NH4+), high levels of COD and BOD5, and bacteria like E. coli and Coliform. In residential areas located only 300-500 meters from the landfills, many wells have changed color or emitted strange odors.

Ms. Tran Thi Lan (Hong Ky commune, Hanoi) shared: "The well at my house used to have very clear water. In recent years, the water pumped up has sometimes turned yellow like tea, with grease floating on the surface. My family has to buy clean water for drinking and cooking, which is very expensive. Groundwater pollution not only affects human health but also has long-term impacts on crops and livestock, causing soil degradation."

Monitoring data from numerous environmental organizations has also consistently shown that areas near large landfills consistently have high concentrations of PM2.5 fine particulate matter, exceeding the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO). This is a major cause of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases and has long-term effects on the nervous system.

Photo caption

Open-air garbage dumps along the Kim Ngưu River are causing environmental pollution and affecting the health and urban landscape of Hanoi. Photo: Phuong Anh/TTXVN

Not only at the Nam Son landfill, but also on streets, small roads leading into residential areas, and sections of dikes, it's easy to find piles of waste, including both organic and inorganic waste, dumped and spontaneously burned. Many landfills even smolder day after day due to the high content of nylon and plastic waste.

Ms. Do Thi Hang, residing in Tay Ho ward (Hanoi), stated that due to its proximity to the market, the local household waste dump is frequently overloaded, overflowing onto the street. Because the waste cannot be processed and removed quickly enough, it is spontaneously burned, causing an unpleasant, pungent odor that persists for days. Whenever the dump emits smoke, the entire nearby neighborhood has to live in a polluted and suffocating atmosphere.

Along Nguyen Xien, Trung Van, and Thang Long Boulevard, it's not uncommon to see people burning straw, agricultural waste, and even household garbage right by the roadside. Bags of household waste, large and small, and all kinds of plastic bags are scattered everywhere. When the amount of garbage becomes excessive, they burn it, sending up thick black smoke that obstructs traffic.

Mr. Bui Cong Bien, a resident of an apartment building in Dai Mo ward (Hanoi), expressed his frustration: "Due to the spontaneous burning of garbage, smoke from the alleys blows directly into our house. My asthma is getting worse. We earnestly hope the authorities will take strong measures; this situation cannot be allowed to continue."

According to Dr. Hoang Duong Tung, Chairman of the Vietnam Clean Air Network, burning trash is a major reason why air quality in Hanoi is consistently poor. If left unchecked, people will suffer long-term harm, especially children, the elderly, and those with underlying health conditions.

Residents are not only suffering from health problems but also frustrated by the deteriorating urban landscape. Smoke from burning garbage makes once-clean streets gloomy, and unpleasant odors permeate their living spaces. Ms. Le Thi Hanh, a resident of Dai Mo ward (Hanoi), shared: “We want Hanoi to be clean, but every morning we see thick smoke when we go out. We hope the authorities will intervene, not only to deal with the garbage but also to severely punish those who intentionally burn it.”

Pollution from open-air landfills is a problem that cannot be solved overnight, but now is the time for strong, decisive, and sustainable steps. Hanoi is aiming to transition to modern treatment technologies, gradually reducing landfilling, and simultaneously strengthening household waste sorting.

With technological advancements, increased public awareness, and stricter management systems, Hanoi can completely break free from the "vicious cycle of pollution from waste," restoring clean air, clean water, and a safe living environment for its people.

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/cong-dong/noi-am-anh-bai-rac-lo-thien-20251126161639884.htm