Environmental pollution due to temporary landfills in communes

Overloading and poor environmental sanitation are the current reality at many communal landfills in Hai Phong city.

Hai Phong Urban Environment One Member Co., Ltd collects, transports and treats domestic waste in Tien Lang commune.

Unsafe environment

Recently, people in the communes of Vinh Bao, Vinh Thuan, Vinh Thinh… have frequently reported that temporary landfills in the area are overloaded. Organic waste and scrap are mixed together, overflowing the walkways, emitting a foul smell, affecting people’s lives.

Temporary landfills that do not ensure environmental sanitation are a headache for both residents and localities in the city.

According to statistics from the Department of Agriculture and Environment of the city, the communes in the eastern area of ​​Hai Phong currently have 134 temporary landfills, of which 91 are in operation and 43 are not receiving. The number of temporary landfills is most concentrated in the communes of the former districts of An Lao, Tien Lang, and Vinh Bao. The communes of the former district of Vinh Bao such as Vinh Bao, Vinh Thinh, Vinh Thuan... have the most with 46 landfills.

In the west of the city, there are a total of 661 landfills for domestic waste, of which 256 are closed or have stopped operating, and 405 are in operation. The amount of waste processed is about 675 tons, equivalent to 52% of the total amount of waste generated in the west of the city.

Of the 405 operating landfills, 49 are no longer able to store; 173 landfills have an occupancy rate of 70% to less than 95%, still able to store, but the volume is not much; 183 landfills have an occupancy rate of less than 70%.

Hu Tri village landfill, Vinh Bao commune does not ensure environmental sanitation.

However, there are up to 356 yards that are still capable of receiving, but the infrastructure conditions are not guaranteed and to meet the requirements, they must be renovated and upgraded.

Ensuring environmental sanitation from temporary landfills is a concern for local authorities. Deputy Head of the Economic Department of Truong Tan Commune Vu Thi May said that the commune has 12 landfills, of which one is a transfer site. In the past, environmental protection at landfills was limited, many landfills were overloaded. The commune had to spend its own money to improve the environment, but local resources were limited.

Currently, 6 villages have businesses participating in waste collection and transportation services, so environmental sanitation is guaranteed. The commune is asking businesses to participate in supporting the next 9 villages.

According to the assessment of the city's Department of Agriculture and Environment, communal landfills are mainly formed spontaneously, without a master plan. This leads to the situation where landfills are located at the beginning of villages, hamlets or river banks, many of which are only stored for a short time... but because they "carry" a large amount of garbage for a long time, they quickly become overloaded.

Besides, the management and operation mechanism of temporary landfills is under the responsibility of the commune level, but local financial resources are limited, making it difficult to invest in upgrading.

It is necessary to thoroughly classify waste at the source.

Workers of Hai Phong Urban Environment One Member Co., Ltd. guide people of Tien Lang commune to classify garbage.

In response to the need to ensure environmental sanitation at communal landfills, Hai Phong City has been handling temporary landfills by closing and renovating small, substandard landfills. At the same time, it has been promoting centralized waste treatment solutions such as building solid waste treatment areas and large waste treatment plants.

The city encourages waste classification at source, composting organic waste into bio-fertilizers and transferring organic waste to competent treatment units.

Since March 2025, the People's Committee of Hai Duong province has previously directed localities to close 49 landfills that are full and no longer able to receive waste, ensuring compliance with regulations; allocate funds to renovate, upgrade, expand, build new landfills, and operate landfills, with priority given to localities with urgent needs, many landfills with an occupancy rate of more than 90%.

Upgrading and renovating temporary landfills to ensure environmental sanitation is necessary. But in the long term, it is necessary to thoroughly organize waste classification at source.

The landfill in Truong Tan commune does not ensure environmental sanitation.

In addition, localities should continue to replicate the organic waste composting model to reduce the amount of waste that must be transported and treated at landfills and factories; and expand the implementation of organic waste composting at households. The city needs to have a program to guide and support communes in operating and managing landfills.

Another fundamental solution is to speed up the implementation of modern technology waste treatment plant projects, such as the APT Seraphin Hai Duong waste treatment plant project, the Dinh Vu waste incineration power generation project... to reduce the rate of waste treated by landfill.

Hai Phong City has issued technical and economic norms for the collection, transportation, and treatment of domestic solid waste. This is the basis for supporting local budgets to pay for units that collect, transport, and treat domestic waste; thereby attracting qualified businesses to participate and meet the requirements for treating domestic waste generated in the area.

BAO CHAU

Source: https://baohaiphong.vn/o-nhiem-moi-truong-vi-bai-rac-tam-o-cac-xa-525773.html