Rapid cleanup of trash after floods.

To date, more than 11,000 tons of garbage and mud left behind by floods in urban areas of the province have been cleaned up. The cleanup and disposal of waste has become a "rapid campaign" to restore clean streets, fresh air, and normal life for the people.

Song Cong Environmental Company Limited is stepping up waste treatment efforts following the floods.

The water recedes, but the trash remains.

Following the floods, the entire province of Thai Nguyen generated approximately 10,000-12,000 tons of waste and mud in just a few days. Garbage covered everything from the provincial center to the riverside wards and communes, overflowing onto roads, in markets, around schools, and hospitals.

To handle the massive amount of waste, the Department of Construction and the Department of Agriculture and Environment mobilized a total of 18 excavators, more than 120 trucks, hundreds of workers, along with police, military, and militia forces. The environmental cleanup began as soon as the floodwaters receded.

Mr. Pham Hieu Chung, Deputy General Director of Thai Nguyen Urban Environment and Construction Joint Stock Company, shared: From October 9th to the present, the company has mobilized nearly 600 staff and workers, nearly 100 vehicles, to collect and transport more than 25,000 tons of waste to the Da Mai landfill - 10 times the average daily volume.

After the floods, the amount of waste was not only large but also diverse, ranging from household waste, mud, wet waste, industrial waste to damaged furniture and broken construction materials. To handle this, Thai Nguyen Urban Environment and Construction Joint Stock Company and local authorities have set up temporary collection points in the pedestrian zone, Tuc Duyen area, Thinh Dan area, and Quang Vinh football field. These serve as transfer points for waste and reduce the load before it is transported to the Da Mai landfill – the final stage of the process.

The waste collection site of the Da Mai Waste Treatment Plant.

Thai Nguyen Urban Environment and Construction Joint Stock Company mobilized excavators, trucks, and specialized vehicles to coordinate waste collection and shorten transportation distances. To date, temporary waste collection points have been cleaned and disinfected. As a result, the urban environment is ensured, contributing to improved quality of life and aesthetics of the neighborhood.

Racing against time to process waste.

Following the storm, the Da Mai Waste Treatment Plant accumulated thousands of tons of waste, posing a significant technological and safety challenge. Mr. Nguyen Van Viet, Director of the Da Mai Waste Treatment Plant, stated: Before the storm, the plant anticipated the volume of waste, prepared materials, and closely monitored the entire process to ensure no re-pollution. As a result, the large volume of accumulated waste was processed quickly, minimizing the risk of pollution and disease, and restoring a clean environment to the urban area.

At the Thai Nguyen Environmental Company's waste treatment plant, the biggest challenge is the large volume of wet waste, mixed with heavy impurities such as wood, mud, fabric, plastic, and metal. Mr. Nguyen Tien Dat, the plant manager, stated: "Normally, the plant receives about 80-90 tons of waste per day, but after typhoon 11, the amount increased to nearly 100 tons, with wet organic waste accounting for over 70%. The wet waste reduces the incinerator's capacity and affects the quality of treatment."

Workers at the Thai Nguyen Environmental Company's waste treatment plant sort waste.

To adapt, the waste treatment plant of Thai Nguyen Environmental Company has adjusted its operating process towards a flexible and closed-loop system: waste is automatically sorted, dewatered, and temporarily dried before being fed into the furnace, then incinerated at temperatures from 850 to 900°C to ensure emissions meet environmental standards. Thanks to this process, even though the volume of waste has increased by 1.5 times, the plant's processing capacity still reaches 50-60 tons per day, preventing prolonged accumulation.

Not only the Da Mai Waste Treatment Plant and Thai Nguyen Environmental Company, but also Song Cong Environmental Company Limited is considered a shining example in post-storm waste management.

Mr. Hoang Tri Thuc, Deputy Director of Song Cong Environmental Company Limited, said: Although the amount of waste after the flood has increased, the company's waste processing capacity is sufficient. All waste is sorted immediately upon receipt; flammable waste is put into a closed incinerator, while organic waste is composted into bio-fertilizer, both utilizing waste resources and ensuring no environmental pollution is generated.

Based on the experience in Thai Nguyen, the following lessons can be drawn regarding waste collection and treatment after natural disasters: Proactive forecasting and preparation of vehicles, chemicals, and storage sites; coordinated efforts between the government, businesses, and people in collection, transportation, and disinfection; and the application of advanced technologies such as sorting, incineration, and composting, reducing landfilling, limiting pollution, and moving towards a circular economy .

Source: https://baothainguyen.vn/tai-nguyen-moi-truong/202510/than-toc-xu-ly-rac-sau-mua-lu-9f81687/