Vinh Long: Considering relocating households living near the An Hiep landfill.

Local authorities are studying options for relocating residents living near the An Hiep landfill.

On the afternoon of December 15th, Mr. Vo Van Ngoan, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Vinh Long province, stated that the An Hiep landfill (An Hiep commune) currently does not meet the requirements regarding the safe environmental distance from residential areas as stipulated in the Law on Environmental Protection.

Based on that, the department is advising the Provincial People's Committee to consider and direct the development of a plan to relocate households living in the directly affected area, in order to gradually ensure environmental safety and stabilize the lives of the people.

The Department has submitted to the Provincial People's Committee a plan to relocate households located within a radius of approximately 500 meters around the landfill. Outside this area, households wishing to relocate will also be considered and appropriately accommodated.

The proposed resettlement site is Lac Dia area (Tan Xuan commune, Vinh Long province). The relocation will be carried out according to a specific plan, ensuring a balance between environmental protection and social welfare, and minimizing disruption to people's lives.

Previously, residents of Giồng Ao hamlet (An Hiệp commune) had repeatedly complained that the An Hiệp landfill was located very close to the Hàm Luông river and freshwater sources used for daily life and production, only about 20-30 meters away.

With the landfill already overloaded, the risk of wastewater seeping into the environment, and especially the possibility of landslides causing the landfill to flow into the Ham Luong River, residents are concerned about the potential for widespread environmental pollution.

Residents have petitioned the province to promptly implement fundamental solutions for wastewater treatment, to cease further expansion of the existing landfill, and to study the planning of a new waste treatment facility, ensuring a safe distance from residential areas.

người dânbãi rác .jpg — Residents are worried about their water supply when living near the An Hiep landfill.

According to the People's Committee of Vinh Long province, the An Hiep landfill has a total area of approximately 12.6 hectares. The landfill cells, now full of waste, are covered with tarpaulins, forming a system for separating and draining rainwater into the Ham Luong River.

Leachate is collected and channeled to a treatment system with a capacity of approximately 80 m³/day, ensuring compliance with environmental standards before discharge. However, due to some incomplete technical aspects, rainwater mixes with the leachate, increasing the amount of wastewater generated and putting pressure on the treatment system.

According to previous plans, the An Hiep landfill is one of three centralized waste treatment areas, with an estimated area of approximately 20 hectares. Currently, the landfill is receiving and processing household waste from 16 communes and wards, and is expected to meet demand until the end of 2026, while awaiting the operation of the waste-to-energy incineration plant in Phu Tan ward in 2027.

During the period 2025–2026, Vinh Long province will implement the An Hiep landfill expansion project (phase 3) with an area of nearly 6.7 hectares, combined with planting trees to minimize environmental impact; strengthening waste management and treatment solutions and ensuring environmental safety for the surrounding area.

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