The Da Nang Urban Environment Joint Stock Company, in addition to collecting domestic waste in residential areas on a daily basis, also actively collects and processes medical waste and hazardous waste that may contain SARS-CoV-2 viruses at pandemic control checkpoints or quarantine areas; thereby, contributing to ensuring safety and environmental sanitation for the city.

The hazardous waste with a high risk of containing SARS-CoV-2 viruses is strictly collected, transported and processed to ensure safety for pandemic prevention and control. A janitor is spraying disinfectant on dust carts containing potentially hazardous wastes of SARS-CoV-2 in Lien Chieu District. Photo: VAN HOANG

According to Mr Le Van Nhat, Director of Hoa Vang Environmental Enterprise (under Da Nang Urban Environment Company), as soon as the city returns to a new normal state, the demand for entering or leaving the city is increasing, leading to a sharp increase in the amount of waste at the checkpoints. Therefore, the unit has actively arranged workers to clean, and place garbage cans labelled separate classifications, as well as build more public toilets.

At the same time, the unit collects garbage every day as scheduled to ensure pandemic prevention and control. Apart from that, in order to secure safety in the process of collecting and transporting styrofoam boxes, plastic bottles, plastic bags, facemasks, medical gloves, the unit has equipped workers with necessary labour protection equipment and knowledge on the pandemic prevention and control regulations.

In the same vein, the Waste Management and Treatment Enterprise is in charge of collecting and treating hazardous wastes at 19 locations such as designated quarantine areas, checkpoints, industrial park, Da Nang international airport, Da Nang station.

As reported, the amount of waste potentially containing SARS-CoV-2 viruses collected by the unit is about 500 kg/day, down 70% compared to when the pandemic was strongly presented in the city; household waste with risk of infection is only about 10m3/day. To address the above-mentioned amount of waste, the unit maintains and operates the ST200 incinerator (with a capacity of 4 tons of waste/day) for hazardous waste; uses the same-day burial method in a separate area, sprays Chloramine B periodically twice a day to disinfect household waste at risk of infection.

In terms of sludge and septic tank waste, the unit also collects, processes and disinfects within the same day to ensure safety for pandemic prevention and control.

Since June 2021, Da Nang Urban Environment Joint Stock Company and its affiliated units and employees have constantly strived to complete the task of collecting, transporting and treating waste at 527 facilities, quarantine areas, checkpoints for pandemic prevention and control, field hospital No. 2; in tandem with placing nearly 820 trash cans and 63 toilets to serve these areas.

Moreover, this company has joint hands with the "Environmental incident response" team established by the Department of Natural Resources and Environment to arrange vehicles and human resources to support and tackle problems related to drainage systems and septic tanks for many households in the city.

In the upcoming time, the company is going to continue to direct its affiliated enterprises to continue to be proactive, coordinate with localities and quarantine and blockaded areas to arrange vehicles and equipment so as to perform well the waste collection, transportation and treatment. Thereby, not only the green, clean and beautiful environment has been preserved but also contributes strength to our city’s fight against the pandemic.

According to the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Information, at the end of September 2021, the department awarded certificates of merit to 8 collectives and 17 individuals with excellent achievements in pandemic prevention and control duties. Specifically, the Waste Management and Treatment Enterprise, Son Tra Environmental Enterprise, and Thanh Khe Environmental Enterprise are 3 out of 8 outstanding units awarded.

Reporting by VAN HOANG- Translating by T.VY