Covering an area of 32.4ha in Hoa Khanh Nam Ward, Lien Chieu District, Da Nang, the Khanh Son landfill site is expected to be full by May 2020, and its working life is likely to end no later than 2021.

The Khanh Son landfill site is expected to be full by May 2020

Meanwhile, work has yet to start on a solid waste treatment complex, and this project is expected to be put into operation by at least late 2022. 

The city, therefore, is now facing challenges in dealing with the large volume of untreated solid waste. It is reported that, every day, between 850 and 900 tonnes of solid waste are collected from across the city and buried at the landfill.

Amid pending the future opening of the solid waste treatment complex, it is high time for the city to extend the lifespan of the Khanh Son landfill until at least 2022.

Relevant local agencies are currently focusing on carrying out 2 major tasks: one is to conduct preparatory work for the upgrade of some facilities at the Khanh Son landfill, whilst the other involves the implementation of effective measures to deal with the current environmental pollution at the landfill.

In order to eliminate unpleasant odours from the existing landfill site, the municipal Urban Environment Company has already operated a new deodorant spraying line there.

Also, some dumping areas, covering 95,500m² in total at the site, have been covered with canvas sheets in order to contain the bad odour and prevent rainwater from seeping into these locations.

Noticeably, a new leachate treatment facility at the Khanh Son landfill has operated effectively since mid-October. 

The 88 billion VND facility funded by the city budget has a daily treatment capacity of 700m³.

The reasonable adjustments of the leachate treatment methods are underway. Accordingly, the integrated biological (anaerobic–aerobic) and physico-chemical treatment technologies are used to ensure that the quality of treated landfill leachate meet the national standards for the sake of the city’s environment protection.

The handing of investment procedures for the upgrade of some facilities at the Khanh Son landfill is getting underway.

The upgrade is expected to be completed by late 2020 at a total cost of 189 billion VND funded by the city budget.

Accordingly, importance will be attached to upgrading the 5 existing dumping areas at the Khanh Son landfill, and opening similar one.

Some dumping areas have been covered with canvas sheets in order to contain the bad odour and prevent rainwater from seeping into these locations.

Appeals for domestic and foreign investment are underway to develop the solid waste treatment complex which is expected to have a daily capacity of at least 1,000 tonnes, and even more in the future.

This project aims to find suitable technological solutions to treat urban solid waste, whilst minimising the negative environmental impacts caused by solid waste in the city. This, thereby, will help the locality ensure more effective waste management, and become an environmentally-friendly in the near future.

It is reported that the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the complex project’s consultants, is conducting pre-feasibility study and opening project bids.

The completed pre-feasibility study will be submitted to the municipal government for consideration by late this year.

The city has set a target of collecting 100% of solid waste for treatment, with 80% to be recycled and reused in 2030. It is expected that by 2050, some 95% of solid waste will be recycled and reused.