After 12 years of implementing the Environmentally-friendly City Project during 2008 - 2020, Da Nang has achieved seven out of the ten criteria. However, there are still many shortcomings related to the management and treatment of solid waste, investment in technical infrastructure, as well as the application of information technology in automatic environmental monitoring.

On the beaches stand trash cans for residents and visitors to dispose of garbage in accordance with regulations. In particular, the creative model of a giant goby (Bong), which seems to eat plastic waste, aims to encourage beachgoers not to throw their rubbish, especially plastic waste, into the water, so to feed the Goby and not the ocean. Photo: PHUC AN

A number of management indicators achieved outstanding results such as the percentage of urban population provided with clean water at 99%; the rate of urban domestic wastewater collected and treated up to standard at 83.5%; the rate of daily-life solid waste collection reaching more than 95% in urban areas and over 70% in rural areas.

Status of waste disposal, collection and treatment

By 2020, Da Nang had basically achieved seven out of the ten targets of the project ‘Building Da Nang into an environmentally-friendly city’ for the 2008 - 2020 period. However, the rapid urbanisation process and economic growth goals have continuously increased pressure on the environment.

On average, the city generates about 80,000 tonnes of waste each year, of which plastic waste accounts for about 0.19kg/person/day, accounting for 23% of the emission target.

According to a recent report by the Da Nang Urban Environment JSC, in the 2016 – 2019 period, the total amount of domestic solid waste increased from 868 tonnes/day to 941 tonnes/day with an average growth rate of 9 - 15%/ year.

The main source of waste emissions comes from people's daily activities, commercial and service activities, schools and offices and public areas.

Information recently collected by research organisations in the city shows that the main components of domestic solid waste are products having organic elements with the proportion of up to 75% of the total waste amount.

Notably, plastic products and bags account for 14% of the total waste amount. This is an ingredient with a long decomposition time. Normally, plastic items that can take up to 1,000 years to decompose in landfills significantly affect the environment, and human and animal health.

The volume of industrial and medical waste collected and treated in the city also tends to increase during 2016 - 2019.

In 2019, industrial waste reached 16,800 tonnes, medical waste reached 5,300 tonnes and the group of hazardous waste of these two types reached nearly 380 tonnes.

According to the National Environment Report, Da Nang is a locality with a large level of hazardous medical solid waste (> 500 tonnes/year), ranking 6th in the country.

This group of wastes has toxic pathogens, a high risk of infection, but currently, there is no dedicated vehicle to collect it according to standards to ensure safe transportation.

It is forecasted that, by 2030, the amount of solid waste generated throughout the city will be very large as domestic solid waste may increase to 2,000 - 2,200 tonnes/day, industrial waste 700 tonnes/day, medical solid waste about 18 tones/day. Notably, hazardous medical solid waste can account for up to 2.5 - 3 tones/day.

The project ‘Building Da Nang into an environmentally-friendly city’ in the 2021 - 2030 period features 31 specific criteria, focusing on four key tasks such as pollution prevention and control, environmental improvement, solving key issues, the conservation of nature and biodiversity, capacity building and raising awareness about environmental protection.

With a total investment capital of more than VND15,000 billion, the project is expected to mobilise maximum resources to further improve the existing environmental criteria, strive to develop Da Nang in the direction of an ecological urban area in accordance with the roadmap by 2030, thus creating an attraction for domestic and foreign investors and tourists.

Synchronously implementing waste collection and treatment

With the aim of becoming a livable city with beautiful landscape while still ensuring the goals of green and sustainable economic growth, it is necessary to synchronously implement the following specific solutions.

Firstly, it is a need to well manage and synchronously implement the process of collection, classification, storage and treatment of trash, especially industrial and medical waste in order to raise people's awareness of environmental protection.

Heed should be paid to promoting the reuse and recycling of non-hazardous wastes, limit landfilling if not necessary.

Secondly, the city is recommended to improve policies on investment in resources, equipment, modern transfer stations, and means of collection and transportation in order to mechanize waste treatment steps. 

There must be plans to arrange appropriate waste collection locations, far from residential areas, in tandem with increasing waste sorting at the source to limit infection.

Thirdly, it is necessary to build up waste collection sites and hazardous waste treatment complexes, as well as upgrade leachate treatment systems to minimize the intrusion of toxic chemicals into the natural environment.

Fourthly, it is high time for the city to actively research and perfect the system of unit prices and reasonable environmental sanitation costs, ensuring the funding source for the implementation of the waste treatment process in association with environmental protection and employees’ benefits.

Last, but not least, it is suggested that the city continue to launch many movements such as ‘Against plastic waste’, ‘Say no to plastic bags and single-use plastic products’ and ‘Wet markets limit the use of plastic bags’, and encourage residents and tourists to put waste into the designated sites.

With the joint efforts and companionship of all levels of authorities and local residents in reducing waste emissions into the environment, it is hoped that Da Nang will soon complete the above-mentioned project of great significance in the 2021 – 2030 period and turn itself into a green destination highly inviting to a large number of domestic and international tourists.

Reporting by Ph.D NGUYEN HUU NGUYEN XUAN from the Da Nang University of Economics - Translating by ANH THU