In 2022, Da Nang invested, piloted and tested many new solutions and technologies in environmental protection. These solutions and technologies, slated to be put into operation from 2023, are expected to bring positive changes in the city's environmental protection.

Employees of the SEEN Engineering JSC in Da Nang are operating the wastewater treatment system to ensure the environment. Photo: HOANG HIEP

Changing method of garbage collection and transportation

In the last days of 2022, relevant units urgently handled administrative procedures to put two modern garbage transfer stations on Le Thanh Nghi Street and in Son Tra District, and 14 new generation small garbage compactors as well, into operation synchronously before the Lunar New Year 2023.

Both garbage transfer stations, totalling VND312 billion, feature six advanced garbage pressing systems with a total capacity of nearly 700 tonnes/day, and two systems for crushing bulky and large-sized garbage such as beds, cabinets, tables, chairs and mattresses.

In addition, there are hooklift trucks carrying closed containers of compressed garbage with a capacity of 10.35 tonnes each, plus leachate treatment, automatic truck washing, and garbage disposal cleaning and deodorization systems.

The stations are managed by the Da Nang Management Board for Infrastructure Construction and Urban Development Investment Projects, and developed by the SEEN Engineering JSC and the Saigon Transportation Mechanical One Member Company Limited (SAMCO).

In December, 2022, the Da Nang Urban Environment JSC received 14 garbage compactor trucks with lids from the SAMCO and the Duc Long Transport-Trade and Industrial Construction JSC at a total investment of VND15.7 billion.

Of this, 10 garbage compactor trucks have a tank capacity of 4m3 and loading weight of 1.5 tonnes each, whilst the remaining 4 have a tank capacity of 7m3 and loading weight of 3 tonnes each.

Mr. Dang Que Hung, a SAMCO representative, informed that the garbage transfer station on Le Thanh Nghi street has the most advanced technologies and the largest scale in Viet Nam, whilst the one in Son Tra District is more complete.

According to Mr. Hung, it can be affirmed that this is not only the innovation of technology, equipment and means of garbage collection and transfer, but also a synchronous technical solution to help change the urban beauty and environmental sanitation, and create urban civilization in the city.

Director of the municipal Department of Natural Resources and Environment Pham Nam Son said that over the past time, the city has made efforts to change the method of collecting, transporting and treating domestic waste, with a focus on investing in modern machinery and equipment. This has represented a change in the city's garbage collection, transportation and treatment methods in a bid to meet the requirements of this work in the coming years.

He remarked the Department of Natural Resources and Environment is advising the municipal People's Committee to put the two modern garbage transfer stations into operation soon. Relevant units and the district-level authorities plan to invest in equipment and vehicles to collect domestic waste on small roads from 3.75m or less in width.

In 2023, two more modern garbage transfer stations will be built in Cam Le and Ngu Hanh Son districts with a total investment of VND174.2 billion.

Heed will be on upgrading the garbage transfer station on Nguyen Duc Trung Street and existing ones, as well as completing investment preparation procedures for 2 domestic solid waste treatment plants at the Khanh Son Landfill to meet the city's waste treatment requirements in the coming years.

Completing wastewater collection and treatment, and environmental monitoring systems

In 2022, the construction of the wastewater collection pipeline along Nguyen Tat Thanh Street at a total investment of VND444 billion and the Phu Loc wastewater treatment station at 2^nd phase 2 at VND321 billion was completed.

The upgrade was made at the about VND300 billion Son Tra wastewater treatment station by 40,000m³/day, and the VND170 billion Lien Chieu wastewater treatment station at a capacity of 20,000m³/day.

The building of a VND1,340 billion separate wastewater collection system and sewer lines to transfer rainwater to the Han River for the basin from Ho Xuan Huong Street to the city’s border with Quang Nam Province, and a VND168.3 billion sewage collection pipeline project along a section of September 2 Street stretching from its intersections with Phan Thanh Tai and Thang Long routes, are scheduled to be completed in 2023.

Currently, the city is investing in automatic environmental monitoring stations, especially two automatic and continuous monitoring stations for Vu Gia and Thu Bon rivers.

From now until 2025, the city plans to monitor air, river water, lake water, coastal sea water, underground water, soil and sediment environment at 130 monitoring locations across the city in order to promptly assess the current status of the environment and take effective measures to improve the quality of the environment, thereby ensuring a healthy living environment for local residents and visitors.

Reporting by HOANG HIEP - Translating by M.DUNG