Authorities in Vietnam’s capital city of Hanoi are struggling to attract both domestic and foreign companies to invest in waste treatment, the Vietnam News Agency reported. The difficulties are attributed to the high costs and requirement for sophisticated technology, low profits and slow capital recovery, according to the city’s People’s Committee. Experts said that the delay in deciding technological standards in the field and inconsistent policies have contributed to halting the work. The municipal authorities argued that it is impossible to figure out a common standard and price for all waste treatment facilities right away as each factory use different technologies. Environmentalists said that foreign investors seem not to be keen on waste and wastewater treatment in Vietnam. In late Aug, Malaysia-based Gamuda Land Vietnam Ltd. Co handed over Yen So wastewater treatment plant worth $300 million, the largest of its kind in Vietnam, to a Hanoi-based firm. Solid waste is one of the factors causing severe pollution in Hanoi as it is often dumped into lakes and ponds and sewers, damaging the city drainage system and environment, and threatening human health. Nearly 5,370 tons of solid waste is being discharged in Hanoi everyday. As of August, the municipal Department of Natural Resources and Environment reported that up to 65,000 tons of solid waste are lying untreated at 304 sites across the city. Under a plan on solid waste treatment by 2020, Hanoi will need an estimated VND107 trillion ($5.07 billion) for treating solid waste. Under which 13 solid waste treatment zones, seven landfills for construction debris and mud waste and six solid waste transits will take shape. (Vietnamplus.vn Dec 11)
