HÀ NỘI — The chairman of the People’s Committee of Hà Nội, Nguyễn Đức Chung, has asked the Department of Construction to enhance supervision of waste collection units, warning that officials failing to do so would be suspended.

He was speaking at a session on waste collection, solid waste treatment, medical waste and lake management yesterday in Hà Nội, saying these problems had annoyed local residents for a long time.

At present, around 6,000 tonnes of solid waste are discharged daily in the city. In addition, there are 26.5 tonnes of medical waste per day. This is a potential source of contagious disease, but the treatment of this waste is not effective.

According to the city’s People’s Council, by 2020, the city will need 17 concentrated waste treatment zones, but according to the Department of Construction, so far only eight have been put into operation.

Chung also said that leaders of districts and wards in the city had been passive in waste management.

“In many cases, local residents report the problems to local authorities, but the authorities do not come and check. Chairmen of districts, wards and communes must be determined to tackle the problem of waste collection and treatment, and not just ignore it,” Chung said.

Chairman of Ba Đình District’s People’s Committee, Đỗ Việt Bình, admitted garbage was being illegally dumped. However, he said, since the dumping often took place late at night, it was difficult for authorities to detect.

New technology

Construction Department Director Lê Văn Dục said Hà Nội’s garbage treatment centres can process 5,400 tonnes of waste per day and night. The city will start a high-tech waste treatment facility with Japanese and European standard in October with a capacity of 4,000 tonnes per day.

In terms of construction waste treatment, Chung said that the city was encouraging businesses to import crushers in order to take advantages of these materials and turn them into sand. Four locations have been chosen for the set up of such machines - Hoàng Mai, Thanh Trì, Gia Lâm and Đông Anh District.

Chung said 36 investors had applied to build waste treatment plants in the city. The city had formulated up to 12 criteria for bidders, including financial capacity, modern and green technology and low cost. — VNS