Nearly 4,000 plastic waste containers clogged in Vietnam’s ports
More than 3,800 plastic waste containers have piled up for more than 90 days at Vietnam’s three major ports of Hai Phong, Vung Tau and HCM City’s Cat Lai, according to the latest report by the General Department of Vietnam Customs.
Trucks transfer containers to HCM City’s Cat Lai Port, the common hub of plastic waste imported into Vietnam (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNS/VNA) - More than 3,800 plastic waste containershave piled up for more than 90 days at Vietnam’s three major ports of Hai Phong,Vung Tau and HCM City’s Cat Lai, according to the latest report by the General Department of Vietnam Customs.
Hoang Van Thuc, deputy head of the Vietnam Environment Administration, said intotal there are some 6,456 containers stacked at seaports containing plasticwaste and used commodities.
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MoNRE) has developed a regulation onclassifying imported waste into six groups. The Ministry of Finance and the Ministry ofTransport have also set barriers to force enterprises and ship owners importingscrap to submit certificates of eligibility for environmentalprotection and declaration forms indicating whether the importingenterprise is still operational and the specific import volume.
Thuc said MoNRE had filed a report on imported waste management to PrimeMinister and would collaborate with related agencies to tighten control overscraps.
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has tasked the ministry to investigate thecontainers of plastic waste.
“For stocks which violate Vietnam’s regulations, we will force ship owners tore-export them out of the country’s territorial waters,” said Thuc.
Since September 2018, Vietnam has shown positive signs in tackling wastecontainer problem at seaports following Prime Minister’s Directive No.27/CT-TTg.
“503 containers of plastic waste, paper waste, metal scraps and other rubbishhave been sent back to their origins due to failures to meet Vietnam’s standards,”Thuc added.
The General Department of Vietnam Customs’ data revealed a significant fall of the number of wastecontainers pilling up at ports across the country in 2019.
Until September 2019, 10,100 waste containers sat abandoned at ports, down frommore than 22,000 at the end of 2018./.
As of June, more than 500 containers of waste which failed to meet Vietnam’s import requirements had been re-exported this year, said the Vietnam Maritime Administration on August 11.
A project funded by the Norwegian Government made debut at a seminar in Ho Chi Minh City on October 4, aiming to help Vietnam turn plastic wastes from the oceans into chances in a circular economy.
“Promoting the role of science and technology organization in the management and reduction of plastic waste" was the topic of a scientific conference that took place in Hanoi last week.
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc stressed on October 15 that the Government will take more drastic actions to protect the environment, including returning imported containers of waste to their source countries.
Mariam Sherman, World Bank Country Director for Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia, said the World Bank remains committed to working with the Vietnamese government to develop the next phase of climate resilience and transformation for the Mekong Delta.
Under the directive, the PM instructed relevant agencies to regularly inspect, supervise and proactively implement disaster prevention, response and rescue measures in line with their assigned roles and mandates, ensuring readiness, avoiding passivity or delays, and maintaining operational continuity amid ongoing political and administrative restructuring at levels.
According to Dr. Vu Anh Tuan, Deputy Director General of the Vietnam Space Centre and head of the project, this is the first study in Vietnam to simultaneously employ Sentinel-2 satellite data, advanced machine learning algorithms, and the Google Earth Engine (GEE) cloud computing platform to model and monitor key seawater quality parameters.
The Deposit Return System is seen as a potential instrument for effectively advancing Vietnam’s vision of a circular economy, as outlined in Article 142 of the 2020 Law on Environmental Protection.
The figures were highlighted in a Pre-Feasibility Study on a DRS tailored for single-use beverage packaging in Vietnam, conducted by Eunomia Research & Consulting.
Young people should not view AI as salvation but rather as a tool under human control. Young creators should focus on learning and accumulating practical knowledge, using AI as a tool to carry out artistic projects in the most effective and cost-efficient manner.
Saigon Hi-Tech Park’s ambitious 50% renewable energy goal far exceeds the city’s 15% target, positioning the park as a trailblazing “living lab” for sustainable energy solutions.
Vietnam's economic losses from natural disasters are estimated to account for 1 to 1.5% of GDP annually - a steep price that will continue to rise unless the country takes strong action.
Wutip, the first storm in the East Sea so far this year, has wreaked havoc across central Vietnam, claiming lives, displacing residents, and causing widespread damage to houses, crops, and infrastructure, the Department of Dyke Management and Disaster Prevention and Control reported as of 6:30 pm on June 13.
The tremor occurred at 7:39:46 am (Hanoi time), with the epicentre located at latitude 14.924°N and longitude 108.236°E, at a depth of approximately 8.1 kilometres. The natural disaster risk level was classified as 0 – the lowest on the scale.
Addressing a session on “Accelerating Financing for Resilience: Tailored Solutions for Disaster Risk Reduction,” Deputy Minister Hiep emphasised Vietnam's proposal in building sustainable financing in response to natural disasters, which aligns with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction's goals.
Vietnam has demonstrated its strong commitments by participating in global sustainable development forums, signing multiple free trade agreements, and attracting support from international partners for the implementation of the SDGs.
The fight against plastic pollution could not succeed through isolated efforts, but it must be a collective endeavour involving the entire political system, businesses, citizens, and the international community, said Minister of Agriculture and Environment Do Duc Duy.
Lang Son Global Geopark, with its outstanding geological values, cultural heritage, and unique natural landscapes, represents a valuable addition to UNESCO’s global geoparks system.
In 2019, Quang Ninh became one of the first localities in Vietnam to launch a province-wide campaign against plastic waste, mobilising the participation of the political system, the business sector, and the general public. Other localities—such as Hai Phong, Da Nang, Binh Duong, and Ho Chi Minh City—have also effectively implemented waste-sorting initiatives at source, along with models for plastic-free markets and urban areas.
This year’s World Oceans Day on June 8 is themed 'Wonderful Oceans: Sustaining What Sustains Us', while World Environment Day is on June 5 with the theme: 'Beat Plastic Pollution'.
According to Director of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Environment Le Huu Toan, a fire prevention and control plan has been in place since the dry season began, including round-the-clock patrols and rapid-response teams to snuff out fires before they could spread.
Renowned artists including Ha Anh Tuan, Den Vau, and Phan Manh Quynh, along with many directors and attendees, took part in planting hundreds of rare tree species such as mun (Diospyros mun) and cho chi (Parashorea chinensis) in the Thung Bong area of the Cuc Phuong National Park, contributing to forest ecosystem restoration.
Trucks transfer containers to HCM City’s Cat Lai Port, the common hub of plastic waste imported into Vietnam (Photo: VNA) 
