Hanoi Mandates On-Site Recycling of Construction Waste

Hanoi City has issued a directive mandating the on-site recycling of construction waste for projects, aiming to strengthen waste management amidst the significant daily generation of such materials. This move is a response to environmental challenges posed by urban development. On July 27, Mr. Vu Dai Thang, Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee, signed a directive to enhance the management, processing, and utilization of construction solid waste in the city. The directive specifically requires projects in the land acquisition phase to process solid waste on-site and use the recycled products for landfilling, road subgrade, and foundation work. For projects not yet under construction, it is mandated to conduct thorough geological surveys and select the most economically and technically optimal solutions to maximize the use of natural ground. Excavated soil must be treated and processed on-site for reuse as backfill or subgrade material within the same project, thereby preventing unnecessary transport and waste. For projects currently underway or soon to commence, the city requires on-site processing and recycling of waste during the land acquisition phase, whenever feasible. Recycled materials are to be prioritized for landfilling, subgrade preparation, and foundation construction. The city is also accelerating the development of construction waste treatment and recycling plants. The plant in Duc Tu, Dong Anh district, with a capacity of 2,000 tons per day, is targeted to begin construction by August 15, 2026. Additionally, the expansion of the treatment facility in Tien Thang commune, Me Linh district (Phase 1: 480 tons/day, Phase 2: 960 tons/day) aims to select an investor by August 15, 2026. Furthermore, the city will offer short-term land leases of up to five years for temporary collection and processing sites proposed by communes such as Bat Trang, Hong Van, and Phuc Thinh. These facilities are expected to become operational between July and August 2026, following the selection of experienced and capable operators. This directive comes at a time when Hanoi is undertaking land acquisition for 1,428 projects, generating an estimated 3,000-3,400 tons of construction waste daily, approximately 90% of which is recyclable inorganic material. However, the city faces challenges including inadequate source separation, only two main collection and processing sites, a lack of comprehensive planning and mandatory management regulations, insufficient incentives for investment, and an underdeveloped market for recycled materials. Illegal dumping of construction waste remains a persistent problem in suburban areas, along rivers, canals, and public land, leading to environmental pollution, aesthetic degradation, and the wastage of valuable recyclable resources. Currently, construction waste in Hanoi is transported to four treatment facilities with a total capacity of about 1,670 tons per day. These include a landfill in Nguyen Khe commune, Dong Anh district (4.8 hectares, 360 tons/day), an intermediate treatment and recycling facility near the Phap Van - Cau Gie intersection (6.5 hectares, 480 tons/day), a facility in Phuc Loc ward (480 tons/day), and a site in Thu Lam commune (350 tons/day). Source: VnExpress