On the afternoon of June 27, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Vietnam, in collaboration with the Norwegian Embassy and the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Hung Yen Province, held a consultation meeting on the "Environmental restoration plan for the plastic pollution area in Minh Khai craft village, Van Lam District, Hung Yen Province."

The consultation is part of the initiative “Piloting co-processing of low-value plastics in cement kilns and developing remediation plans for plastic pollution hotspots in Hung Yen, Quang Ninh, and Hai Phong.” This initiative is funded by the Government of Norway under the "Ending Plastic Pollution Innovation Challenge" (EPPIC) project, aimed at helping localities address plastic pollution and promote the circular economy model.

Minh Khai plastic recycling craft village currently hosts more than 580 active facilities and receives between 700 and 1,000 tons of plastic daily. It is one of Vietnam’s most severe plastic pollution hotspots. A 2024 survey identified two primary waste accumulation areas: the road leading to Minh Khai Industrial Cluster (phase III) and the centralized landfill in Minh Khai hamlet, with an estimated total waste volume of about 124,000 cubic meters.

Norwegian Ambassador to Vietnam, Hilde Solbakken, announced the findings of a scope study on a suitable deposit-return system for Vietnam.

Despite the local government's implementation of several strong measures, environmental pollution has not been fully controlled, severely affecting public health and the quality of life. Minh Khai craft village remains on the list of severely polluting establishments under Decision 64/2003/QD-TTg of the Prime Minister.

Since 2023, UNDP, the Norwegian Embassy, the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD), and the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Hung Yen have partnered to find solutions for plastic waste management in Minh Khai Village. To develop a feasible treatment plan, UNDP has successfully piloted the collection and co-processing of over 111 tons of non-recyclable plastic waste using cement kiln technology at Lam Thach Cement Plant in Quang Ninh.

The consultation brought together representatives from the Department of Environment, domestic and international experts, local authorities, and business representatives to contribute feedback on the draft plan developed by UNDP and its partners.

The proposed plan outlines a comprehensive treatment approach for the open landfill at the village, including screening, sorting, and reusing recyclable waste; co-processing in cement kilns for waste with calorific value; safe landfilling of residual waste; and land restoration post-treatment. The approach is designed to ensure feasibility, alignment with local conditions, and compliance with environmental protection goals at both the provincial and national levels.

Speaking at the event, Erlend Skutlaberg, First Secretary of the Norwegian Embassy in Hanoi, affirmed: “Norway is proud to work alongside UNDP and Hung Yen authorities on this plan. Co-processing has been tested in eight Asian countries, including Vietnam. It benefits the environment, the state, and businesses, and is a promising solution to help Minh Khai and Hung Yen address the challenge of non-recyclable plastic waste. We hope the plan will soon be implemented and make Minh Khai a model for sustainable transformation.”

Vu Thai Truong, Acting Head of the Climate Change, Energy, and Environment Unit at UNDP Vietnam, emphasized the importance of the plan: “This document is not just a technical report but a roadmap for action, providing detailed analysis and estimated costs for recommended treatment solutions, aiming to resolve pollution and improve the environment and quality of life for residents of Minh Khai Village.”

Sharing the same view, Tran Dang Anh, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Hung Yen Province, stated: “Developing the environmental restoration plan for the plastic-polluted area in Minh Khai craft village is an urgent necessity to thoroughly address existing waste, improve environmental quality, and move towards a circular economy at the local level.”

UNDP and its partners hope that following this consultation, the plan will be finalized and handed over to Hung Yen Province for implementation. If successful, it could serve as a model for other craft villages across the country, contributing to sustainable and comprehensive plastic pollution management.

PV