A landfill in Vinh Long Province has had to take on more solid waste than it was designed for, causing environmental concerns for the surrounding communities.

Overloaded dump 

The Hoa Phu Landfill is the largest existing landfill the province and has been in operation for more than a decade. However now the amount of waste has become a problem for families who live in the vicinity.

One environmental official from Hoa Phu Commune, Bui The Anh, said that, despite all the complaints about the smell and polluted water coming from the landfill, the situation has remained largely the same.

"Even people who live in the centre of the commune, located several kilometres away can smell the garbage from the dump," he said.

New plant remains idle

Recently the authorities decided to set up a waste treatment facility which was completed in December last year. Although the plant was constructed to treat waste in the Hoa Phu Landfill, it has yet to be put into use.

The expected cost per tonne for the new facility to process solid waste is about VND500,000, but the budget allotted them by the province is just half that. On a recent inspection, Anh said they have checked the facilities and found no working machines.

Meanwhile, Ly Thanh Tam, the manager of the plant said that the reason the facility has not been put into use was because the proper documents have not been filled out and registered with the authorities in Vinh Long Province.

"After the first phase, we will have to start dealing with organic matter, creating fertilizer, incineration and dealing with non-recyclable waste. These processes will be more costly," he said.

Tam said the company is working with Vinh Long Province authorities to put the plant into operation soon, and help alleviate the pollution problem in the future.

Garbage overload outside dump

Untreated causes pollution

New waste treatment plant lying idle