WASTE-ECON PROGRAM

 Training Courses on Waste Economy

July 24 to August 31, 2000

Summary of Research Papers

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1.  Analysis of Gains & Losses from Paper Recycling

in DUONG O Craft Village

 

By Group No. 1:

1.      Pham Ngoc Anh,

2.      Van Thi Tam,

3.      Nguyen Duc Toan,

4.      Nguyen Hong Viet

 

Since the adoption of the first environmental directive issued by the Prime Minister on banning fireworks production and explosion, the Duong O craft village has experienced a real change in its traditional paper making. This highly industrialized paper production process has resulted in serious pollution problems in local rural environment.

 

But from the environmental economics point of view, the Duong O craft village's paper recycling plays a significant role in MSW management system of Hanoi city as the process is primarily fed with waste paper as input materials, collected from Hanoi city and its vicinity.

 

This research was carried out to determine the pros and cons of the paper recycling process. In the research report, economic, social and environmental gains and losses from paper recycling were identified and analyzed. To limit or eliminate the losses requires a large participation of various stakeholders, and among them, local authorities and producers were included in the research.

 

From the research point of view, awareness of the importance of paper recycling by stakeholders can contribute to local environmental improvement. In addition to the highlights of the role that Duong O paper recycling industry plays, the research focused on analysis and justification of the questions: whether local authorities and producers in Duong O village have assessed the environmental role of paper recycling, and how this has impacted the environment.

 

The research report is structured into six chapters. The research question, objectives and methodology are presented in the first chapter. An overview of literature is also included. The result of the research is described in chapters 2 to 5. Conclusions and recommendations are discussed in chapter 6.

 

Chapter 2 gives a general outline of the Duong O paper recycling process with materials inflow and outflow. This flow chart was drawn from studies in the field and  relevant literature.

 

In Chapter 3, the benefits of the Duong O paper recycling process are presented. These include socio-economic and environmental benefits as well as savings from the deferred cost of waste collection and disposal that would have been incurred and borne by Hanoi URENCo.

 

Chapter 4 presents several losses that include mainly local environmental issues, and their indirect and direct impacts on  socio-economic systems.

 

Chapter 5 reviews selected local policies that have governed paper recycling. Views on the gains and losses by local authorities and paper producers are analyzed. Their possible responsive actions to local environmental resolution are also assumed and assessed.

 

Chapter 6 presents a summary of key issues needed for further study, and considers this short-term research to be a problem solving assignment as part of the six week training course on Waste-Econ.

 

 

 

2.  MSW Collection in Hanoi - Case Study of a Non-State Collection Model in NHAN CHINH Ward, Thanh Xuan district

 

By Group No. 2:

1.      Le Thanh Binh,

2.      Nguyen The Chinh,

3.      Phan Thi Hoa,

4.      Hoang Xuan Long

 

In the past several years, the introduction of various reforms has resulted in improved living conditions and accelerated urbanization in Hanoi. In addition to achievements, the city's MSW collection and disposal require better organization through further studies. Hanoi URENCo., developed from the original urban sanitation company, is primarily responsible for  MSW collection and disposal services.

 

The city's MSW management system must meet five fundamental criteria.  These are technical, environmental, social, economic and institutional criteria.

 

In addition to the analysis of population, economic, and natural and geographic implications to increased waste generation in the city, the research focuses on analysis of the existing MSW management structure to identify favorable conditions, and subjective and objective difficulties that affect its MSW collection service.  The research also reviews the pricing system of solid waste collection fee, the existing MSW collection system, and its proposal by JICA. The research predicts an increasing trend in solid waste generation in the period, 2000-2020 on the basis of analysis of the 1990-2000 solid waste generation. 

 

Having the flexibility of a "self-governed" model of solid waste collection, it is believed that a " non-state" model of MSW collection system would contribute to  resolution of the current solid waste collection problem. Nhan Chinh ward of Thanh Xuan District was selected for this case study to determine the efficiency of this " self governed" model compared to the five named criteria, through field-survey and analysis of its organizational structure.

 

Citywide replication of this model is proposed on the basis of the result of this research, and analysis of advantages and implications of this expansion is also included in the research report.

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3. Waste Plastic Workers in Hanoi's Waste Economy

TRIEU KHUC craft village - a Case Study

 

By  Group No. 3:

1.      Tang The Cuong,

2.      Nguyen Ngoc Dzung,

3.      Cao Vu Phuong Khanh,

4.      Nguyen Quang Tuan

 

In the past years, rapid increase in waste loads and change in its composition toward non-degradable and less organic nature have made  Hanoi's MSW management a very significant problem.  Waste reuse and recycling are promising for solid waste management. This research explores the roles that waste workers play in Trieu Khuc village's waste plastic collection, trade and recycling system within Hanoi's waste economy. It also explores environmental and social aspects of the workers with the goal of suggesting interventions to improve relevant conditions of the system.

 

The research report is divided into five main parts in addition to its Introduction and Conclusion. The Introduction addresses the need for and questions to the research, and presents research objectives and methodology. The second part deals with an overview of relevant literature to refine the research need and questions. The result of the research is presented and discussed from the third to fifth parts.

 

The third part analyses the total added value of one tonne of waste plastic at individual recycling states from collection to final production. As the result, distribution of income among different players including pickers, scavengers, dealers, processors and producers, can be estimated. The number of jobs generated by one tonne of recycled final products created at individual stages of waste plastic collection, trade and recycling by the village can be quantified. This part also discusses the estimated cost incurred by collecting, transporting and disposal of one tonne of waste plastics. This cost would otherwise be borne by Hanoi URENCo.

 

The fourth part discusses social and environmental implications to those involved in the village's recycling process. It highlights the need for further study and resolution of existing problems such as local contaminated water, solid waste, odor and noise pollution, facing the village. Gender issues, particularly local children and women involved in waste collection, trade and recycling are also discussed in it.

 

The fifth part presents interventions proposed on the basis of analytical results from Parts 3 and 4, in order to improve social and environmental conditions of the village's recycling process. Both direct and indirect options are also suggested to support the village's waste management system.

 

 

 

 

4.Improving the Efficiency of

Municipal Solid Waste Collection & Transport

in Ho Chi Minh City

 

By  Group No. 4:

1.            Le thi Hai Anh,

2.            Nguyen thi Thuy Loan,

3.            Nguyen Thi Thanh My,

4.            Cao Xuan Tuan

 

This short-term research sought to suggest a number of measures on "Improving the Efficiency of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) Collection & Transport Services in Ho Chi Minh (HCM ) City". Available data on the existing MSW management system including its collection and transport in HCM city were made use of by the research.

 

Some fact finding was drawn out from analysis of the system, and comparison made with the feasibility of JICA's proposal on a future system of MSW collection and transport. They include:

·        Technical and financial constraints facing the MSW collection and transport system;

·        Inadequate investment in its management to meet a growing demand;

·        Evolution of the city's environmental management in general and (solid, liquid and gas) waste management in particular, does not keep pace with rapid development of urban infrastructures (including roads, electric and water supplies, and communications, etc.); and

·         Solid waste is a key contributor to seriously contaminated rivers and canals, impaired community health, and degraded aesthetic value of the city.

 

Resolution of solid waste issues in HCM city is a complex problem. It requires interventions to all stages of the system including source separation, collection, transport and ultimate disposal.

 

The research team advanced some recommended measures on improving the efficiency of the system, including:

·        Financing initiatives to MSW collection innovation should be given due attention by all levels of local authorities;

·        Some experimental models of source MSW separation need to be developed and deployed, and then the best should be replicated citywide;

·        A system of transfer stations should be planned and constructed;

·        Local managers' expertise should be improved and updated; and

·        Regulations and standards on the MSW management system should be devised and applied.

 

Because of timing and distance constraints facing the research, which was carried out within the six week training program of Waste-Econ Project, these are policy orientated recommendations on " improving the efficiency of MSW collection and transport in HCM city".

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5.  Biogas - Eco-efficiency

for Vietnam's Rural Sustainable Development

 

By  Group No. 5:

1.      Nguyen Thi Hai Hoa,

2.      Nguyen Thanh Lam,

3.      Pham Kim Ngoc,

4.      Pham Quang Vinh

 

 

Environmental management is a globally demanding challenge. Growing pollution and environmental degradation seriously threaten both developed nations with high productivity as well as poorer developing countries. Waste issues are a crucial link to an environmental management system

 

Utilization of potential values in wastes has now received growing attention. Through waste recovery, expensive end of pipe treatment can be avoided and negative environmental impacts may be minimized through the material cycle. Biogas is one of these recovery measures. A biogas tank can be employed to decompose human and animal excreta generating CH4 (methane gas) to be used as a domestic cooking fuel.

Biogas technology was first introduced to Viet Nam in 1964. While this technology has now become common in the south, access to biogas information has been limited in the north until the adaptation of an innovative biogas technology by Le Trong Canh, an engineer, on the basis of the Taiwan biogas bag, and Indian and Chinese biogas tanks to Vietnam's rural settings.

 

In 1997, an experimental tank of manure biological digestion was processed in an experiment in Ha Tay province. This pilot project has now been replicated to all districts across the province. Having witnessed benefits from the project, the number of local households investing in biogas tanks  has been  increasing. 

 

The commune Phuong Tu, Ung Hoa district of the province, was selected as the site for this case study because of timing limitation. It aims at assessing a commune based biogas development model and drawing suggestions that are expected to contribute to further development and replication of the model to all rural areas in Viet Nam.

 

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6.Nam Son Landfill Gas Recovery for Local Fuel Energy Demand

 

By  Group No. 6:

1.      Nguyen Thuong Hien,

2.      Tong Quang Hung,

3.      Do Trong Mui,

4.      Nguyen Mai Ngoc

 

Landfill gas is a product resulting  from the anaerobic decomposition of organic materials in landfills. Methane is a major portion (making up 55% of total volume of landfill gases released).

 

This recovery has been carried out and converted into electric power by developed countries in North America and Western Europe with two aims:

·        Recovery of energy from the gas for electricity and heating;

·        Global environment protection by reducing greenhouse effect induced emissions.

 

In Viet Nam, landfill gas recovery has not been practiced. These gases are released into the atmosphere and adversely affect human and environmental health.

 

This research explores the possibility of " Nam Son landfill gas recovery for local fuel energy demand" within the framework of the Waste-Econ training course. The research aims at initiating landfill gas recovery that local environmentalists and others may further research and develop a " waste to energy " approach to landfill gas recovery to create socio-economic and environmental benefits for the city.

 

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7.  Solid Waste and its Environmental Implications to

TAY HO district, Hanoi

 

By  Group No. 7:

1.      Dinh Tu Anh,

2.      Truong Xuan Sinh,

3.      Ngo Huy Toan,

4.      Dang Anh Tuan

 

Like other major urban centers in Viet Nam, MSW management in Hanoi city has become a problem. This has been attributed to degraded infrastructure, increased population pressure and especially lack of completely enforceable policy and law framework.

 

As an urban district of Hanoi, Tay Ho has been planned to develop a tourism and service center for the whole capital city. While current problems such as mismatched infrastructures, accelerated urbanization, and socio-economic disruption caused by strong conversion of landuse are facing the district, the inefficient management of solid waste has led to environmental pollution causing negative impacts on community health and obstacles deterring the Tay Ho district and Hanoi city as a whole from development.

 

The research aims at assessing the current status of solid waste management and expects some options advanced to improve management efficiency.

The research report consists of 26 pages, nine tables and 17 figures focusing the following:

·        Identification of waste generation sources;

·        Determination of solid waste volume and compositions;

·        Assessment of emerging issues in the Tay Ho district's solid waste management system

Research methodology include:

·        Retrospective review of secondary information sources;

·        Participatory Rural Appraisal;

·        Waste Auditing;

·        Inventory, Synthesis and Analysis; and

·        Comparisons

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8.  The Assessment of Waste Generation and Proposed Solution to Improve the Waste Management Capacity

in HOAN KIEM Lake Area

 

By  Group No. 8:

1.      Luu Duc Cuong,

2.      Nguyen Thi Minh Hien,

3.      Nguyen Quoc Tien,

4.      Nguyen Thi Diep Tu

 

 

Hoan Kiem Lake is located in the center of the Hanoi capital. It attracts many visitors from other areas and oversea.

 

However, public waste is a problem in the Hoan Kiem Lake area. The wastes in this area are mostly generated by visitors and people living in the Hoan Kiem Lake area. How to solve this problem is the object of this study.

 

In order to solve this problem, secondary data was collected from URONCO and Park Management Company and then the total amount of visitors and waste littering visitors who were divided into many criteria such as gender, age etc. was  investigated.

 

Based on the collected data, the characteristics of waste generators have been analyzed and explored. After that, measures to reduce the volume of waste have been submitted.

 

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