Domestic solid waste management following circular economy model

Vietnam Journal 
of Agricultural 
Sciences 
ISSN 2588-1299 VJAS 2020; 3(4): 872-881 
https://doi.org/10.31817/vjas.2020.3.4.10 
872 Vietnam Journal of Agricultural Sciences 
Received: May 28, 2020 
Accepted: November 16, 2020 
Correspondence to 
nttquynh@vnua.edu.vn 
Domestic Solid Waste Management 
Following Circular Economy Model 
Nguyen Thi Thu Quynh1 & Nguyen Quoc Hung2 
1Faculty of Economics and Rural Development, Vietnam National University of 
Agriculture, Hanoi 131000, Vietnam 
2Ministry of Natural Resource and Environment, Hanoi 129100, Vietnam 
Abstract 
Along with socio-economic development, the volume of domestic 
solid waste in Vietnam is increasing by 12% annually. The current 
management model of domestic solid waste presents many 
limitations: low collection rate, lack of proper treatment, and low 
levels of recycling and reusing rates but high rates of buried waste 
and pollution. Published research and overviews of practical 
implementation of solid waste management models in typical 
countries around the world have shown the need to innovate domestic 
solid waste management in Vietnam following the circular economy 
model to increase the economic efficiency of resources and to 
minimize polluting the environment. Accordingly, state management 
of domestic solid waste needs to be reformed synchronously to ensure 
the development of a closed cycle of waste from identifying 
generators, classifying waste at sources, collecting, transporting, and 
treating waste, to the consumption of recycled waste. 
Keywords 
Domestic solid waste, circular economy model, recycled 
Introduction 
Along with socio-economic development, the volume of 
domestic solid waste (DSW) in Vietnam is increasing rapidly and 
becoming an urgent environmental problem. High population 
growth, in combination with rapid industrialization and urbanization, 
have resulted in the growth of waste generation. It is estimated that 
the volume of DSW in Vietnam has experienced a growth of 10-16% 
per year (World Bank, 2018). Thus, effective management of DSW 
is required to prevent harmful effects on the environment and society. 
Recognizing this problem, in recent years, the Vietnamese 
government and authorities have made great efforts in the 
management of DSW. However, after the implementation process, 
there are still many shortcomings, namely the legal and policy system 
on DSW management is still incomplete and overlapped; the 
 Nguyen Thi Thu Quynh & Nguyen Quoc Hung (2020) 
https://vjas.vnua.edu.vn/ 873 
organization and assignment of responsibilities 
for DSW are still fragmented and lack 
uniformity, making it difficult to implement; the 
implementation of approved DSW management 
planning in localities is still slow; investments in 
DSW management are limited; there is a lack of 
appropriate regulations to attract capital 
investment resources from society; the 
inspection and examination of law enforcement 
are still limited; and sanctions regulating 
violations of DSW management are not strong 
enough (Nguyen Trung Thang, 2019). Moreover, 
the current traditional model of DSW 
management - a linear economy which follows 
the principle of "take – make – waste" (We "take" 
resources from the ground to "make" products, 
which we use, and, when we no longer want 
them, "throw" them away) is no longer working 
for all economic actors. Following this model, 
only 62-90% of generated waste is collected and 
processed; many types of useful DSW are not 
recycled for reuse, and 71% of DSW is buried or 
burned wastefully and pollutedly (Ministry of 
Natural Resources and Environment, 2019; 
2020). Typically, the leachate at landfill sites is 
discharged directly to the environment, allowing 
it to infiltrate and directly impact the water 
environment, and diffuse pathogens creating 
serious impacts on the environment and human 
health (Ministry of Natural Resource and 
Environment, 2017). A study in Lang Son 
province addressed that the rate of people with 
illnesses and diseases such as diarrhea, 
dermatology conditions, and respiration 
problems, etc., at the affected areas of the landfill 
sites is much higher than those of the unaffected 
areas (Ministry of Natural Resources and 
Environment, 2011). 
An overview of studies and practical 
implementation of DSW management models in 
several typical countries around the world shows 
the need for reforming the state management of 
DSW in Vietnam following the circular economy 
model (Luong Thu Thuy, 2019). The circular 
economy model was recognized and 
implemented very early in some Western 
countries such as Sweden, Germany, and Japan, 
but has been mentioned in Vietnam only recently 
(Preston, 2012; Alanet al., 2016; Luong Thu 
Thuy, 2019). The concept of the circular 
economy model aims to redefine growth and 
focuses on positive society-wide benefits (World 
Economic Forum, ... ns imposed to 
prevent indiscriminate discharge into the 
environment. Singapore is still known as the 
cleanest country in the world thanks to its 
extremely severe sanctions for indiscriminate 
littering in public places. 
Step 3: Collecting domestic solid waste 
Indeed, there are still two types of collection 
forms in the world: primary collection (collecting 
garbage from each household) and secondary 
collection (transfer waste from collecting points 
or transfer stations to treatment facilities). 
However, the traditional management model of 
domestic solid waste in Vietnam shows that both 
forms of collection are not effective. According 
to reported data, the waste collection rates are 
about 85% in urban areas and 40% in rural areas, 
although actual figures may be lower (Ministry 
of Natural Resources and the Environment, 
2020). 
Primary collection is carried out by official 
actors (employees of sanitation companies) and 
informal actors (individual collectors). However, 
individual collector activities do not have a 
specific plan. They do not have personal 
protective equipment, only collect certain types 
of domestic waste, and create many unsecured 
scrap gathering yards near residential areas. As 
for the official collectors, they often collect all 
types of DSW at the same time, as there is no 
regulation and collection schedule for each type 
of waste as classified. 
Therefore, it is necessary to change both the 
form and the method of collection. Accordingly, 
it is essential to formalize the activities of 
informal individual collectors through the 
signing labor contracts with them while 
simultaneously prohibiting separate collection 
activities, and only allowing concentrated 
collecting points to be in operation (in residential 
areas, in supermarkets). At the same time, it is 
necessary to arrange specific collection 
schedules for each type of DSW which have been 
classified from the source to ensure the 
effectiveness of future treatments. 
Step 4: Transporting domestic solid waste 
to the planned collection points 
In this step, it is necessary to develop and 
readjust the planning of transfer stations, landfill 
sites, and treatment facilities to ensure that they 
are far from residential areas and are designed to 
comply with hygienic and safety conditions to 
avoid causing congestion or unsafe situations for 
surrounding residential areas. This requires the 
strong participation of all levels of the 
government and strict regulations on technical 
equipment and facilities for these activities. 
Also, each different type of domestic solid 
waste needs to be transported to different 
collection points and treatment facilities, rather 
than a mass and aggregation situation that makes 
it difficult for later steps. 
 Nguyen Thi Thu Quynh & Nguyen Quoc Hung (2020) 
https://vjas.vnua.edu.vn/ 879 
Step 5: Treatment of the classified 
domestic solid waste 
According to Article 19 in Degree No. 
38/2018/ND-CP, a recycling activity is the 
activity of treating DSW by various technologies 
(Government, 2015), such as organic fertilizer 
processing technology; combustion technology; 
sanitary landfill technology; technology for 
recycling, energy recovery, and producing 
products from the useful composition of daily-
life solid waste; and other environmentally 
friendly technologies. 
Accordingly, the purpose of recycling is to 
ensure that DSW after being treated and recycled 
will become useful products that can serve the 
daily lives and production activities of people. 
Solid waste and solid waste treatment are big 
issues in many countries around the world. 
However, nowadays, many developed countries, 
especially countries in Europe, are leading the 
way in waste treatment solutions. To them, solid 
waste is considered a valuable resource and a 
business opportunity that not only brings 
economic returns but also helps to protect the 
environment. 
Sweden has been a leader in recycling solid 
waste for many years. Currently, the rate of 
recycled DSW is up to 99%. This country even 
has to import waste from other countries for 
continuously operating its recycling plants which 
have been creating much added value to their 
economy. 
Norway is also one of the world's leading 
countries in recycling plastic waste. Evidence 
shows that 97% of plastic bottles from this 
country have been recycled, 92% of which return 
to high-quality plastic and can continuously 
contain drinking water. The life cycle of some 
plastic bottles in Norway can be recycled up to 
50 times. This makes the Nordic nation a model 
for the whole world in the field of environmental 
protection (Lan Huong, 2019). 
Step 6: Consumption of treated domestic 
solid waste and production of recycled goods 
The results of the series of improvements 
listed above in the DSW management process 
only make sense if the products generated from 
the waste treatment and recycling process are 
accepted for consumption by actors in the 
economy. 
The purpose of the circular economy model 
is to minimize the amount of DSW disposed into 
the environment, which can result in the 
consequences of waste resources (for organic 
solid waste) and, more seriously, causing 
environmental pollution (for hazardous solid 
wastes). However, there are still many people 
who believe that garbage products are not clean 
or hygienic for direct human consumption. 
Therefore, it is necessary to propagate to change 
the people's awareness about the recognition and 
evaluation of products from recycled waste. This 
will create a real market demand for processed 
and recycled waste products such as organic 
fertilizer, plastic resins, gas, and electricity, etc. 
In addition, some economic incentives should be 
presented to stimulate the demand for these 
products such as discounted prices (compared to 
higher adjusted prices of non-recyclable items), 
and tax exemptions or tax reductions for 
organizations and individuals. In Germany, the 
government has published information and 
requires supermarkets to provide more 
environmentally friendly recycling bags, canvas 
bags, and paper bags. If customers require plastic 
bags, they must pay instead of the bags being 
given for free as before. 
In addition, other administrative measures 
should also be considered by enhancing the 
social responsibilities of individuals, businesses, 
agencies, and units in consuming recycled 
products to minimize environmental pollution. It 
is essential that every stakeholder must 
acknowledge that the consumption of these 
products is their responsibility and obligation to 
the community and to themselves. 
After the consumption of processed and 
recycled waste products takes place, a new 
emission process appears. The circular model of 
DSW not only results in economic effectiveness 
but also social and environmental effectiveness. 
Innovating the state management of domestic 
solid waste following the circular economy 
model 
Domestic solid waste management following circular economy model 
880 Vietnam Journal of Agricultural Sciences 
In order to develop and implement the model 
of circular economy in domestic solid waste 
management, it is necessary to innovate the state 
management work in this field in advance. 
Specifically, the following solutions need to be 
studied and implemented synchronously to get 
the highest effectiveness: 
Firstly, it is necessary to complete the 
guidelines, policies, and regulations on the 
classification, collection, and treatment of DSW 
in the direction of improving the implementation 
of compulsory social responsibility for each 
citizen, each unit, and each enterprise in order to 
protect themselves and the community towards 
sustainable development. 
Secondly, it is necessary to clearly assign the 
responsibilities of the ministries, agencies, and 
localities in performing the state management 
functions of domestic solid waste to avoid 
overlapping, unclear, and inconsistent 
responsibilities which lead to low management 
effectiveness. Especially, it is necessary to 
enhance the role of the Environmental Police and 
enhance the role of the community in inspecting 
and supervising the implementation of 
regulations and laws on DSW. 
Thirdly, it is necessary to develop and adjust 
the planning of collection sites, treatment 
facilities, and recycling plants, so they are 
concentrated, large scale, separate for each type 
of DSW, and far from crowded residential areas. 
This is the way to ensure the effectiveness of 
investments and minimize the negative impacts 
of these activities on people's living 
environments. 
Fourthly, it is necessary to innovate and 
promote the attraction of public-private 
partnerships in the field of solid waste collection 
and treatment in order to avoid relying too much 
on the current budget. It is essential to treat DSW 
as a resource to be produced, processed, 
recycled, and marketed. 
Fifthly, it is necessary to renovate the 
financial revenue - expenditures in the collection 
and treatment of DSW. Accordingly, the 
collection and treatment fee for DSW should be 
raised to the highest acceptable threshold of 
households (1-1.5% of income/year according to 
international practices) to ensure funding for 
efficient collection and treatment activities 
(World Bank, 2018). Regarding the expenditure 
structure, it is necessary to pay more attention to 
and to spend more on advanced and modern 
treatment technologies to reduce the proportion 
of expenses for small collection activities as at 
present. Collection should be renewed in the 
direction of reducing the frequent use of 
manpower, with small, inefficient tools, to 
using modern equipment, according to the 
periodic plan. 
Sixthly, it is necessary to improve the 
propaganda activities on the need for good 
management of DSW in people's lives, and the 
responsibilities and rights of people in 
participating in DSW management from 
classifying, collecting, recycling, treating, and 
consuming recycled waste products. 
Conclusions 
The current situation and forecast of 
Vietnam's domestic solid waste by 2030 show 
that authorities should spend more effort in 
managing waste, otherwise they will cause 
unpredictable consequences in terms of 
economic, social, and environmental impacts, 
which in turn can affect people's lives, hindering 
the goal of sustainable development. 
Although the government and authorities 
have recently put great effort into the 
management of DSW, the implementation of the 
state management of this field still revealed many 
shortcomings. Therefore, in the coming years, 
the research indicates that it is necessary to 
innovate the state management of DSW 
following the circular economic model from the 
viewpoint of considering DSW as a renewable 
resource. It is necessary to build up the primary 
and secondary markets for domestic solid waste 
in a closed cycle process with the participation of 
many actors. Their activities should be 
standardized to minimize the external emissions 
that cause waste and environmental pollution in 
order to achieve economic - social - 
environmental efficiency. To achieve this goal, 
the state management of domestic solid waste 
should implement some of the above-proposed 
 Nguyen Thi Thu Quynh & Nguyen Quoc Hung (2020) 
https://vjas.vnua.edu.vn/ 881 
solutions synchronously to achieve the highest 
effectiveness and management efficiency. 
Acknowledgments 
We would like to thank the Ministry of 
Natural Resources and Environment for 
supporting and sharing the Status of National 
Environment survey results to write this paper. 
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