Description

Presently two landfills of Xuân Sơn and Nam Sơn are in operation in Hà Nội, however, they are both overloaded.

Over the last fifteen days, the second largest landfill in the city, Xuân Sơn landfill stopped receiving waste, resulting in waste deposited in some public areas. The reason for this was the overload of three leachate storage reservoirs. Although this landfill operated and received waste again on 20th October, the vulnerable situation poses a risk of waste management crisis for the capital, as this is not the first time Hà Nội faces those difficulties.

Part of Xuân Sơn landfill. Source of picture: “Bãi rác lớn thứ hai Hà Nội quá tải, ngừng tiếp nhận rác” at https://vtv.vn

Hà Nội produces on average about 7,000 tons of domestic solid waste/day, according to the city’s Department of Construction. The dominant treatment method of solid waste is landfilling. The Xuân Sơn landfill receives waste from 13 districts and towns of the suburb area, equal to 1,500 tons/day, 20% higher than its treatment capacity. The upcoming Sóc Sơn waste to energy plant is expected to treat approx. 4,000 tons of waste/day. However, the construction of this plant has not been completed, as scheduled in 2021, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to the overload of Nam Sơn landfill – the largest landfill in Hà Nội.

Related articles:
Hà Nội: speed up completion of solid waste treatment facilities in 2021
Hà Nội: bulky waste disposed of uncontrolled on pavements
Hà Nội will soon increase waste collection fee

Sources & further information: “Hà Nội: Bãi rác Xuân Sơn tiếp nhận rác trở lại sau thời gian tạm dừng” at https://www.vietnamplus.vn,  “Bãi rác lớn thứ hai Hà Nội quá tải, ngừng tiếp nhận rác” at https://vtv.vn, “Hà Nội trước nguy cơ khủng hoảng rác” at https://tienphong.vn, and “Bãi rác Xuân Sơn quá tải: Nguy cơ khủng hoảng rác cận kề!” at https://www.moitruongvadothi.vn, accessed on 22 October 2021.