Inadequate waste collection points

(Baonghean) - On average, Vinh City discharges nearly 250 tons of garbage every day. This amount of garbage is collected at 167 collection points in the city from 6:30 p.m. today to early the next morning. In fact, the arrangement of garbage collection points is still inadequate, and outdated collection technology has turned these collection points into serious environmental pollution points.

For many years, on Le Hong Phong Street, the intersection with Le Viet Luong Street, close to the fence of Nghe An Publishing House, there has been a temporary garbage collection point for residential areas in the area. At night, people bring garbage here to dump, urban environmental workers gather garbage here to wait for specialized vehicles to pick up and transport it away. The amount of garbage is so much that this area is seriously polluted. Although the garbage has been picked up at night, the foul smell and dirty water from the garbage still exist and affect people's lives. On the sidewalk of the Publishing House fence, many garbage trucks are gathered here, so some people dump garbage even during the day. This is the central area of ​​the city, near Hoa Sen Kindergarten and a number of agencies, offices, and restaurants. The existence of the garbage collection site not only pollutes the surrounding environment but also affects the urban beauty.

The spontaneous garbage collection point is located on National Highway 46, through Nghi An commune, Vinh city.

On Nguyen Sy Sach Street, near Kenh Bac Bridge (Hung Phuc Ward), a centralized garbage collection point has appeared for nearly a year now. This garbage collection point is located opposite the Agricultural Bank, right at the intersection of four roads, with high traffic density. Nearby, a chain of noodle, porridge, and pho restaurants operates day and night at the beginning of Nguyen Van Cu Street. Also on Nguyen Sy Sach Street, at the intersection with Lenin Avenue, there is a garbage collection point right next to a traffic light pole, close to the fences of agencies and offices. Garbage collection and collection takes place in the evening, but during the day, this area still smells bad because of the remnants of garbage and dirty water from garbage trucks overflowing onto the street...

Through the survey, in Vinh City, on major roads and main roads, there are concentrated garbage collection points. Many collection points are located right next to agencies, offices, schools or near entertainment and dining areas.

Not only the inner-city roads, but also the suburban areas and gateway roads of Vinh City currently have unreasonable garbage collection points. Along National Highway 46 on the Vinh - Cua Lo road, for many months now, a garbage collection point has appeared in Hamlet 2, Nghi An Commune. Although the surrounding people have attached the sign "No dumping - live consciously", garbage is still piled up in this area. This is a tourist route connecting Vinh City and Cua Lo, the existence of garbage collection points like this not only affects the environment but also causes a negative impression in the eyes of tourists when entering the tourist season.

Not only do people collect garbage along the road, but they also rely on canals and river sections as garbage collection points. Along the river from Cua Tien fishing village (Cua Nam ward) to the foot of Cau Den (Trung Do ward), there are many temporary garbage collection points. Garbage is piled up and spilled all over the riverbank. On rainy days, black streams of water flow into the river. On sunny days, all kinds of foul and stench rise up, polluting the entire river section,...

All of the above temporary waste collection points have been selected by Vinh City People's Committee in Decision No. 3565/QD-UBND dated August 2, 2010. Currently, the city has 167 waste collection points, spread across all wards and communes of the city. Mr. Nguyen Anh Tuan, specialist of the Urban Management Department - Vinh City People's Committee, said that these collection points have been carefully inspected and reviewed and have the consensus of the authorities of the wards and communes, and the consensus of the hamlets. However, during the process of waste collection, many hamlets protested the temporary collection and had to move this collection point to another place. Mr. Bui Van Dung, Vice Chairman of Le Mao Ward People's Committee, said that in the city's decision, there is a garbage collection point near the gate of Le Mao Primary School and the intersection of Thai Phien Street and Ngu Hai Street, but both of these points cause pollution. People have repeatedly petitioned the ward to move them to another location, further away from residential areas.

The main reason for this situation is that Vinh city currently does not have a comprehensive, systematic plan for garbage collection points in residential areas. All garbage collection points currently selected by the city People's Committee and wards, communes, blocks, and hamlets are "wherever is convenient to dump". Usually in vacant lots, deserted roads, intersections, and most often at the border points between roads, wards, and communes.

Mr. Nguyen Quoc Thang - Head of Vinh City Urban Management Department said that out of 167 collection points selected by the city, many are no longer suitable. Along with the development of the city, the amount of garbage is increasing, these points are also overloaded and certainly in the near future, other garbage collection points will have to arise. Currently, localities in the city have not arranged public land funds to plan temporary garbage collection sites but have to choose places such as sidewalks, empty roads, and intersections as temporary collection sites. “I think that in residential groups and hamlets that have planned public land to build cultural houses and sports fields, a land fund must also be set aside to build temporary garbage collection sites. This is extremely important. Currently, we use iron carts that are not guaranteed, the carts are not sealed, and dirty water from the garbage can easily flow out, causing pollution. Therefore, while waiting for the planning of public land for garbage collection, there needs to be a change in collection technology to avoid these garbage collection sites causing pollution, affecting people's lives,” said Mr. Nguyen Quoc Thang.

Mr. Hoang Van Khanh - Director of the Provincial Urban Environment Company said: “In fact, environmental pollution at collection points is inevitable. If modern cities in foreign countries or in Da Nang and some other cities in Vietnam, waste collection points are planned in a systematic and systematic manner right in residential areas, Vinh City has not been able to do that. “In the long term, the company will have to change the waste collection technology process. At the collection points, there will be closed, specialized bins, ensuring that the waste does not smell outside, dirty water does not flow and does not greatly affect people's lives. However, changing technology is not simple. In addition, city residents also need to raise awareness in dumping waste such as dumping on time, at the right place, and classifying waste before dumping it at the collection point. Only by doing so can the pollution from temporary landfills be resolved,” Mr. Hoang Van Khanh affirmed.

To plan and build a civilized, clean and beautiful city, we must start from the details that are close to people's lives. In particular, planning and arranging collection points, waste collection, and changing waste collection technology are considered important issues to ensure the city has a clean, green and beautiful environment.

Article and photos:Nguyen Khoa