Nghe An: Proposed roadmap to adjust maximum prices for waste collection and transportation services

On the morning of April 10, the Provincial People's Committee held a meeting to listen to and give opinions on the draft Decision to adjust the maximum price for collection and transportation of household waste in Nghe An province.

Overview of the meeting. Photo: Phu Huong

In recent years, the people's living needs have also increased, leading to a rapid increase in the amount of domestic waste, while the waste treatment infrastructure has not met the demand, leading to overload and high waste treatment costs. The total amount of domestic solid waste generated in the whole province is about 1,617.71 tons/day, the total amount of domestic solid waste collected is about 1,314.96 tons/day, reaching 81.29%.

In recent years, with the maximum price according to the price frame stipulated in Decision No. 74/2016-QD-UBND currently being applied in Nghe An province, to ensure waste collection and treatment, most localities have had to deduct a large amount from the budget to pay, but it is still not enough to cover the costs of waste collection, transportation and treatment.

Representatives of the Department of Finance presented some basic contents in the draft decision. Photo: Phu Huong

The regulation of collection levels and management regime in the draft Decision on adjusting the maximum price for collection and transportation of household waste in Nghe An province aims to create a source of funding for collection, transportation and treatment of household waste, reducing the burden on the State budget.

The price increase roadmap will aim to cover 100% of the costs of collecting, transporting and treating waste in each locality, without any budget subsidy. The target for 2019 and 2020 is that the price of waste services must cover about 70% of the costs of collecting, transporting and treating household waste; for the remaining amount, the People's Committees of districts and cities are required to prioritize allocation from the allocated environmental career budget and balance the district budget to supplement.

Collecting household waste in hamlet 4, Dien Nguyen commune (Dien Chau). Photo: Phu Huong

Concluding the meeting, comrade Le Minh Thong - Member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee stated: In general, to ensure waste treatment and sustainable environmental protection, it is agreed to issue maximum prices for domestic waste treatment services, and at the same time amend and supplement the shortcomings of the current maximum prices for waste collection and transportation services in the province; combine these two prices into the maximum price for domestic waste collection, transportation and treatment services in Nghe An province (replacing Decision No. 74/2016 QD-UBND).

Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Le Minh Thong assigned the Department of Finance to coordinate with relevant sectors to promptly complete the draft Decision on adjusting the maximum price of collection and transportation services for household waste in Nghe An province and submit it to the Provincial People's Committee for approval./.