Nghe An: Every year there is a shortage of nearly 13 billion VND in waste treatment funds.

On the afternoon of March 4, the Provincial People's Committee held a meeting to listen to and give opinions on the Draft Regulation on adjusting the maximum price of waste collection and transportation services in Nghe An province; Comrade Le Minh Thong - Member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee chaired.

Overview of the meeting. Photo: Quang An

Proposal to increase waste collection and treatment fees by at least 20%

According to the report, the total cost of collecting, transporting and treating waste in Nghe An province is currently 157.2 billion VND/year, of which the total source of payment is 144.5 billion VND/year, the difference between revenue and expenditure is 12.7 billion VND.

Specifically, in some localities lacking funds, such as: Cua Lo town (total cost of more than 17.5 billion VND, while revenue from prices is 2.7 billion VND); Nghia Dan district (total cost of 6.2 billion VND, while revenue from prices is 1.5 billion VND)...

Currently, although some localities have applied the maximum price framework stipulated in Decision No. 74/2016/QD-UBND, and the provincial budget annually allocates funds for environmental activities, compared to the funding needs for waste collection, transportation and treatment in some localities, it is still difficult. On average, it only meets 49% of the total demand.

Mr. Thai Van Nong - Deputy Director of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment spoke about the difficulties in environmental treatment of waste. Photo: Quang An

According to reports from districts, cities and towns with large amounts of waste using incineration technology at factories, the current collection level does not meet the funding needs for waste collection, transportation and treatment, and the budget at all levels must allocate a relatively large amount of funds. The above districts all proposed a minimum price increase of 20%.

Most localities have to allocate a relatively large amount of money from the state budget to pay for waste collection, transportation and treatment, but this is still not enough to cover the costs.

Therefore, to ensure sustainability in waste collection, transportation and treatment, it is necessary to promulgate regulations on maximum consumption prices for domestic waste treatment services using state budget funds in the province.

Ta Lam dyke is a hot spot for waste overload. Photo: Quang An

Regarding the maximum consumption price of waste collection and transportation services, the current price in the province is basically maintained, only adjusting the classification of some collection objects to be more suitable to reality.

According to the report of the Department of Finance, for households and individuals not participating in business and not being poor households in Vinh City, the increase is from 3,000 - 4,000 VND/person/month; in districts and towns, the increase is from 2,000 - 2,500 VND/person/month. For poor households, the proposed maximum price is about 70% of the unit price for non-poor households.

Comrade Le Minh Thong - Member of the Provincial Party Committee, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee chaired the meeting. Photo: Quang An

Production and service business units, hotels, motels, inns, and guesthouses in Vinh City, wards of towns, and townships in Quynh Luu and Nghia Dan districts increased by 50%; townships in the remaining districts increased by 40%; and the remaining communes increased by 30%.

Catering units in Vinh city, wards and towns increased by 50%; towns and districts increased by 40%; remaining communes increased by 30%. Market areas increased by about 30 - 50% in the whole province. Train stations, bus stations, cultural and sports centers, and entertainment venues increased by 33%.

With the expected adjustment, Vinh city in 2019 will collect and meet 70% of the estimated expenditure for solid waste collection, transportation and treatment. For districts that are applying manual methods such as Yen Thanh, Do Luong, Ky Son, Con Cuong, Que Phong... basically meet the costs.

Vinh City environmental workers collect garbage. Photo: Quang An

Need for consistency in price framework construction

Concluding the meeting, comrade Le Minh Thong - Member of the Provincial Party Committee, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee acknowledged the delegates' comments to supplement the draft submitted to the Provincial People's Committee; at the same time, emphasized that the issuance of regulations on price lists in waste collection, transportation and treatment is necessary, in accordance with the Government's required roadmap as well as application and implementation.

However, this is a decision with a large scope of influence affecting people's lives, therefore, it is necessary to consult with many departments and branches; it is necessary to unify the names in the regulations on maximum and minimum prices... to unify the construction of price frames applicable to different types of waste and each region and residential area.

In the process of setting prices, the Department of Finance needs to coordinate with relevant units to review Government regulations, legal documents, legal provisions, and practical basis to complete before submitting to the Provincial People's Committee for official promulgation.

Quang An