Garbage is strewn across many rural roads in Nghe An.

The area where people gather garbage to burn is in Tru Son commune, Do Luong district. Photo: Hai An

Present at a canyon in Tru Son commune, Do Luong district saw a beachwasteThe spontaneous dump is quite large along the road, emitting a strong stench. It is worth mentioning that the garbage here is burned, the smoke billowing up covers the whole area. A local resident here said: Every time the garbage is burned, the smoke drifts downwind into the village, giving off an unbearable acrid smell.

Along Ngoc-Lam-Boi road in Do Luong district, people carelessly pull tire carts to dump garbage right on the roadside, the garbage spills out onto the roadway, obstructing traffic.

Tru Son commune landfill, Do Luong district smolders every day. Photo: Hai An

The representative of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment of Do Luong district said: The problem of waste collection in Do Luong is currently very difficult, the whole district still has 15 communes that handle the collection and burial of waste in the area. There are 2 units collecting waste for 17 communes buried in Hong Son commune. Currently, Do Luong district is attracting investment to build a waste collection and treatment plant for the whole district in Hong Son commune.

A resident litters on Ngoc-Lam-Boi street in Do Luong district. Photo: Hai An

Garbage flooded Ngoc-Lam-Boi street in Do Luong district. Photo: Hai An.

Yen Thanh district is currently also facing a serious problem of waste. For many years, National Highway 7A, passing through My Thanh commune, Yen Thanh district, has been a place where waste and cassava residue are collected, causing serious environmental pollution.

Some local people who often pass by here reflect: In addition to garbage, cassava residue is brought from somewhere and collected along the roadside, every day it gives off a foul smell, causing loss of aesthetics and traffic safety, and is in dire need of being cleared.

My Thanh commune, Yen Thanh district on Highway 7 - where people gather cassava residue, causing pollution and traffic safety problems. Photo: Hai An

In Long Thanh commune, people gather garbage along the inner-field road, near the water plant, so many people are very concerned about water pollution.

Currently, most communes in Yen Thanh district have not yet planned collection points, so most of the waste is collected along the roadside, and only after many days is it transported for treatment, causing pollution and encroachment on the roadside. Currently, the whole district only has 3 small-scale waste treatment plants (mainly incinerators) that cannot meet the waste treatment needs.

People collect waste in My Thanh commune, Yen Thanh district (on National Highway 7). Photo: Hai An

Waste is collected near the reservoir at the Water Plant in Long Thanh, Yen Thanh district. Photo: Hai An

Similarly, along the Hung Loi dike, districtHung NguyenThere are many places where people carelessly litter. Plastic bags, milk cartons, plastic boxes and many other types of household waste lie from the dike down to the middle of the road, making many passersby angry.

Through research, it is known that the collection and treatment of waste in rural areas is still limited. Most people have the habit of "throwing away wherever is convenient". In some places, local authorities have not been decisive in handling widespread waste disposal. Garbage collection only stops at the transfer and gathering points without any waste sorting and recycling activities.

Along the Hung Loi dike, Hung Nguyen district, garbage is dumped indiscriminately onto the road. Photo: Hai An

To ensure waste treatment, it is necessary for localities to promote propaganda and mobilize people to raise awareness in maintaining environmental hygiene; at the same time, replicate good models in waste collection and treatment. In particular, deploy investment attraction to plan and build waste treatment plants right in the area to reduce the burden on Nghi Yen and Nghi Loc waste treatment plants.

Hai An