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 beachwastequite large spontaneous dumpsites along the road, giving off 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 into the village with the unbearable burning 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

A 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 collect and bury waste on their own. There are 2 units collecting waste for 17 communes that are 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, Do Luong district. Photo: Hai An

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

Yen Thanh district is currently also facing a serious waste problem. For many years, National Highway 7A, through My Thanh commune, Yen Thanh district, has been a place for waste and cassava residue to be 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, giving off a foul smell every day, causing loss of aesthetics and traffic safety, and is in dire need of being cleared.

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

In Long Thanh commune, waste is collected by people 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 planned collection points, so most of the waste is collected along the roadside and only transported for treatment after many days, causing pollution and encroachment on the roadside. Currently, the whole district only has 3 small-scale waste treatment plants (mainly incineration) that do not meet the demand for waste treatment.

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 to the middle of the road, making many passersby angry.

Through research, it is known that waste collection and treatment in rural areas are 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. Waste collection only stops at transfer and collection points without waste classification 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, it is necessary to attract investment to plan and build waste treatment plants right in the area to reduce the burden on Nghi Yen and Nghi Loc waste treatment plants.