Littering on the sidewalk is fined 7 million VND

Decree 155/2016/ND-CP regulating administrative sanctions for violations in the field of environmental protection, effective from February 1, 2017, has increased the fine by 10 times for littering in public places.

Specifically, according to Decree 155/2016/ND-CP, the act of dumping or disposing of household waste on sidewalks, streets or into urban wastewater drainage systems and surface drainage systems in urban areas will be fined 5-7 million VND;

Throwing, dumping, or discarding cigarette butts and ashes in the wrong place in apartment buildings, commercial or service areas, or public places will also result in a fine of 500,000 VND to 1 million VND (10 times higher than the old fine).

Throwing, dumping, or disposing of household waste in the wrong place will be fined from 3 to 5 million VND.

For violating organizations, this penalty will be doubled.

This regulation is said to be aimed at preventing and stopping littering in public places in recent times.

Recently, Ho Chi Minh City and many large cities across the country were severely flooded when it rained heavily. One of the causes of this is garbage. Garbage blocks the drainage systems, preventing rainwater from draining away, causing flooding. Therefore, increasing the fine is partly to reduce and prevent littering in public places in recent times.

According to Decree 155/2016/ND-CP, the people's police force on duty, the chairman of the People's Committee at the commune level, and the chairman of the People's Committee at the district level have the authority to sanction these acts.

According to PLO