Vietnam and Belgium to collaborate on waste management and recycling

Vietnam and Belgium to collaborate on waste management and recycling

As part of the official visit of the King and Queen of the Kingdom of Belgium, the Wallonia Export and Investment Agency under the Embassy of the Kingdom of Belgium hosted a discussion on solid waste management and recycling in Hanoion April 1.

Representatives from Belgian companies introduced advanced management models, modern treatment technologies, and lessons learned in policy framework development, private sector resource mobilisation, and enhancing community roles in solid waste management.

Delegates from Ecosteryl, Haemers, Menart, Ion Beam Application, and the University of Liège, engaged in open and in-depth exchanges about the current situation and challenges in Vietnam’s solid waste management system, covering collection, sorting, treatment, recycling, and reuse.

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Le Cong Thanh said, "Despite setting ambitious goals for solid waste management and improving related legal frameworks, Vietnam still faces significant challenges. These include a shortage of sanitary landfills, a lack of advanced and suitable waste treatment methods, and limited resources allocated to waste management. Solutions such as waste reduction, reuse, recycling, and energy recovery from waste have not been prioritised, resulting in a high volume of solid waste requiring landfilling."

"Belgium could provide technical assistance and transfer advanced technologies for waste treatment, recycling, and energy production from waste, particularly those models implemented in Wallonia," said Thanh.

The deputy minister also stated that both sides could collaborate on pilot projects in the circular economy and waste management in select Vietnamese localities, serving as a foundation for scaling up the model nationwide.

Belgium is among the world's top waste recyclers, with the Belgian government implementing a waste management strategy that prevents waste generation, promotes reuse and recycling, and, when recycling is unfeasible, ensuring waste is treated in ways that minimise environmental and public health impacts.

Additionally, the Belgian government has strengthened sustainable material management by reducing waste generation in production processes, implementing measures to conserve raw materials and energy, and launching campaigns to encourage sustainable production and consumption models.

Adrien Dolimont, Minister-President of the Wallonia region, said, "Our two countries have significant potential to develop sustainable solutions based on shared experiences, technologies, and initiatives from both sides. We hope that cooperation in solid waste management and circular economy development can be advanced through specific schemes involving governments, businesses, and academia."

"The urgency of transitioning towards a circular economy has never been greater. We must collectively embrace sustainable solutions to ensure the wellbeing of our people and our planet. Waste management is not merely an environmental issue, it is an economic, social, and ethical responsibility," said Dolimont.

"Sustainability cannot be achieved in isolation. It requires strong partnership, shared expertise, and a common vision for a greener future, This forum demonstrates the importance of international cooperation, particularly between Belgium and Vietnam. By working together, we can develop innovative solutions tailored to the specific needs of our society," he added.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Dinh Tho, deputy director of the Institute of Strategy and Policy on Agriculture and Environment under the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, underscored the urgency of innovating Vietnam’s solid waste management model towards a comprehensive, modern, and sustainable approach.

"With the rapidly increasing volume of solid waste, developing long-term strategies that integrate policy, technology, and community participation is key to achieving green development and circular economy goals," said Tho.

VIR