Title: Managing environmental performance in industrial zones: case studies in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Authors: Shoichi Kunikane; Kosuke Toshiki; Phung Hoang Van; Nguyen Thi Thu Trang

Addresses: 52-1 Yada, Suruga-ku, Shizuoka-shi, Shizuoka, 422-8526, Japan ' 52-1 Yada, Suruga-ku, Shizuoka-shi, Shizuoka, 422-8526, Japan ' Department of Natural Resources and Environment of HCMC, Solid Waste Management Division, 63 Ly Tu Trong st, Dist. 1, HCMC, Vietnam ' Department of Environmental Health Science, Graduate School of Nutritional and Environmental Health Sciences, University of Shizuoka, 52-1 Yada, Suruga-ku, Shizuoka-shi, 422-8526, Japan

Abstract: Using government records, data from hazardous waste treatment companies, and on-site surveys, we evaluated the effectiveness of the current industrial solid waste management system in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC), which was established according to the revised Law on Environmental Protection of 2005 and related regulations. In addition, we examined the relationship between the management system and environmental compliance by companies. Attention was paid to the classification of industrial solid waste, its amount finally disposed, and the cost of its disposal in HCMC. The results showed: one, the incoherence of the revised law and regulations in solid waste management caused serious pressure on landfills, and two, the implementation of the regulations has been neglected at all aspects of the current management system due to low levels of companies' registration and reporting, as well as low levels of compliance among companies in industrial zones. A solution for dealing with the current problems is proposed.

Keywords: industrial solid waste; waste management; environmental protection; hazardous waste; environmental pollution; Vietnam; environmental performance; industrial zones; law; regulations; landfills.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEP.2012.050896

International Journal of Environment and Pollution, 2012 Vol.49 No.3/4, pp.210 - 225

Received: 20 Sep 2010
Accepted: 05 Sep 2011

Published online: 19 Nov 2014 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article