After China banned the import of unprocessed plastic waste in 2018, Southeast Asian countries like Vietnam have become major recipients. (Photo: Kaustubh Thapa et al.)
The United Nations' Global Plastics Treaty is set to pass, expected to reshape everyday life and disrupt the global $38 billion plastic waste trade market. This is particularly relevant for Vietnam, which in recent years has become a major importer of plastic waste.
The country is home to areas known as "craft villages," where plastic waste is processed. However, research indicates that only one-third of the imported plastic waste is recycled, with the majority ending up in landfills, casting a shadow on the recycling economy at the crucial waste recovery stage.
Waste recycling makes Vietnam villagers billionaires
Located about an hour's drive from Vietnam's capital, Hanoi, Minh Khai Village is a hub for plastic waste processing. Here, many locals have become wealthy through recycling waste, earning the area the nickname "Waste Millionaire Village." However, the large influx of foreign plastic waste has exacerbated local environmental pollution.
After China banned the import of unprocessed plastic waste in 2018, Southeast Asian countries gradually became the primary recipients, with Vietnam ranking fourth in global imports in 2022. According to UN statistics, Vietnam imported 420,000 tons of plastic waste last year, an increase of at least 11% from 2022.
The World Bank reports that over a quarter of Vietnam's plastic recycling capacity is concentrated in villages like Minh Khai, with an additional 300,000 tons of recycling capacity nationwide. However, these figures are insufficient to meet the rising import levels, highlighting Vietnam's capacity challenges.
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In Minh Khai Village, Vietnam, plastic waste processing sites can be seen everywhere. (Photo: Kaustubh Thapa et al.)
Vietnam's struggles with waste management, recycling
Local officials and experts admit that the country’s informal waste management sector is vast and may not be able to handle comprehensive recycling and regulatory oversight. A study by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) found that only 30% of plastic waste is properly sorted in Vietnam, and improper sorting creates significant barriers to recycling.
A study from Utrecht University in the Netherlands revealed that only about 30% of imported plastic waste in Vietnam is recycled, partly because the waste is often mixed with organic materials, complicating the sorting process.
One anonymous recycler in Minh Khai Village stated, "The non-recyclable plastic waste is about 5%, but sometimes it can reach 25%." WWF’s report further indicated that much of the unrecycled plastic ends up in unregulated landfills, with 15% of it being exposed to the natural environment, posing serious risks to human and environmental health.
Source: Reuters, Vietnamnet, The Guardian
