Recovering Waste Products In Need of Specific Agenda

The draft decision on recovery and processing of waste products is being finalised and going to be submitted to the Government. The new ruling clearly defines responsibilities of manufacturing or importing companies to products from the stage of market launching to the stage of expiry recalling. The recovery must be organised and clearly scheduled. Given the complexity of this matter, a lot of discussions on this issue have been organised for government agencies and stakeholders.

 

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has reported to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) on this draft decision and received comments and feedback from many countries. However, environmentalists and compilers think Vietnam needs a clear roadmap for companies to exercise their responsibilities. Initially, it may start with the lead battery industry, as manufacturers have clearly understood the economic benefits.

The draft decision only provides recalling and treatment of products discarded in the process of use or circulation. Products are stated in the appended list (battery cells, batteries, electronic equipment; chemical substances, lubricant oil, tires, vehicles). Companies should buy back waste products; but this work is difficult in Vietnam because of weak purchasing systems. They are also allowed to buy back their own products or products of other companies.

 

According to the General Department of Environment, in 2010 approximately 40,000 tonnes of lead batteries were disposed of in the country and the amount was predicted at nearly 70,000 tons in 2015.

 

Besides, the country is estimated to have 28 million motorcycles and 1.5 million automobiles and the number of motorised vehicles is projected to climb 20-25 percent a year. By 2021, Vietnam will possibly have 60 million motorbikes and automobiles. As a result, a large amount of expired batteries and used tires will be discarded and become waste.

 

According to the General Department of Environment, the recall of waste products requires responsibility from companies. Regional countries have applied this ruling and Vietnam’s adoption is actually necessary, despite being late.

 

No.	Waste Products	Enforcement schedule
I	BATTERY
1	Batteries	Jan 1, 2014
2	Cells	Jan 1, 2014
II	ELECTRONIC AND ELECTRICAL PRODUCTS
1	Compact bulbs, fluorescent lamps	Jan 1, 2014
2	Computers (desktop; laptop); displays; CPU (central processing unit)	Jan 1, 2015
3	Printers; facsimile machines; scanners	Jan 12015
4	Cameras; camcorders	Jan 1, 2015
5	Mobile phones	Jan 1, 2015
6	DVD, VCD and CD players and readers, and others	Jan 1, 2015
7	Photocopiers	Jan 1, 2016
8	TV sets	Jan 1, 2016
9	Air conditioners; refrigerators; washing machines	Jan 1,2016
III	CHEMICALS USED IN INDUSTRY, AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES (applied to expired chemicals)
1	Hazardous industrial chemicals	Jan 1, 2015
2	Medical chemicals	Jan 1, 2015
3	Veterinary chemicals	Jan 1, 2015
4	Plant protection chemicals	Jan 1, 2015
5	Fishery chemicals	Jan 1, 2015
IV	LUBRICATING AND GREASING OILS
	Lubricating oils	Jan 1, 2015
V	TYRES AND TUBES
1	Tubes	Jan 1, 2018
2	Tyres	Jan 1, 2018
VI	MEANS OF TRANSPORT
1	Motorcycles and mopeds	Jan 1, 2018
2	Automobiles	Jan 1, 2018