On 11th December 2012 the Institute of Strategy and Policy on Natural Resources and Environment (ISPONRE), supported by Hanns Seidel Foundation, organized a workshop on solid waste recycling in Vietnam. Recycling is not new to Vietnam and has been practiced in various forms for decades. However, in practice recycling is spontaneous, often hazardous and contains the risk of environmental pollution, as management and control is lacking and there are no national guidelines to support local recycling centers, Mr. Nguyen Thanh Lam of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MoNRE) stated. Vietnam’s growing population is producing more and more waste which is mainly going into landfills. So far, Vietnam’s market for recycled products is very small.

Experts from the Republic of Korea and Australia presented best practices for waste recycling in their respective countries, pointing out that waste can be a valuable resource for further production if recycled in an appropriate manner with modern technology. The workshop’s participants agreed that Vietnam needs to look towards more developed countries and adopt best practices for recycling. Many participants however voiced their opinion that Vietnam would need to develop its own strategies due its unique characteristics which distinctly separate it from countries such as Australia. Everyone agreed that it is of high importance to raise awareness for environmental protection and the benefits of recycling among the population from an early age on. In addition, many participants pointed out the necessity of all responsible ministries cooperating closely to ensure that waste recycling in Vietnam is promoted and supported. So far, there has been a clash and overlapping of interests between various ministries all commissioned with various different aspects of recycling.