Solid Waste Management

By CECAD

Solid waste management plays a crucial role in protecting the environment, preventing disease, and conserving resources through recycling and reuse.

Solid Waste Management (SWM) refers to the collection, transportation, processing, recycling, or disposal of solid waste materials produced by human activity. It encompasses a range of activities designed to manage waste efficiently and sustainably, from waste reduction and sorting to the disposal or recycling of waste materials. The primary goal of SWM is to reduce the environmental impact of waste, protect public health, and conserve resources. The importance of SWM lies in the growing challenges of urbanization, population growth, and consumerism, which have led to increased waste production worldwide. Improper waste management can result in pollution, contamination of water and soil, greenhouse gas emissions, and public health risks. Effective SWM helps minimize these risks, improve sanitation, and reduce the burden on landfills. 

Key aspects of Solid Waste Management include:

  • Waste reduction and prevention to limit the amount of waste generated.
  • Recycling and composting to recover valuable materials and reduce landfill usage.
  • Waste segregation to separate recyclables, organic waste, and non-recyclables for efficient processing.
  • Safe disposal and treatment of waste to minimize environmental harm.

Sustainable SWM is critical for achieving cleaner, healthier environments, conserving resources, and addressing climate change. It is essential for building resilient communities and achieving global sustainability goals, particularly those related to responsible consumption and production.

In the field of solid waste management, CECAD has implemented several projects. In 2018, with funding from the Danish Embassy, CECAD carried out the project “Composting and Growing Organic Vegetables and Flowers on the Rooftop of the Office Building: Reducing Waste, Growing Safe Vegetables, Improving Quality of Life.” The project piloted a composting and vegetable and flower tower system on the 10th floor of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) building. CECAD supported MARD staff in sorting organic waste and plastic, practicing composting, and growing plants and flowers on the rooftop, with the goal of reducing the city's waste management issues while creating a green and environmentally friendly landscape for the building’s rooftop.

From 2021 to 2024, CECAD successfully implemented the project “Promoting Community-based Sustainable Solid Waste Management in Phu Quoc” funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) through the Clean Cities, Blue Oceans (CCBO) program. Under this project, community-based sustainable solid waste management was promoted in Ganh Dau commune and An Thoi ward in Phu Quoc city. The project aimed to enhance the 3R Strategy (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) and Solid Waste Management (SWM) through capacity building and the development of a solid waste value chain. As a result, three community-based waste management models were established, 246 tons of waste (including 40 tons of plastic) were collected, and 570 households participated in the project activities. Additionally, 24 communication events were held, attracting 4,000 people to engage with the project activities and information. Topics related to the 3R Strategy and solid waste management were widely communicated to the people of Ganh Dau commune and An Thoi ward through both direct and online methods. Communication events included

© 2024 CECAD

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