Toward a circular economy for better municipal solid waste management in Can Gio district, Ho Chi Minh city

• Published in: Sustainable chemistry and pharmacy 2024-04, Vol.38, p.101480, Article 101480
• Main Authors: Nguyen, Thi Hanh Tien, Nguyen, Thu-Trang T., Ha, Ngan-Ha, Nguyen, Kieu Lan Phuong, Bui, Thanh-Khiet L.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Can Gio district; Circular economy; conservation areas; ecological function; environmental protection; fauna; flora; forest ecology; green chemistry; human health; mangrove forests; municipal solid waste; pollution; protocols; ReSOLVE framework; risk; rural areas; Solid waste management; sustainable development; United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization; urbanization; Vietnam; waste management
• ISSN: 2352-5541; 2352-5541
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scp.2024.101480

Urbanization and economic expansion are making it more difficult to pursue sustainable development due to the daily generation of solid waste, which has a detrimental effect on both human health and the environment. With its mangrove forest ecology, Can Gio, a rural area of Ho Chi Minh City, plays a significant ecological function and was named the world's first biosphere reserve in Vietnam by UNESCO in 2000. Every year, Can Gio district has an average of 8500 tons of household waste. The rate of plastic use increases by 7–8%/year, of which only 15% is collected and recycled. Therefore, good waste management (especially plastic waste) is very important to be able to protect the mangrove ecosystem that is at risk. The aim of this study was to present a comprehensive outline of solid waste management and suggest a circular economy approach to support environmental protection and sustainable growth in Can Gio. In this study, a modified Circular Assessment Protocol (CAP) was used to investigate the current status of solid (especially plastic) waste management in the district, and a circular economy approach has been proposed for better waste management based on the ReSOLVE framework. The study contributes to programs of waste prevention and reduction, especially plastic waste pollution, to protect terrestrial and aquatic fauna and flora in the region. [Display omitted] •First report on solid waste management in Can Gio using CAP framework.•The amount of waste generated per capita is low compared to the city's average.•The collection rate is about 74%, the remaining waste is dumped into the environment.•Only 15% of plastic waste is recycled, the rest is dumped in the environment.•Using ReSOLVE framework, CE possibilities have been shown to improve SMW in Can Gio.