Ho Chi Minh City will enforce regulations on garbage sorting on November 24, with fine of up to 20 million VND (over 850 USD) to be imposed on those who fail to comply with the rules.

Pre-treatment garbage classification in HCM City (Photo ecc-hcm.gov.vn)

Under Decision 44/2018/QD-UBND dated November 14, 2018 of the municipal People’s Committee, all organisations, agencies, households and individuals must sort their garbage before putting them out for collection.

The garbage must be classified into degradable organic waste (such as food, leaves, vegetable and fruit, and dead animals), recyclable solid garbage (paper, plastics, metal, rubber, nylon and glass), and the rest.

The city also encouraged the use of garbage bags with different colours for different types of garbage, specifically white and blue bags for organic waste, and other colours for other.

Organic waste will be collected on every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, while the remaining types of waste will be collected on every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Localities can adjust the time and number of days of garbage collection depending on local situation.

Garbage collectors can refuse to collect rubbish if the sorting is not done in accordance with rules.

The new regulations are designed to tighten management of garbage, minimise negative effects on the environment and human health.-VNA