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Plastic Recycling Practices in Vietnam and Related Hazards for Health and the Environment

Author

Listed:
  • Stefan Salhofer

    (Institute of Waste Management, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, 1190 Vienna, Austria)

  • Aleksander Jandric

    (Institute of Waste Management, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, 1190 Vienna, Austria)

  • Souphaphone Soudachanh

    (Institute of Waste Management, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, 1190 Vienna, Austria)

  • Thinh Le Xuan

    (Vietnam Cleaner Production Centre Co. Ltd, Hanoi 11413, Vietnam
    School of Environmental Science and Technology, Hanoi University of Science and Technology, Hanoi 11615, Vietnam)

  • Trinh Dinh Tran

    (Faculty of Chemistry, University of Science, Vietnam National University, No. 19 Le Thanh Tong Street, Hanoi 11021, Vietnam)

Abstract

Waste plastic today is a global threat. The rapid increase in global production and use has led to increasing quantities of plastics in industrial and municipal waste streams. While in industrialized countries plastic waste is taken up by a waste management system and at least partly recycled, in low-income countries adequate infrastructure to collect and treat waste adequately is often not in place. This paper analyzes how plastic waste is handled in Vietnam, a country with a fast-growing industry and growing consumption. The recycling of plastic waste typically takes place in an informal context. To demonstrate this in more detail, two rural settlements—so-called craft villages—are taken as case studies. Technologies and processes for plastic recycling are described and related risks for human health and the environment are shown, as well as the potential for the improvement of this situation.

Suggested Citation

  • Stefan Salhofer & Aleksander Jandric & Souphaphone Soudachanh & Thinh Le Xuan & Trinh Dinh Tran, 2021. "Plastic Recycling Practices in Vietnam and Related Hazards for Health and the Environment," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(8), pages 1-13, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:8:p:4203-:d:536878
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Petra Schneider & Le Hung Anh & Jörg Wagner & Jan Reichenbach & Anja Hebner, 2017. "Solid Waste Management in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam: Moving towards a Circular Economy?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(2), pages 1-20, February.
    2. Laurent Lebreton & Anthony Andrady, 2019. "Future scenarios of global plastic waste generation and disposal," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 5(1), pages 1-11, December.
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    Cited by:

    1. Souphaphone Soudachanh & Alessio Campitelli & Stefan Salhofer, 2024. "Identifying Priorities for the Development of Waste Management Systems in ASEAN Cities," Waste, MDPI, vol. 2(1), pages 1-20, February.
    2. Thi Thanh Thuy Phan & Van Viet Nguyen & Hong Thi Thu Nguyen & Chun-Hung Lee, 2022. "Integrating Citizens’ Importance-Performance Aspects into Sustainable Plastic Waste Management in Danang, Vietnam," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(16), pages 1-17, August.
    3. Khuc, Van Quy & Tran, Phuong-Mai & Nguyen, Thuy & Pham, Phu & Tran, Duc-Trung, 2022. "Exploring strategies to tackle plastic waste pollution: Evidence from Vietnamese household survey and Bayesian approach," OSF Preprints m73ef_v1, Center for Open Science.
    4. , 2022. "Using contingent valuation method to explore the households’ participation and willingness-to-pay for improved plastic waste management in North Vietnam," OSF Preprints q2fm7_v1, Center for Open Science.
    5. Kaustubh Thapa & Walter J. V. Vermeulen & Mo Ming Waal & Pauline Deutz & Hồng Quân Nguyễn, 2024. "Towards a Just Circular Economy Transition: the Case of European Plastic Waste Trade to Vietnam for Recycling," Circular Economy and Sustainability, Springer, vol. 4(2), pages 851-876, June.
    6. Khuc, Quy Van & Dang, Phuong-Thao & Tran, Phuong-Mai & Nguyen, Thuy & Pham, Phu & Tran, Duc-Trung, 2022. "Exploring strategies to tackle plastic waste pollution: Evidence from Vietnamese household survey and Bayesian approach," OSF Preprints m73ef, Center for Open Science.
    7. Giovanni Vinti & Mentore Vaccari, 2022. "Solid Waste Management in Rural Communities of Developing Countries: An Overview of Challenges and Opportunities," Clean Technol., MDPI, vol. 4(4), pages 1-14, November.
    8. An Thinh Nguyen & Mai Tran & Thuy Nguyen & Quy Khuc, 2023. "Using Contingent Valuation Method to Explore the Households’ Participation and Willingness to Pay for Improved Plastic Waste Management in North Vietnam," Springer Books, in: An Thinh Nguyen & Thu Thuy Pham & Joon Song & Yen-Ling Lin & Manh Cuong Dong (ed.), Contemporary Economic Issues in Asian Countries: Proceeding of CEIAC 2022, Volume 2, pages 219-237, Springer.

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