On July 3, 2020, Sonadezi Service Joint Stock Company (SDV) organized a visit to Quang Trung Waste Treatment Plant and received comments from Thong Nhat District People Committee and local people (Dong Nai) on domestic waste treatment.

Quang Trung waste treatment plant is currently the largest waste treatment facility in Dong Nai, covering an area of 130 ha and having a total investment of nearly VND 650 billion. The plant is handling domestic waste generated in 2 cities and 6 districts in the province, with a capacity of about 1,100 tons/day, at its waste recycling station for composting purposes.

Thong Nhat District People Committee and local people visited Quang Trung waste treatment plant

With brand-new imported technology from Europe, the composting station at Quang Trung Waste Treatment Plant can thoroughly treat generated domestic waste, ensuring that the rate of inert waste for landfill is below 15%. Over 80% of the organic waste will be transferred to aerobic composting workshops for composting, and the rest 5% is recovered, recycled and reused.

Investment beyond EIA requirements to protect the environment

During the visit, the government and local people acknowledged the large of investment and modern treatment technology of Quang Trung Waste Treatment Plant as well as odor removal efforts in treating domestic waste at the project.

Mr. Le Vu Tien – Head of the Executive Committee of Ninh Phat Parish commented on the operation of Quang Trung waste treatment plant

As noted by local people, the odors have been better controlled but still exist when it is raining, early in the morning and late in the afternoon. On this regard, a representative of SDV Company responded that a temperature inversion happens at these time points, the air near the ground is moist, dense and cannot rise and travel far, plus a high volume of garbage trucks to the Waste treatment plant. In addition, leachate water is leaked to streets from some garbage trucks run by districts and investors, thus spreading odors to more or less affect local communities.

In order to limit the spread of bad odors, in April 2019, SDV Company invested VND 5 billion to install and put into use an odor removal system at the waste receiving and sorting workshop. This is not a mandatory requirement under the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report approved for this project, but the Company has actively invested in minimizing odors from domestic waste treatment. Currently, SDV has installed additional barriers around the waste-receiving workshop to isolate odors and increase the performance of the odor-removal system.

Local people were examining components of the wastewater treatment plant

The company has also implemented many other solutions such as installing stainless steel covers for wastewater tanks at wastewater treatment and liquefaction treatment stations, and covered 95% of the surface area of sanitary landfills and fully covered landfills that are temporarily closed. In addition, the entire aerobic composting workshop is equipped with doors and an automated odor removal system, in addition to employment of microbial products to shorten composting duration and limit the cycle of odor generation.

Simultaneously, SDV has planted trees at the treatment plant, focusing on planting tall and shady trees in locations where odors are generated, in order to minimize its impact on neighboring areas.

For leachate generated from the composting station and sanitary landfills, the Company collects, treats and reuses it internally in the Quang Trung Waste Treatment Plant according to regulations, without discharging it into the environment.

Commitment to proper delivery of the waste handling process

Addressing at the visit to Quang Trung Waste Treatment Plant, Mr. Nguyen Dinh Cuong – Vice Chairman of Thong Nhat District People’s Committee shared that the District People’s Committee regularly works with functional agencies in monitoring and promptly handling public feedback on environmental protection in the district as well as at Quang Trung waste treatment plant.

Mr. Nguyen Dinh Cuong – Vice Chairman of Thong Nhat District People’s Committee was delivering a speech

According to Mr. Nguyen Dinh Cuong, bad odors from household waste are quite normal. Recently, Quang Trung Waste Treatment Plant has taken measures to control odors in the process of domestic waste treatment. It is requested that the Company continue to follow the standard process and improve treatment solutions to minimize odors.

“The District People’s Committee will act more drastically to ensure that all transport service providers have specialized garbage trucks. From July 1 onwards, Thong Nhat district will not allow any garbage trucks that do not meet environmental sanitation requirements to operate in the district and advises that Quang Trung Waste Treatment Plant refuse non-specialized garbage trucks”, said Mr. Cuong.

On the operation of Quang Trung Waste Treatment Plant, local people also suggested that the Company should plant more trees to minimize odor impacts on the surrounding areas and take actions against garbage trucks that cause environmental pollution.

A local resident was providing suggestions at the visit to Quang Trung Waste Treatment Plant

In response to the opinions and suggestions of the local government and residents, Mr. Tran Anh Dung – General Director of SDV Company shared that: “The company is committed to delivery of the licensed treatment process and further research and investment in odor control and removal solutions to better protect the environment.”

Mr. Tran Anh Dung – General Director of SDV Company shared more information about the operation of Quang Trung Waste Treatment Plan

He added that 95% of workers at Quang Trung Waste Treatment Plant are local residents. The Company requires its employees to strictly follow the standard process and operate the waste treatment process in accordance with regulations and with the highest sense of responsibility to increase its performance and control environmental impacts on themselves, their families and living environment.

According to SDV Company, since 2011, as affirmed in regular inspections by local authorities and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, the environmental protection facilities at Quang Trung Waste Treatment Plant have met regulatory requirements.

In addition, since 2016, Dong Nai Department of Natural Resources and Environment has annually monitored underground water quality and soil environment in the vicinity of Quang Trung Waste Treatment Plant. Accordingly, it is found that monitoring indicators are stable within the normal range, so is the groundwater quality.