Garbage collection point becomes pollution point

In many inner-city areas of Ho Chi Minh City, a series of garbage collection and gathering vehicles "occupy" both the roads and sidewalks for long periods of time, causing environmental pollution and spoiling the urban beauty.

Sidewalks and streets become garbage dumps

In recent years, the side of the building at 432-436 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street, Ward 5, District 3 has become a garbage collection point. After the trucks come to collect the garbage, they leave the carts on the sidewalk or sometimes on the street. Some days, the carts are full of garbage and covered with tarps or raincoats; other days, the carts are left open, with garbage strewn all around, leachate flowing onto the sidewalk, and the street giving off an unpleasant smell.

Garbage collection vehicles on the sidewalk of Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City, recorded at 2:00 p.m. on June 23. Photo: Thanh Hien

At noon on June 23, right at this location, we counted a cart full of garbage lying on the sidewalk, on the sidewalk divided into 2 clusters with 6 carts covered with tarpaulin; right at the base of the tree were styrofoam boxes, plastic baskets, nylon bags... piled up. This garbage collection point is located right next to the entrance to a high-rise building of a state agency with dozens of companies with thousands of employees working there. Pedestrians passing by this point are extremely uncomfortable because of the foul smell coming from the garbage.

About 50 meters away, at around 8:00 p.m. on June 11, at the intersection of Nguyen Thi Minh Khai and Nguyen Thuong Hien streets, there were about 3 garbage trucks full of garbage gathered on the road, blocking the front of the food shop. Ms. N., a resident of this area, said: “From around 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. every day, garbage trucks are gathered here, the garbage trucks give off a foul smell that makes people unbearable. A few weeks ago, we reported to the local authorities and this situation has decreased. However, after only a few days, everything is back to normal.”

Also at this time, at 442 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street, Ward 5, District 3 (headquarters of a bank), there are about 8 garbage trucks full of garbage, no lids, and leachate flowing down the street. Next to this location, there is a restaurant in operation. Thus, with a stretch of less than 100m of Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street, there are 3 garbage collection points, with garbage trucks occupying the entire roadway and sidewalk.

At the beginning of Ham Nghi Street - the intersection with Ton Duc Thang Street, District 1, we often see many garbage collection vehicles gathering in the afternoon. Many domestic and foreign tourists passing by had to cover their noses because of the unpleasant smell.

Recently, on Nguyen Hue Street (District 1), garbage trucks have also been seen lining up along a long stretch of road. Ms. Nguyen Thanh Thao, a resident who often exercises in this area, said indignantly: "I don't understand why garbage trucks appear in an ideal place where people want to exercise and breathe fresh air?"

Lack of garbage collection points?

Why do garbage collection points exist that are dirty and messy dumps without being handled neatly and cleanly, ensuring street hygiene as well as people's daily life? Talking to SGGP reporter, Ms. Vu Thi Tuong Vy, Chairwoman of the Board of Members, District 3 Public Service Company Limited, said that District 3 used to have 6 points as garbage transfer stations, then the city had a policy to clear these points to ensure urban aesthetics in the central district. There are no transfer stations, so it is necessary to set up transfer stations along the road. Ms. Vu Thi Tuong Vy affirmed to SGGP reporter that the company has followed the correct procedures, ensuring the time, spraying to remove odors, washing the points when the vehicles leave...

Garbage collection point on Vo Van Tan Street, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City, recorded at 8:00 a.m. on June 23. Photo: MINH HAI

Meanwhile, Mr. Tran Huu Tai, Deputy Head of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment of District 3, informed that garbage collection points have regulations on collection time. At about 10 pm every day, when the roads are empty, collectors will come to each household to collect garbage and gather it at the meeting point. From collection to transportation, it only takes about 60 minutes. However, the staff is worried about the rain so they collect earlier, leading to a situation where the garbage is transported longer. Garbage collected at the collection point must be put in a covered vehicle or covered with a tarpaulin. "We will work with garbage collection units to adjust the collection time. At the same time, we require staff to clean up at these meeting points after the public service company's vehicle comes to collect the garbage," Mr. Tran Huu Tai affirmed.

A representative of District 1 Public Service Company Limited said that all garbage collection points in District 1 are registered with the Department of Construction and have been approved. Collection time frames take place in two shifts, day and night, and the collection time until transportation is about 1 hour. However, the collection, gathering, and transportation process may take longer because the garbage trucks from District 12 often run late due to crowded roads and traffic jams. If people feel affected during the process of the company collecting, gathering, and transporting garbage, they can contact the company directly to report.

Dr. Pham Viet Thuan, Director of the Institute of Natural Resources and Environment Economics of Ho Chi Minh City:

Local authorities must handle

Regulations do not allow the collection force to take advantage of the road surface to carry out activities of transferring garbage from one vehicle to another. However, due to the characteristics of the central districts of the city without proper garbage transfer stations, these activities still exist. If the garbage collection unit conducts the work quickly, ensuring environmental sanitation requirements, people can sympathize. But if the collection process is prolonged, does not ensure environmental sanitation before and after gathering and transporting garbage, seriously affecting their daily lives, people should report to the authorities and local authorities to take decisive action.

THANH HIEN - MINH HAI

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/diem-tap-ket-rac-thanh-diem-o-nhiem-post800726.html