Hanoi orders urgent probe after Tuoi Tre exposés of illegal construction waste dumping

The exposés described widespread, unauthorized dumping of construction debris in several localities, with significant impacts on the environment and land management order.

Under a directive by Vu Dai Thang, chairman of the municipal People’s Committee, the municipal Department of Agriculture and Environment was tasked with leading the inspection, in coordination with local authorities in Son Dong, Dai Thanh, Bat Trang, An Khanh, Linh Nam, Tay Mo, and Ha Dong.

The department must identify violations, impose strict penalties where applicable, and report findings to the municipal administration by December 31.

The Office of the Hanoi People’s Committee was assigned to monitor implementation, urge compliance among relevant units, and compile reports for city leaders.

On Thursday last week, the Office of the Hanoi Party Committee relayed instructions from the Standing Board of the municipal Party Committee to the Party Committee of the Hanoi People’s Committee and several ward- and commune-level Party committees.

The guidance addressed media reports published between December 9 and December 16, including Tuoi Tre investigative articles over the issue.

In response, the municipal Party Committee’s Standing Board directed the city administration to urgently develop a citywide plan to manage construction waste, ensuring both immediate solutions and long-term, systematic controls.

The Hanoi People’s Committee is required to report progress in the first quarter of 2026.

Tuoi Tre’s investigation, published on December 16 and 17, documented how rising construction demand in recent years has increased the volume of debris that should be transported to licensed disposal, burial, or recycling sites.

Instead, many operators were found dumping waste illegally to fill agricultural land, public land, ponds, and riverbanks across Hanoi.

Following the reports, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment last Saturday urged localities nationwide to tighten management of construction waste.

The ministry specifically requested Hanoi to inspect and strictly handle illegal dumping and burial sites.

According to the ministry, the Tuoi Tre articles highlighted rampant dumping used to fill ponds, riverbanks, and waterways in violation of regulations, causing serious harm to the environment and landscape.

To address the problem, the ministry called on provinces and cities to fully enforce environmental protection requirements in construction activities under Article 64 of the Law on Environmental Protection, integrate environmental safeguards and climate change adaptation into construction planning, and intensify inspections.

Authorities were also instructed to require project owners and households to refrain from dumping construction waste onto roads, rivers, canals, and streams.