Ho Chi Minh City plans construction waste recycling plants

Like many major cities, Ho Chi Minh City is carrying out numerous transport infrastructure and urban renewal projects, resulting in large quantities of construction waste and sludge.

However, the city still lacks specialized facilities capable of comprehensively processing and recycling these materials, while illegal dumping continues to occur in some areas.

According to the municipal Department of Agriculture and Environment, the city has assigned the Ho Chi Minh City Institute for Development Studies to work with the Department of Construction and the Ho Chi Minh City Construction and Building Material Association on a separate project focused on construction waste management.

Before the merger of Ho Chi Minh City with former Binh Duong and Ba Ria–Vung Tau Provinces in July last year, each locality had its own regulations governing construction waste.

The Department of Agriculture and Environment is currently reviewing and collecting data to develop a unified set of regulations for the expanded city.

Until the new framework is finalized, areas will continue applying existing regulations.

Under Vietnam’s Law on Environmental Protection, construction waste such as concrete debris, rubble, and ceiling materials generated during demolition can be handled in two ways.

Waste generators must either transfer the waste to licensed collection and treatment operators or reuse it as fill material for land leveling projects.

Authorities emphasized that construction debris used as fill material must not be mixed with household waste, such as plastic bags and organic waste, or hazardous materials, including fluorescent lamps and electrical equipment.

Reusing construction debris for land filling does not require a permit.

The Department of Construction has been tasked with proposing solutions for dredged sludge and sediment.

Authorities stressed that all projects involving waste disposal or reuse must undergo environmental impact assessment procedures.

Project developers are required to propose disposal methods and locations, which must receive approval from competent authorities.

During construction, dredged materials must be analyzed. Sludge containing toxic substances or heavy metals must be treated as hazardous waste, while uncontaminated sludge is encouraged for reuse as fill material in urban and transport infrastructure projects.

Officials noted that demand for fill material remains high as the city continues expanding its urban and transport networks.

Reusing suitable materials can help conserve natural resources and reduce pressure on landfills.

The Department of Agriculture and Environment will monitor compliance with approved environmental impact assessment plans and impose penalties for violations.

According to an environmental expert, the former Ho Chi Minh City Urban Environment Company previously operated two facilities for receiving and processing construction waste.

These facilities have temporarily ceased operations, resulting in construction debris being transported to the Da Phuoc integrated waste treatment complex for disposal.

Collection and transportation costs are negotiated between waste generators and transport units.

The expert noted that illegal dumping remains a problem, as some individuals hire informal transport operators who dispose of debris on vacant land or in remote areas rather than at authorized sites.

The city needs more qualified units with collection, transportation, sorting, and recycling capabilities, the expert said, as construction waste volumes continue to rise while many projects face shortages of fill material.

“Well-sorted construction waste can be recycled into a variety of products. Wood can be converted into fuel material, while sand, stone, and cement can be recycled into construction and land-fill material,” the expert said.

Stronger support needed for recycling initiatives

In 2025, entrepreneur Nguyen Minh Tu Anh in Da Nang City invested in a processing line that crushes construction debris into reusable materials.

His initiative not only helps address the growing problem of construction waste but also creates jobs and turns construction debris into a valuable resource.

The process converts concrete waste into fine aggregates, crushed stone, and stone powder, which have undergone testing and meet applicable quality standards.

However, recycled materials remain more expensive than conventional fill material, creating challenges in competing on price.

Supporters of recycling argue that the issue extends beyond profitability. They view construction waste recycling as a responsibility to communities and the environment, particularly as natural sources of fill material become increasingly scarce.

Crushing and recycling construction waste have become a common practice in many countries, reducing landfill volumes, lowering disposal costs, and creating valuable secondary materials.

Reports published more than a decade ago indicated that Germany recycled nearly 90 percent of construction debris from old buildings.

Many countries have also adopted technical standards governing the production and quality control of concrete containing recycled materials.

Concrete and rubble from demolished structures can be crushed, screened, and sorted. Recycled concrete fragments can then be reused in fresh concrete production or as substitutes for natural aggregates in road construction and other infrastructure projects.

Although such technologies have been available for years, their adoption in Vietnam has remained limited.

With Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, and other cities expected to demolish thousands of aging concrete structures, experts said finding effective solutions for handling the resultant waste has become an urgent challenge.

They argue that recycling construction waste and reusing crushed concrete should be promoted through stronger policies and greater institutional support.