VietNam‘‘s Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung signed an environmental protection decree that regulates the management of solid wastes in Hanoi on April 9. The VNA reports that the new regulations state that, all dumping grounds and solid waste treatment stations must now comply with regional planning authorities and be granted with operating licenses by the responsible government departments.

The decree now stipulates that companies, families or cooperatives be given incentives for the collection and transportation of normal solid wastes but limited work related to dangerous solid wastes to only licensed organisations with appropriate experience and technology.

Further incentives are to be given to encourage investment in advanced technologies for the recycling of solid wastes.

All treatment and support projects are also now required to establish environmental observation systems during their operation terms and five years after their licenses expire, which will now be carried out every six months