Vietnam’s recycling trade is present process a profound shift because of the introduction of EPR laws.
The brand new regulation, underneath Decree No. 08/2022/ND-CP, mandates that producers and importers take duty for managing the end-of-life of the merchandise they place available on the market.
This regulation, which got here into impact on January 1, 2024, is anticipated to considerably change how companies deal with waste, from packaging supplies to digital units and tyres.
By shifting the burden of waste administration from shoppers and native authorities to producers, Vietnam is aiming to create a extra sustainable recycling system and assist the nation’s long-term environmental objectives.
Below the EPR framework, producers and importers of sure merchandise should make sure that their items are correctly collected, reused, and recycled on the finish of their lifecycle.
These merchandise embrace plastic packaging, batteries, tyres, and digital items like smartphones, computer systems, and televisions.
Corporations now have two choices to fulfil their tasks: they’ll both construct their very own recycling programs or contribute to the Vietnam Environmental Safety Fund (VEPF), which is designed to assist the nation’s recycling infrastructure.
One of the crucial notable facets of the EPR laws is the inclusion of necessary recycling targets. These targets will improve each three years, encouraging companies to innovate and enhance recycling charges over time.
For instance, packaging utilized in meals merchandise, cosmetics, and medication should meet strict recycling quotas, selling circularity within the packaging sector.
As Vietnam continues to embrace the round economic system mannequin, the EPR coverage will play an important position in decreasing waste and bettering sustainability throughout industries.
Among the many varied waste streams addressed by the EPR laws, digital waste (e-waste) is likely one of the most difficult.
The speedy technological developments in synthetic intelligence and high-tech units, coupled with the comparatively brief lifespan of digital merchandise, make e-waste recycling a posh challenge.
Units reminiscent of smartphones, laptops, and televisions typically include worthwhile supplies, together with valuable metals like gold, silver, and copper.
Nevertheless, these supplies are tough to extract, and the recycling course of itself will be expensive and technically demanding.
In Vietnam, there’s a rising want for superior recycling amenities that may safely and effectively deal with e-waste, recovering these valuable supplies whereas stopping environmental hurt.
This presents each a problem and a possibility: whereas the technical necessities for recycling e-waste are excessive, additionally they create potential for funding within the improvement of state-of-the-art recycling applied sciences.
Tyre recycling has emerged as one other crucial challenge underneath the brand new EPR guidelines.
Though recycling tyres supplies vital environmental advantages, together with decreasing landfill waste and recovering worthwhile supplies reminiscent of metal and rubber, the method itself will be problematic.
If not managed correctly, tyre recycling may end up in air pollution, particularly if the expertise used is outdated or inefficient.
The Vietnamese authorities is actively working to handle these considerations by implementing stricter requirements for tyre recycling and guaranteeing that the expertise used meets environmental and well being tips.
The shift in direction of higher tyre recycling practices is a part of the broader purpose to minimise air pollution and enhance public well being whereas selling sustainable practices in waste administration.
The enforcement of EPR laws in Vietnam is supported by the institution of a nationwide digital portal for compliance.
This platform permits producers and importers to register their merchandise, submit recycling stories, and contribute to the VEPF. Failure to adjust to the laws can result in penalties, reinforcing the federal government’s dedication to making sure that EPR obligations are met.
The federal government can also be taking steps to refine the EPR laws over time. In early 2025, amendments had been launched by means of Decree No. 05/2025/ND-CP, which additional optimised recycling necessities and launched new administration charges for sure industries.
These updates mirror the federal government’s proactive method to bettering recycling requirements and strengthening the round economic system.
The introduction of EPR laws marks a pivotal second in Vietnam’s efforts to sort out waste administration and promote environmental sustainability.
By holding producers accountable for the total lifecycle of their merchandise, these laws pave the best way for a extra round economic system.
With the authorized framework now in place, companies are underneath rising stress to develop environment friendly recycling programs that align with nationwide objectives for waste discount, useful resource restoration, and sustainable improvement.
Because the Vietnamese recycling trade continues to evolve underneath the affect of EPR legal guidelines, it’s clear that each challenges and alternatives lie forward.
Corporations that embrace innovation in recycling applied sciences will play a key position in shaping the way forward for sustainable waste administration within the nation, contributing to a greener and extra sustainable Vietnam.
“Vietnam’s recycling trade faces EPR overhaul” was initially created and revealed by Packaging Gateway, a GlobalData owned model.
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