13/06/2016
On 22 May 2015, Prime Minister issued Decision 16/2015/QD-TTg on collecting and disposing of discarded products. This decision replaces Prime Minister’s Decision 50/2013/QD-TTg dated 9/8/2013. An objective of Decision 16/2015/QD-TTg is to increase producers’ responsibilities in collecting and disposing of discarded products to be in line with Law on Environmental Protection dated 23/6/2014 and Decree 38/2015/ND-CP dated 24/4/2015 on waste and scrap management.
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Decision 16/2015/QD-TTg defines discarded products as waste originated from expired products or products used and disposed of (in the list issued with Decision 16/2015/QD-TTg). Therefore, the products in the list of which expiration dates are not specified by manufacturers or regulated by law shall be collected when they are disposed by consumers.
Objects regulated in the decision are also specified. According to the Decision, products discarded during production processes shall not be regulated by this Decision. Rather, they are regulated by Government Decree 38/2015/ND-CP dated 24/4/2015 on waste and scrap management.
The Decision specifies that manufactures shall be responsible for collecting their products in the Vietnam’s market when the products are discarded; establishing sites or systems of sites for collecting discarded products; receiving their discarded products; encouraging receiving similar products sold in markets without discriminating brands or manufacturers; and receiving their discarded products collected by other manufacturers when requested.
Consumers are responsible for transferring discarded products in the following forms: bringing the discarded products to collection points, transferring to organizations and individuals for transporting to collection points; transferring to authorized transport and treatment units; and transferring to organizations and individuals for product repairing, maintenance and replacement. Organizations and individuals receiving discarded products shall have responsibilities of waste owners as regulated by law.
Distributors shall cooperate with manufacturers in establishing collection points and receiving discarded products at manufacturers’ requests and storing discarded products as regulated.
Decision 16/2015/QD-TTg has revised the timeline for collecting and disposing of discarded products for different groups of products to suit to the current local situation and manufacturers’ capabilities. This ensures practicality and feasibility of the Decision. Accordingly, from 1 January 2018, discarded motorbikes and motorized vehicles shall be collected. From 1 July 2016, some batteries and some electronic and electric products, lubricant oil and tires shall be collected. Also from this date, the Decision shall apply for some electric and electronic products such as compact bulbs, incandescent lamps, desktop and laptop computers, computer screens, computer processing units, printers, fax machines, scanners, cameras, video cameras, mobile phones, tables, CD, VCD, DVD players, video tapes, photocopiers, TV, fridges, air conditioners and washing machines.
In brief, Decision 16/2015/QD-TTg shall increase awareness and formulate habits of segregation and disposing of solid waste; facilitate environmental industries to develop and save limited natural resources; address the issue of ad hoc collection and recycling in polluting craft villages; mitigate pollution and increase manufacturers’ responsibilities for community and the environment, and contributing to sustainable business in Việt Nam.
MSc. Nguyễn Thượng Hiền, Director
Department of Waste Management and Environment Promotion
Vietnam Environment Administration
