11. Legal framework and practice of municipal solid waste management

Abstract

This paper analyzes the legal framework for municipal solid waste management in Vietnam during the 2020 - 2025 period, focusing on the Law on Environmental Protection 2020 and newly issued national technical regulations. The study indicates that the current system of legal documents has established a solid foundation for transitioning from a landfill-based model to a circular economy through mandatory source separation regulations and the standardization of modern treatment technologies, such as waste-to-energy and co-processing. However, empirical analysis reveals a persistent gap between policy requirements and local technical infrastructure capacity, particularly regarding the lack of synchronization in collection and transportation, as well as limitations in emission monitoring. Based on these identified issues, the study proposes key solutions for infrastructure synchronization, the application of digital technology in environmental data management, and the enhancement of multi-dimensional monitoring mechanisms to bridge the implementation gap towards sustainable waste management goals.