Waste sorting at source in Hue city in the period of 2022-2025: Lessons learned and recommendations

Abstract

   Municiple solid waste separation at source is a key content of Viet Nam’s 2020 Law on Environmental Protection and a key foundation for advancing a circular economy. In Hue city, the source separation program has been implemented from 2022 with the participation of local authorities at all levels, collection service providers, communities, and technical assistance projects. This study analyzes how the program is implemented and evaluates its technical, behavioral, and institutional outcomes based on policy documents and waste audit data collected during 2022-2025. The results indicate that the program has expanded from pilot sites to citywide scale, with 76.9% of audited waste correctly sorted. Among waste categories, glass waste exhibited the highest sorting accuracy; recyclable waste was increasingly sorted over time, whereas hazardous household waste remained the most difficult category to sort correctly. Community engagement also increased, with approximately two-thirds of households practicing source separation. Based on these findings, the study identifies persisting challenges, distills key lessons learned, and proposes recommendations to strengthen the program in the next phase.