How to discard old batteries and broken electronic good in Vietnam?

Posted on by envitech

According to Natural Resources and Environment Department of Hanoi, there are approximately 5400 tons of general waste discarded everyday, of which more than 100 tons are toxic waste from old batteries and other electronic stuff. Yet the official businesses, responsible for toxic waste recycling process,  are only able to deal with 60-65 tons of toxic waste per day. This means the rests are mixed within general waste and get treated normally. In Vietnam, the common methods of general waste treatment are burning and burying which would pollute the air and water if toxic waste are mixed within.

If you are an expat living in this country, you would probably wonder how Vietnamese people discard old batteries and broken electronic goods. Unlike in the US or UK where you can easily  bring old batteries to Costco, Walmart or Tesco for collection and call up your local dealer to pick-up broken electronic stuff.

Image by Nguyen Anh Mai

Here in Vietnam, we just throw everything into the bin. The lack of government intervention and policy have been the main reason to why local people have no idea about the environmental hazard resulting from irresponsible waste treatment procedure.

Toxic waste recycling should be done by trained workers using proper protection gears. However, in Vietnam, this cycling process is often carried out by “dong nat” using extremenly primitive method. Image by Nguyen Anh Mai

However, while we are waiting for any proper measure from the government, we should be the first to take action and protect our living environment. Underneath is the list of places where you can send in your old batteries and defective electronic goods in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh city. If you are not living in any of these cities, you can contact them directly at Vietnam Recycle to request a pick up.

Collection points in Hanoi:

Collection point at Culture Center

45 Nghia Tan st, Ward Nghia Tan, Cau Giay District, Hanoi

Collection Point at Hanoi Environment Protection Agency

17 Trung Yen 3,  Trung Hoa, Cau Giay District, Hanoi

 

Collection point at Ward Quan Thanh People Committee

12 – 14 Phan Dinh Phung st, Ward Quan Thanh, District Ba Dinh, Hanoi

Collection point at Ward Thanh Cong People Committee

No 9, Thanh Cong st,  Thanh Cong Ward, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi

Collection points in Ho Chi Minh city:

Collection Point at MM Mega Market (former Metro) An Phú

MM Mega Market (former Metro) An Phu, Lot B, An Phu – An Khanh Urban Area, An Phu Ward, District 2, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

Collection point at People’s Committees, Ward 15, District 4

132 Ton That Thuyet, Ward 15, District 4, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

Collection point at People’s Committee of Ward 17, District Phu Nhuan

22 Nguyen Van Troi st, Ward 17, Dist Phu Nhuan, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

Collection point at People’s Committee of Ward 2, District Binh Thanh

14 Phan Boi Chau st, Ward 2, Dist Binh Thanh, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

Collection Point at People’s Committee Ward 9, District 3

82 Ba Huyện Thanh Quan, Ward 9, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City.

 

All used or defective electronic products returned through the program are safely collected and professionally processed to achieve maximum recovery of natural resources and ensure highly professional waste treatment.

As a result, disposing your used or defective electronic products through Vietnam Recycles helps protect human health and the environment and conserves natural resources.

Nguyen Anh Mai