Solutions proposed to tackle growing challenge of electronic waste

Vietnam faces a growing problem with electronic waste (e-waste), according to a study by the Hanoi University of Science and Technology’s Centre of Science-Technology and Environment.

The study revealed that the country generates roughly 100,000 tonnes of e-waste annually, primarily consisting of discarded household appliances and office equipment. This figure is projected to rise significantly, with television waste alone estimated to reach 250,000 tonnes by 2025.

Despite the rising volume of e-waste, Vietnam’s recycling and processing capabilities remain inadequate. The national recycling rate sits below 10%, with nearly 70 small-scale licensed processing enterprises, each typically equipped with a daily capacity of 0.25-30 tonnes. Current efforts primarily focus on recycling common materials like iron, copper, lead, tin and plastic, without capacity for extracting valuable precious metals often concentrated in e-waste components.

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