In the context of rapid economic development and urbanization, the issue of waste and wastewater treatment in Vietnam is becoming a major challenge, and at the same time opening up many opportunities for businesses to invest in this sector. With the increase in population and industrial production, the need for modern, sustainable waste management and wastewater treatment solutions is becoming more and more urgent. To create a clear legal corridor and promote green investment projects, Vietnam has enacted many strict regulations through the Law on Environmental Protection and accompanying guiding decrees. These regulations are not only aimed at protecting the environment but also ensuring sustainable development and enhancing corporate responsibility. However, to participate in this field, investors need to master the specific legal, technical, and environmental business conditions.

This article will analyze in detail the business conditions in the field of waste and wastewater treatment in Vietnam, and offer solutions to help businesses meet legal requirements and sustainable development.

From preparing legal documents to applying of modern processing technology, every important aspect will be covered to assist investors in optimizing their business plans.

1. Conditions for hazardous waste treatment business

Hazardous waste treatment is one of the business fields that requires high legal and technical conditions to ensure environmental safety. According to the Law on Environmental Protection, enterprises operating in this field must strictly comply with the set criteria to minimize risks and negative impacts on the living environment.

First of all, the location and scale of hazardous waste treatment activities must be consistent with the national environmental protection planning or the planning with relevant contents. This ensures that the treatment does not conflict with other development plans and contributes to the sustainable management of environmental resources. In addition, the environmental safety distance between treatment facilities and residential areas needs to be maintained, minimizing the risk of pollution.

Waste treatment technology is an important factor, which must be appraised and proven to be in accordance with technology transfer standards. Vietnam encourages the use of modern, environmentally friendly technology, combining waste treatment and energy recovery, contributing to resource optimization. In addition, enterprises must have a valid environmental license, ensuring that their activities are monitored and inspected periodically. Personnel need to be intensively trained in the environment or related fields to manage safe operations.

A special feature is that enterprises must develop a detailed environmental management plan, including pollution control measures, ensuring occupational safety, prevention and response to environmental incidents. In addition, in case of waste landfill activities, environmental protection deposit is a mandatory requirement to ensure long-term responsibility for the environment after the end of operation.

2. Conditions for wastewater treatment business

Wastewater treatment is an activity that plays an important role in protecting water sources and ecosystems. According to the Law on Environmental Protection, wastewater must be collected and treated according to technical standards before being discharged into the environment. This regulation not only protects water quality but also helps minimize negative impacts on the surrounding environment. One of the main requirements for businesses is to encourage the reuse of wastewater after treatment if it meets safety standards. Reuse helps optimize water resources, reduce the pressure of exploitation from natural sources and at the same time create economic benefits for businesses.

For wastewater containing hazardous parameters over the permitted threshold, the treatment process must comply with hazardous waste management standards. This requires businesses to invest in a modern treatment system and be able to monitor wastewater quality closely. The post-treatment discharge process must also be managed in accordance with the load capacity of the receiving environment to avoid long-term accumulation of pollution.

3. Requirements for wastewater treatment systems

Wastewater treatment systems play a core role in ensuring environmental quality. According to the Law on Environmental Protection, enterprises must build a treatment system with technology suitable for the characteristics and types of wastewater. Processing capacity also needs to be calculated to meet the maximum arising needs in production and business activities. In particular, the system must have an environmental incident prevention and response plan, with clearly located discharge points to facilitate monitoring. In the event of an incident, preventive works and equipment must be able to store wastewater temporarily or re-treat it to avoid discharging into the environment.

Another important aspect is the management of waste sludge generated from the treatment system. Waste sludge must be collected and treated in accordance with regulations on solid waste or hazardous waste if it contains toxic elements beyond the threshold. In addition, the transfer of wastewater for reuse or treatment at other units must also comply with strict legal regulations, including transfer plans and contracts between related parties. These requirements emphasize the need to invest in advanced treatment technology, while strictly complying with legal regulations to ensure safety and sustainable development for the environment.

Waste and wastewater treatment is a specific business field, requiring businesses to strictly comply with legal regulations and apply modern technology to ensure sustainable development. Vietnam, with its commitment to green and sustainable development, has created a clear legal framework to support businesses in fulfilling their environmental responsibilities while promoting economic growth.

Fully meeting legal conditions not only helps businesses limit legal risks but also improves their reputation and competitiveness in the market. In addition, applying environmentally friendly technology solutions will help optimize operating costs and contribute to sustainable environmental protection. This is an opportunity for businesses to develop long-term business plans and affirm their position in the thriving green industry in Vietnam.

4. Solutions to meet legal requirements and sustainable development

To meet the increasingly stringent legal requirements and achieve sustainable development, businesses need to build a long-term, synchronous strategy from technology, and management to human resources. The application of these solutions not only helps businesses comply with environmental regulations but also improves competitiveness, creates added value, and strengthens brand image in the eyes of partners and customers, some solutions can be considered such as:

Invest in advanced technology: Businesses should prioritize modern technology such as bio treatment systems, membrane technology, or combined treatment and energy recovery to reduce emissions and optimize resources. This not only helps comply with laws and regulations but also creates a long-term competitive advantage.

Build a standardized environmental management system: Businesses need to establish pollution control processes, automated monitoring systems, and incident response plans to minimize risks and improve operational efficiency.

High-quality personnel training: Strengthen the training of technical and legal experts to meet the requirements of complex system operation and strict environmental management.

Strengthen monitoring and continuous improvement: Enterprises need to implement a real-time wastewater and hazardous waste quality monitoring system to detect problems early and improve the treatment process.

Cooperation and technology transfer: Leverage international experience through cooperation with foreign research institutions and partners to update advanced technology and optimize processes.

The implementation of these solutions not only helps businesses strictly comply with legal requirements but also contributes to minimizing negative impacts on the environment while creating a premise for long-term sustainable development. With the right strategy and commitment to technology and management, businesses will have the opportunity to expand the market and affirm their position in the green industry.

Time of writing: 06/01/2025

The article contains general information which is of reference value, in case you want to receive legal opinions on issues you need clarification on, please get in touch with our Lawyer  at  info@cdlaf.vn

You can refer for more information:

• All legal aspects of franchising in Vietnam
• Guide for labor dispatch service business in Vietnam
• Procedures for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the Energy and Waste Management Sectors in Vietnam