The responsibility for overseeing waste management in Vietnam is shared among several ministries at the national level, with each ministry contributing specific expertise and actions. Table 1 below illustrates the distinct yet interconnected roles that support the country’s waste management framework.
Table 1. Ministries Responsible for Waste Management in Viet Nam
Ministry | Authority |
The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment | Decree No. 35/2025/NĐ-CP provides regulations on the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment (MAE), including waste and hazardous waste management, in compliance with the Law on Government Organization and the Law on Environmental Protection 2020. Key Authorities of MAE in Waste and Hazardous Waste Management Direction: a. Policy Development and Legal Document Issuance MAE is responsible for drafting and submitting legal documents on waste and hazardous waste management. It also issues guidelines, circulars, technical regulations, standards, and management processes for waste management within its jurisdiction. b. Strategic Planning and Approval Formulating and approving strategies, master plans, programs, and plans for waste management, hazardous waste treatment infrastructure, and environmental protection projects. Directing the implementation of the National Strategy on Waste Management and Hazardous Waste Management. c. State Management Functions Providing guidance, supervision, and inspection of waste management activities nationwide. Monitoring the compliance of organizations and individuals in waste classification, collection, transportation, treatment, and disposal. d. Hazardous Waste Management MAE has the authority to issue regulations on hazardous waste classification, storage, transportation, treatment technologies, and disposal standards. Approve and manage hazardous waste treatment facilities and services. Implement the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) mechanism for specific waste streams. e. Enforcement and Monitoring MAE is authorized to organize data collection, develop databases, and apply digital technology in waste traceability and management. Inspect, examine, and handle violations related to waste and hazardous waste management. Since March 2025, the Pollution Control Department under MAE has been assigned to lead and coordinate solid waste management nationwide. Its key responsibilities include developing policies, strategies, regulations; guidance and monitoring of collection, transportation, treatment, and disposal; supporting the application of waste treatment technologies; supervising the implementation of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR); managing plastic waste and marine plastic waste reduction plans; and strengthening inspection, enforcement, and public awareness on waste reduction and recycling. The Vietnam Agency of Seas and Islands under the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, is responsible for marine plastic debris management, leading, and coordinating the implementation of the National Action Plan on Marine Plastic Waste Management to 2030. Its key functions include providing guidance, monitoring, inspection, and evaluation of marine plastic waste management activities; and conducting surveys, research, and preparing reports on the current status of marine plastic waste.
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Ministry of Construction | Decree No. 33/2025/NĐ-CP regulates the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Construction (MOC). In particular, it defines the MOC's authority in managing construction and demolition waste (CDW), urban waste management and related environmental infrastructure. Key Authorities of MOC in Waste Management Direction a. Policy Formulation and Legal Regulation MOC is responsible for drafting and submitting legal documents related to the management of construction waste and urban waste infrastructure. It also issues technical standards, regulations, and guidelines on the management of construction solid waste and demolition waste. b. Planning and Development Management MOC guides and approves master plans, strategies, and development programs for urban solid waste management, waste treatment infrastructure, and urban technical infrastructure. It also manages urban environmental sanitation projects and waste treatment facility development plans. c. Technical Standards and Infrastructure Management MOC has the authority to develop and promulgate national technical standards and economic-technical norms for waste collection systems, transportation, storage, treatment facilities, and construction waste recycling. It regulates environmental infrastructure in urban areas and industrial zones related to waste management. d. Construction Waste and Demolition Waste Management Specific responsibilities include providing guidance on waste separation at source in construction activities, managing recycling, reuse, and treatment of construction waste and demolition waste, regulating the conditions and processes for construction waste disposal, and promoting circular economy models in construction waste management. e. Inspection, Supervision, and Compliance Monitoring MOC is empowered to inspect, monitor, and handle violations of regulations on construction waste management. |
Ministry of Health | Decree No. 42/2025/NĐ-CP regulates the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Health (MOH), including the management of solid waste generated from healthcare facilities, hospitals, and other medical establishments in accordance with the Law on Environmental Protection 2020. Key Authorities of MOH in Medical Solid Waste Management a. Policy Formulation and Legal Regulation MOH is responsible for drafting and submitting legal documents, standards, and guidelines for the management of medical solid waste (MSW) from hospitals and medical facilities. It also issues regulations on classification, storage, transportation, treatment, and disposal of healthcare waste. b. Technical Guidelines and Safety Regulations Developing and issuing national technical standards and regulations on: waste segregation at source within medical facilities; safe collection, storage, and transportation of hazardous medical waste; treatment methods for infectious waste, sharp waste, pharmaceutical waste, and chemical waste from medical activities. c. Planning and Management of Medical Waste Systems MOH guides and manages waste management systems within healthcare infrastructure, plans for investment in medical waste treatment facilities, and supervision of environmental protection measures in hospitals and healthcare services. d. Health and Environmental Safety Management MOH supervises infection control measures related to waste management in hospitals, protection of health workers and waste handling staff, and waste management in pandemic response, quarantine areas, and medical isolation zones. e. Inspection, Supervision, and Compliance Monitoring MOH has authority to inspect, monitor, and handle violations in medical waste management.MOH also manages the training and certification of staff responsible for waste management in medical establishments. |
Ministry of Industry and Trade | Decree No. 40/2025/NĐ-CP regulates the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT), particularly in: industrial waste management; development of environmental protection in industry; and promotion of environment-friendly production models in line with the Law on Environmental Protection 2020. Key Authorities of MOIT in Industrial Waste Management a. Policy Development and Regulation MOIT is responsible for submitting to the Government legal documents on industrial waste management and environment-friendly industry development. It also issues technical regulations, standards, and guidelines related to waste management in industrial activities. b. Management of Industrial Waste Systems MOIT manages planning and development of industrial waste treatment infrastructure; control of hazardous waste generation, recycling, reuse, and treatment in industrial production; and regulations on waste collection, storage, transportation, and treatment in industrial zones and manufacturing facilities. c. Promotion of Environment-friendly Industry MOIT has authority to formulate and implement programs, projects, and strategies to promote green industry and cleaner production. It encourages the application of energy-saving, waste-reducing, and environmentally friendly technologies in industrial production. It also guides enterprises to apply circular economy models, sustainable resource use, and waste minimization measures. d. State Management in Production, Import, Export, and Consumption of Materials MOIT regulates environmentally friendly product labeling; eco-design for industrial products; and management of materials that can cause environmental pollution in production, trading, and consumption. e. Inspection, Monitoring, and Enforcement MOIT is empowered to inspect and supervise compliance with regulations on industrial waste management and environmental protection in industry. It handles violations and policy enforcement. |
Source: Thang (2017).
The responsibility for overseeing waste management in Vietnam is shared among several ministries at the national level, with each ministry contributing specific expertise and actions. Table 1 below illustrates the distinct yet interconnected roles that support the country’s waste management framework.
Table 1. Ministries Responsible for Waste Management in Viet Nam
Ministry | Authority |
The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment | Decree No. 35/2025/NĐ-CP provides regulations on the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment (MAE), including waste and hazardous waste management, in compliance with the Law on Government Organization and the Law on Environmental Protection 2020. Key Authorities of MAE in Waste and Hazardous Waste Management Direction: a. Policy Development and Legal Document Issuance MAE is responsible for drafting and submitting legal documents on waste and hazardous waste management. It also issues guidelines, circulars, technical regulations, standards, and management processes for waste management within its jurisdiction. b. Strategic Planning and Approval Formulating and approving strategies, master plans, programs, and plans for waste management, hazardous waste treatment infrastructure, and environmental protection projects. Directing the implementation of the National Strategy on Waste Management and Hazardous Waste Management. c. State Management Functions Providing guidance, supervision, and inspection of waste management activities nationwide. Monitoring the compliance of organizations and individuals in waste classification, collection, transportation, treatment, and disposal. d. Hazardous Waste Management MAE has the authority to issue regulations on hazardous waste classification, storage, transportation, treatment technologies, and disposal standards. Approve and manage hazardous waste treatment facilities and services. Implement the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) mechanism for specific waste streams. e. Enforcement and Monitoring MAE is authorized to organize data collection, develop databases, and apply digital technology in waste traceability and management. Inspect, examine, and handle violations related to waste and hazardous waste management. Since March 2025, the Pollution Control Department under MAE has been assigned to lead and coordinate solid waste management nationwide. Its key responsibilities include developing policies, strategies, regulations; guidance and monitoring of collection, transportation, treatment, and disposal; supporting the application of waste treatment technologies; supervising the implementation of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR); managing plastic waste and marine plastic waste reduction plans; and strengthening inspection, enforcement, and public awareness on waste reduction and recycling. The Vietnam Agency of Seas and Islands under the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, is responsible for marine plastic debris management, leading, and coordinating the implementation of the National Action Plan on Marine Plastic Waste Management to 2030. Its key functions include providing guidance, monitoring, inspection, and evaluation of marine plastic waste management activities; and conducting surveys, research, and preparing reports on the current status of marine plastic waste.
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Ministry of Construction | Decree No. 33/2025/NĐ-CP regulates the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Construction (MOC). In particular, it defines the MOC's authority in managing construction and demolition waste (CDW), urban waste management and related environmental infrastructure. Key Authorities of MOC in Waste Management Direction a. Policy Formulation and Legal Regulation MOC is responsible for drafting and submitting legal documents related to the management of construction waste and urban waste infrastructure. It also issues technical standards, regulations, and guidelines on the management of construction solid waste and demolition waste. b. Planning and Development Management MOC guides and approves master plans, strategies, and development programs for urban solid waste management, waste treatment infrastructure, and urban technical infrastructure. It also manages urban environmental sanitation projects and waste treatment facility development plans. c. Technical Standards and Infrastructure Management MOC has the authority to develop and promulgate national technical standards and economic-technical norms for waste collection systems, transportation, storage, treatment facilities, and construction waste recycling. It regulates environmental infrastructure in urban areas and industrial zones related to waste management. d. Construction Waste and Demolition Waste Management Specific responsibilities include providing guidance on waste separation at source in construction activities, managing recycling, reuse, and treatment of construction waste and demolition waste, regulating the conditions and processes for construction waste disposal, and promoting circular economy models in construction waste management. e. Inspection, Supervision, and Compliance Monitoring MOC is empowered to inspect, monitor, and handle violations of regulations on construction waste management. |
Ministry of Health | Decree No. 42/2025/NĐ-CP regulates the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Health (MOH), including the management of solid waste generated from healthcare facilities, hospitals, and other medical establishments in accordance with the Law on Environmental Protection 2020. Key Authorities of MOH in Medical Solid Waste Management a. Policy Formulation and Legal Regulation MOH is responsible for drafting and submitting legal documents, standards, and guidelines for the management of medical solid waste (MSW) from hospitals and medical facilities. It also issues regulations on classification, storage, transportation, treatment, and disposal of healthcare waste. b. Technical Guidelines and Safety Regulations Developing and issuing national technical standards and regulations on: waste segregation at source within medical facilities; safe collection, storage, and transportation of hazardous medical waste; treatment methods for infectious waste, sharp waste, pharmaceutical waste, and chemical waste from medical activities. c. Planning and Management of Medical Waste Systems MOH guides and manages waste management systems within healthcare infrastructure, plans for investment in medical waste treatment facilities, and supervision of environmental protection measures in hospitals and healthcare services. d. Health and Environmental Safety Management MOH supervises infection control measures related to waste management in hospitals, protection of health workers and waste handling staff, and waste management in pandemic response, quarantine areas, and medical isolation zones. e. Inspection, Supervision, and Compliance Monitoring MOH has authority to inspect, monitor, and handle violations in medical waste management.MOH also manages the training and certification of staff responsible for waste management in medical establishments. |
Ministry of Industry and Trade | Decree No. 40/2025/NĐ-CP regulates the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT), particularly in: industrial waste management; development of environmental protection in industry; and promotion of environment-friendly production models in line with the Law on Environmental Protection 2020. Key Authorities of MOIT in Industrial Waste Management a. Policy Development and Regulation MOIT is responsible for submitting to the Government legal documents on industrial waste management and environment-friendly industry development. It also issues technical regulations, standards, and guidelines related to waste management in industrial activities. b. Management of Industrial Waste Systems MOIT manages planning and development of industrial waste treatment infrastructure; control of hazardous waste generation, recycling, reuse, and treatment in industrial production; and regulations on waste collection, storage, transportation, and treatment in industrial zones and manufacturing facilities. c. Promotion of Environment-friendly Industry MOIT has authority to formulate and implement programs, projects, and strategies to promote green industry and cleaner production. It encourages the application of energy-saving, waste-reducing, and environmentally friendly technologies in industrial production. It also guides enterprises to apply circular economy models, sustainable resource use, and waste minimization measures. d. State Management in Production, Import, Export, and Consumption of Materials MOIT regulates environmentally friendly product labeling; eco-design for industrial products; and management of materials that can cause environmental pollution in production, trading, and consumption. e. Inspection, Monitoring, and Enforcement MOIT is empowered to inspect and supervise compliance with regulations on industrial waste management and environmental protection in industry. It handles violations and policy enforcement. |
Source: Thang (2017).
