A lagoon of trash, a reality of water pollution in Vietnam

Located in Duc Pho Town of Quang Ngai Province, a 210-hectare lagoon serves as a salt farm where saltwater is extracted. However, in recent times, a large portion of the lagoon has been transformed into a dumping ground.

Due to the suspension of a waste treatment plant in the area five years ago, people started disposing of their trash directly into the lagoon. This has resulted in the pollution of the water source for seafood and salt farming, leading some farmers to abandon their salt farms. In certain areas, the trash overload is managed by burning it.

The lagoon's pollution has had a significant impact on the local community. Previously, each family had wells to access underground water, but due to pollution, they are now forced to purchase bottled water for their daily needs. Additionally, the presence of garbage floating in the lagoon has affected fishing activities, with boats and coracles docked alongside the floating waste.

In 2018, MD Environmental Technology and Trading Co. Ltd inaugurated a solid waste treatment plant worth VND52 billion (US$2.18 million) in Duc Pho Town. However, just three months after its operation began, the project faced opposition from locals who accused it of causing pollution in the neighborhood. Subsequently, provincial inspectors determined that various departments involved in approving the project and conducting the environmental assessment had committed violations.

Efforts have been made by Quang Ngai authorities to convince residents to allow the waste treatment plant to resume operations, but an agreement has not been reached.

In addition to domestic waste, the lagoon also accumulates trash from fishing activities. This has led to overflowing garbage on the nearby beach.

To address the immediate problem, the authorities of Duc Pho Town plan to install trash bins and surveillance cameras to discourage people from directly discarding garbage into the lagoon. Furthermore, the existing garbage in the lagoon will be relocated to a temporary landfill.