Assessment of Household Waste Generation and Management in Rural Areas: A Case Study in Ha Nam Province, Vietnam

Abstract

While great attention has been focused on urban waste management, waste management in rural areas is still much less concerned both at investigation and investment levels. This study aims to survey household waste generation, treatment methods, and willingness-to-pay in a low-income province in the northern part of Vietnam. The results showed that the solid waste generation rate varied depending on household size and economic conditions. Specifically, they were 0.62 kg/person/day, 0.49 kg/person/day, and about 0.25 kg/person/day, respectively, for people living in the provincial city, town, and communes. On average, the waste generation was about 0.33 kg/ person/day, which was much lower than in other provinces of Vietnam; however, this rate was at the same level as other low-income provinces internationally. The surveyees were willing to pay only about US$ 0.25/HH/month (accounting for 0.25% of HH monthly expenses). This payment rate was low, leading to many challenges in proper waste management in rural areas.