Vietnam Struggles To Enforce Waste Sorting Laws

Vietnam is navigating new economic drivers and structural challenges as it seeks to maintain its growth momentum in 2026. Mandatory waste source classification became law on January 1, 2025, under Government Decree 45 of the Environmental Protection Law. Violators face fines ranging from 500,000 to 1,000,000 VND. Implementation remains difficult due to challenges in identifying and recording specific violations in practice. Vietnam faces difficulties implementing waste sorting regulations required to build a circular economy. Enforcement is hindered by inadequate infrastructure, including a lack of sorting bins and collection systems that fail to separate waste. Authorities noted that while regulations exist, practical implementation and the ability to issue fines are currently limited by these logistical gaps. The issue has led to debates regarding the fairness and feasibility of fines for non-compliance. Nguyen Huong Thinh, Deputy Director of the Environment Department at the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Environment, addressed the implementation challenges. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development stated that technical guidelines must be provided to individual households to facilitate waste sorting implementation. Experts said that waste sorting requires changes in daily habits as it is a new behavior for many citizens. The process involves training and widespread dissemination of information to improve public awareness.