Authorities in Quang Ngai City, the capital of the namesake province in central Vietnam, are sending locally collected garbage to dumpsites over 40 kilometers away after local residents took action against their neglect for local living standards.

Rubbish began piling up across the city after people living near the 28 hectare Nghia Ky landfill, situated in Nghia Ky Commune, began blocking garbage trucks from the site on July 6.

Nghia Ky is responsible for the storage and treatment of rubbish in Quang Ngai City and several surrounding districts.

Local authorities first realized the venue was becoming overloaded in 2017 and contracted Northern Investment and Development Construction JSC to build a proper treatment plant on an 11 hectare area within the site late that year.

Rubbish piles up along a street in Quang Ngai City. Photo: Tuoi Tre

The firm then took over the management of the site in March 2018 while continuing the construction.

During the implementation of the project, the city’s garbage was to be buried in three holes inside the dump as a stop-gap for the overflow issues until the project was completed.

Now, the pits are filled and the stench rising off the site blankets the surrounding wards.

Since the Nghia Ky landfill is now blocked by upset residents, rubbish has been left along local streets and in front of houses, further adding to the stench.

Rain only worsens the situation.

A pile of trash at a market in Quang Ngai City. Photo: Tuoi Tre

“I can no longer endure the smell coming from a large pile of trash in front of my home. My family may have to rent another place until the problem is solved,” on resident declared.

The provincial People’s Committee has recently requested that the Quang Ngai City administration store some of the trash at the Dong Na landfill in Tinh Thien Commune.

The sluggish construction of the Nghia Ky waste treatment plant. Photo: Tuoi Tre

The rest of the garbage will be brought to the Lilama Waste Treatment Plant in Binh Son District, over 25 kilometers away, and the MD plant in Duc Pho District, more than 40 kilometers away.

Local authorities were also tasked with identifying other sites to store the garbage.

Meanwhile, the Northern Investment and Development Construction JSC has been ordered to expedite the construction of the Nghia Ky treatment plant.

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