Post by : Rameen Ariff

Vietnam’s unregulated craft recycling villages on the outskirts of Hanoi are quietly battling a growing health and environmental crisis, even as they continue to provide livelihoods for thousands of families. In places like Xa Cau and Minh Khai, plastic waste is recycled using crude methods that experts warn are exposing workers and residents to toxic substances such as lead, dioxins, and other cancer-linked pollutants.

Every day, mountains of discarded plastic bottles and packaging arrive in these villages, lining roadsides and riverbanks. Workers crouch amid the waste, stripping labels from bottles of international and local brands before shredding and melting the plastic into pellets for reuse. The work supports families and has helped transform once-poor farming communities into areas with brick homes and rising incomes. However, this economic progress has come at a serious cost.

Residents say pollution in these villages is severe. Air pollution controls are virtually non-existent, and untreated wastewater is often released directly into nearby water bodies. Burning of unrecyclable waste continues despite bans, filling the air with thick smoke and harmful fumes. Environmental experts say these practices release dangerous emissions that threaten both public health and the surrounding ecosystem.

In Minh Khai, environmental testing of soil sediment has revealed extremely high levels of lead, along with the presence of dioxins and furans. These substances are known to be highly toxic and have been linked to cancer and other serious illnesses. Past findings from Vietnam’s environment authorities showed that life expectancy in some recycling villages was nearly ten years lower than the national average.

While there is no official data tracking cancer rates in these villages, workers report widespread illness. Many say colleagues, neighbours, or family members have been diagnosed with cancer after years of exposure to polluted air and water. Some residents believe the toxic environment directly caused the deaths of their loved ones, yet they continue working because recycling remains their only source of income.

Health experts warn that long-term exposure to such hazardous conditions significantly increases the risk of disease. Despite this, the recycling industry continues to attract workers, as it offers a steady income in a country where job opportunities can be limited. Many villagers acknowledge the health risks but feel trapped between survival and safety.

Vietnam produces around 1.8 million tonnes of plastic waste each year but recycles only a fraction of it. Most domestic waste is not properly sorted, making recycling difficult. To meet demand, recycling plants import plastic waste from overseas, including from Europe and the United States. Imports increased sharply after China stopped accepting foreign plastic waste in 2018, turning Vietnam into a major destination for global waste.

Although the government has introduced tighter rules on plastic waste imports and announced plans to phase them out, large shipments continue to arrive. Trade data shows that more than 200,000 tonnes of plastic waste were sent to Vietnam from Western countries last year alone. Recycling plant owners say local waste supplies are not sufficient, forcing them to rely on imported material.

There have been efforts to improve waste management, including plans to relocate recycling operations to industrial parks equipped with proper environmental safeguards. Experts argue that formalising the sector could significantly reduce pollution and health risks while preserving jobs. However, progress has been slow, and informal recycling methods remain widespread.

Environmental specialists stress that the current system is harmful and unsustainable. Without urgent reforms, Vietnam’s craft recycling villages will continue to face rising health risks, environmental damage, and long-term social costs. As the country balances economic growth with environmental responsibility, the future of these villages remains uncertain, caught between necessity and neglect.

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