Illustration.
Every day at 5 p.m., Ms. Doan Thi Phuong Nam, a sanitation worker at Nga Hai Co., Ltd., drives her three-wheeled electric vehicle out to the streets to collect waste. It takes her only 5 minutes to get from the vehicle depot to the collection point. In the past, Ms. Nam had to push a heavy, rudimentary three-wheeled cart, even in rain and wind. Now, with an electric waste vehicle, she finds the work very convenient: the vehicle is compact, reaches every alley and residential area, and the job is finished quickly.
Ms. Nam’s joy at work is shared by all 106 sanitation workers at Nga Hai Co., Ltd. Since early August 2019 the company has piloted three-wheeled electric waste collection vehicles. It ordered them at about VND 30 million each and now runs more than 40, each with the collection capacity of 5 hand carts. The vehicles have an electric motor, make no noise, produce no exhaust and are environmentally friendly. Their batteries run continuously for 8 - 10 hours, matching the collection schedule. Top speed is no more than 20 km/h. They are fully insured, fitted with reflective stickers, a speedometer, a large headlight, turn signals, hazard lights for use while working, and foot and hand brakes.
The city currently generates about 50 tons of waste a day. Mechanizing collection with electric vehicles has raised labor productivity, reduced heavy work for workers and removed improper waste collection points. After three months of trial, the electric vehicles are showing early results. More than 40 electric waste vehicles have replaced 85% of the former hand carts. The 106 sanitation workers are divided into 4 teams. Besides the two fixed collection periods, 4 - 6 a.m. and 5 - 8 p.m., the company assigns some staff to collect waste left by tourists and residents on certain streets at other times of the day. The electric collection model reduces the number of workers on duty, avoids environmental pollution, does not affect the urban appearance and helps change the face of the city.
With rapid urbanization, one of the environmental issues today is the collection and treatment of household waste. Electric waste collection vehicles are one solution for renewing work tools and applying science and technology toward a green, clean and beautiful city. To reach that goal, however, in addition to investing in modern, standard equipment suited to each route, the support of residents is needed to raise awareness of waste sorting in every household and waste collection in alleys and lanes.
Kim Dung - Quoc Quy
Source: caobangtv.vn/
Some photos of electric waste collection vehicles produced and supplied by Vietnam Industrial and Urban Development Joint Stock Company (ICD) in Cao Bang City
