Conditions for granting a license to handle hazardous waste in Vietnam

Conditions for being granted a License for hazardous waste treatment are stipulated as follows:

1. Have an environmental impact assessment report approved by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment for the hazardous waste treatment facility investment project or alternative records and documents such as:

• Valid environmental documents issued by competent state management agencies for hazardous waste treatment facilities put into operation before July 1, 2006 (Certificate of registration of meeting environmental standards; Document of appraisal of declaration of production and business activities that impact the environment;
• Environmental impact assessment certificate (or documents equivalent to these documents) or Environmental protection project approved by competent state management agencies according to regulations for hazardous waste treatment facilities that have been put into operation.
• The location of the hazardous waste treatment facility (except for production facilities with hazardous waste co-treatment activities) is included in the planning with contents on waste management and treatment approved by competent authorities at provincial level or higher in accordance with the provisions of law.

2. Conditions on facilities and techniques:

Processing systems and equipment (including pre-processing, recycling, co-processing, energy recovery), packaging transportation vehicles, storage equipment; temporary storage or transit areas (if any) must meet technical requirements; and management procedures as prescribed in Appendix 2B of Circular No. 36/2015/TT-BTNMT.

There are environmental protection works at hazardous waste treatment facilities that meet technical requirements and management processes as prescribed in Appendix 2B of Circular No. 36/2015/TT-BTNMT.

3. Human resource conditions:

There is a team of staff meeting the following requirements:

A hazardous waste treatment facility must have at least 01 (one) person in charge of management and operation; at least 01 (one) professional and technical instructor with professional qualifications in a field related to environment or chemistry;

A hazardous waste transfer station must have at least 01 (one) person in charge of management and operation, providing professional and technical guidance with professional qualifications in a field related to the environment or chemistry;

Have a team of trained operators and drivers to ensure safe operation of vehicles, systems and equipment.

4. Conditions related to management work:

There are procedures for safe operation of vehicles, systems, and equipment for collection, transportation (if any); and treatment (including preliminary processing, recycling, co-processing, and energy recovery) of hazardous waste.

There is an environmental protection plan that includes the following contents: Pollution control and environmental protection plan; occupational safety and health protection plan; incident prevention and response plan; periodic training and coaching plan; environmental monitoring program; monitoring of treatment operations and evaluating the effectiveness of hazardous waste treatment.

Have a plan for pollution control and environmental restoration upon termination of operations.

Conditions for enterprises to meet the requirements: If enterprises meet the above conditions, they can prepare a registration file for a license to handle hazardous waste; submit it to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment; which is the competent authority to issue a license to handle hazardous waste nationwide. The validity of a license to handle hazardous waste is 03 years from the date of issue.