The city plans to increase waste collection fees: In 2025, the fee in urban wards will rise from VND6,000 per person per month (equivalent to VND24,000 per household per month) to VND21,000 per person per month, and to VND43,000 per person per month in 2026.

In rural communes, the fee will increase from VND3,000 per person per month (equivalent to VND12,000 per household per month) in 2025 to VND10,000 per person per month, and to VND23,000 per person per month in 2026.

Explaining the decision, the municipal authorities said the current fees do not fully cover the costs of waste collection, transportation, and processing according to established procedures and standards.

The Hanoi Department of Finance said the total waste collection fees in 2024 amounted to nearly VND568 billion, while the actual cost of waste management reached VND2,300 billion, or four times the revenue. The city’s budget has been heavily subsidizing these operations for years.

Additionally, Hanoi’s current fees are lower than those in other provinces and cities with comparable socio-economic conditions. For instance, HCMC charges VND84,000 per household per month, Hai Phong VND40,000, Hung Yen VND60,000 for wards and VND40,000 for communes, and Da Nang and Quang Nam VND30,000.

The city finds it necessary to gradually increase the fees to reduce the budget burden while encouraging residents to minimize waste generation and enhance community responsibility as it moves toward a system of charging based on actual waste volume.

Associate Prof Dr Bui Thi An, a former National Assembly Deputy from Hanoi, believes the proposed fee increase is reasonable, as current fees are insufficient to cover waste management costs.

However, she cautions that Hanoi authorities should consider special causes, such as vulnerable groups of people, low-income families, and those with contributions to the nation during the implementation process.

“For now, setting fees by region (wards and communes) as proposed by Hanoi is reasonable, as it’s not yet feasible to tailor fees to specific groups. In the future, Hanoi should consider charging based on the actual amount of waste generated by each household to encourage residents to reduce waste and protect the environment,” An said.

Mranwhile, Do Thi An in Cau Giay doesn’t applaud the decision, saying that for retirees like her and her husband, who rely solely on pensions, the increase adds financial strain.

Ms. Van noted that Hanoi previously charged by household, but the draft now proposes per-person fees. Her household of seven members, including two elderly people, three children, and two adults, would face monthly waste fees of nearly VND150,000 in 2025 and over VND300,000 in 2026, totaling an estimated VND2–3.5 million annually.

N. Huyen