Recycling Behaviour of Urban Households in the Vietnamese Mekong Delta

Introduction

Local governments in Vietnam and many other developing countries are responsible for the generation and recycling of municipal solid waste (MSW), as well as the implementation of management laws (Schubeler et al., 1996). MSW recycling, however, is a complex undertaking that demands institutional capabilities as well as engagement and collaboration from a diverse spectrum of business and public sector stakeholders. Despite the fact that improper MSW management is harmful to public health and the environment, it is currently inadequately managed in most developing-country cities due to a lack of government resources, financial investment, and inadequate technology and motivation. Furthermore, as a result of population growth and consumer demand, local governments are facing a huge challenge, notably in terms of waste management, with negative effects on the environment today and in the future.

The majority of previous research has been on policies in place to manage MSW generation and recycling. Institutional and control structures, for example, set MSW regulations and have punishments in place to deal with infractions (Slack et al., 2009). Several institutional measures, on the other hand, have been implemented but have not resulted in higher compliance or improved environmental quality (Stafford, 2002). Because they generate incentives for people, market-based techniques are more successful than institutional alternatives (Driesen, 2006). Sales taxes, the “pay as you throw” policy and fees based on the volume of MSW disposed of are all negative incentives; positive incentives include subsidies or tax reductions for people and organizations whose activities reduce waste generation (Gellynck and Verhelst, 2007). Many countries have implemented policies that combine positive and negative incentives, such as deposit return systems (DRS) (Wagner and Arnold 2008; Mckerlie et al., 2006) and voluntary suggestions (for example, voluntary participation in recycling) (Werner et al., 1995; Palatnik et al., 2005). According to Zhuang et al. (2008), MSW segregation at the source is a good way to cut down on rubbish. The classification of MSW has been established as part of the waste management systems in Germany, the United States, and Japan. Japan's overall amount of MSW decreased by 69 percent when it installed a waste separation system (Japan's Ministry of Environment, 2014).