Characterization of municipal solid waste in Vietnam: Case study in Nghe An province

Abstract

Municipal solid waste (MSW) management remains a pressing challenge in rapidly urbanizing regions of Vietnam. This study presents the first node-specific characterization of MSW in Nghe An province, based on seven composite samples collected from sources, transfer stations, and landfill sites in urban area. Material fractions, physico-chemical properties, and energy content were analyzed following international standards. Results reveal strong spatial variability: organics dominate at source (up to 66% in market waste), while downstream streams are enriched in ash and inert fractions. Moisture content in Nghe An (31–51%) is markedly lower than the national average (~79%), yielding volatile solids of ~70% of total solids. Net heating value (NHV) ranges from 4.5 to 13.0 MJ/kg (mean ≈9.97 MJ/kg), exceeding the Vietnamese average (6–9 MJ/kg) but below values reported for China (~19 MJ/kg) and high-income countries (>12 MJ/kg). These findings suggest that large-scale incineration is unlikely to be viable; instead, node-specific solutions are recommended-composting or anaerobic digestion for organic-rich fractions, and refuse-derived fuel (RDF) for dry, combustible streams. The study provides a baseline for integrated MSW management in Vietnam and demonstrates the value of node-specific analysis the low collection rate in the rural areas in Nghe An in guiding technology selection for lower-middle-income contexts.