Application for Vietnam Creative Day
"Action for Environment"
I. Description
1. Project Name
Studying proper model for treatment of waste discharged from processing tapioca starch units in Xuan Tho 2, Song Cau district, Phu Yen Province.
2. Project Location
Xuan Tho 2 commune, Song Cau district, Phu Yen Province.
3. Geographic Area: Rural area
4. Implementation Body
Environment Technology Center - ENTEC which was established in August 4, 1998 according to Decision No. 20/HMTg-QĐ of Vietnam Association of Conservation of Nature and Environment (VACNE) and License for Registration of Scientific and Technological Activities No. 590 dated September 28, 1998 issued by the Ministry of Science Technology and Environment.
The Center officially has 30 staffs, including professors, doctors, masters, engineers and Bachelors who are graduated from domestic and foreign universities. Moreover, the center also has various collaborators who are senior environmental experts.
The organizational structure of ENTEC is as follows:
The authorized function and tasks of ENTEC includes:
- Research and design waste pollution control systems and technologies for environmental protection.
- Research and apply new technologies, technical measures for labor protection, clean water supply and environmental sanitation.
- Provide scientific and technological services in the mentioned above fields (i.e. environmental consultancy, education and training).
ENTEC has established a good cooperation with international organizations, research centers and environmental experts in domestic and foreign countries.
During 6 years from 1998 to 2004, Environmental Technology Center have participated in 06 Projects within the National Science and Technology Program :
- Prediction and assessment of pollution levels and development of environmental protection strategy in Ho Chi Minh and surroundings in the period of industrialization and urbanization (KHCN-07-02).
- Study of some appropriated technologies for control of wastes originated from small and medium-scale enterprises in Vietnam (KHCN07-16)
- Development of some scientific arguments for integrated management of water quality in Dong Nai river basin (KHCN07-17).
- Research Development of the Environmental Planning for the Middle Economic Focal Zone including Da Nang City, Thua Thien-Hue, Quang Nam, Quang Ngai Provinces (KC08-03).
- Research of Scientific and Practical Arguments for Proposal of Policy and Pollution Control Measures in the Craft Villages in Vietnam (KC08-09).
- The research for proposed measures to ensure sustainable development of farms in Vietnam (KC-08-30).
Environmental Technology Center have managed and implemented about 60 baseline survey and study projects in the Southern Economic Focal Zone, in the East-Southern Area, in the Mekong Delta as well as in many provinces/cities including Da Nang, Quy Nhon, Ho Chi Minh cities, Daklak, Binh Duong, Binh Phuoc, Dong Nai, Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Vinh Long, Bac Lieu provinces etc.
Environmental Technology Center have managed and implemented about 100 environmental impact assessment (EIA) reports, reports for securing environmental standards.
Environmental Technology Center have managed and implemented more than 60 environmental auditing and monitoring reports .
Environmental Technology Center have managed and implemented about 30 design and technology transfer projects including water supply, waste water treatment, industrial and hazardous solid waste disposal, odor pollution control.
Besides, ENTEC has also participated in some international projects in environmental protection in Vietnam, e.g. environmental monitor, application of cleaner production methods, application of mathematics models in calculation of polluted dispersion in air and water environments, and application of GIS technology in environmental management, etc.).
Some typical projects implemented are as follows:
(1). The study for definition of indicators to assess pollution serving for environmental inspection funded by Environmental Protection Department, Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources.
(2). The study for some proper measures to manage industrial and hazardous waste in Ho Chi Minh City area funded by Ho Chi Minh City’s Department of Science, Technology and Environment.
(3). Basic survey, assessment of current environmental pollution, and preparation of measures for environmental protection and treatment in residential areas near Dong Nai Industrial Zones, which is funded by Ministry of Planning and Investment and Dong Nai Department of Science and Technology.
(4). The survey on current environmental situation to preparation of environmental plan serving for sustainable socio-economic development in the Mekong River Delta funded by Vietnam Environmental Protection Agency, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment .
(5). The study on proper technology for control of odor pollution in some factories processing rubber latex and tapioca starch in Binh Phuoc Province which is funded by Binh Phuoc Department of Science and Technology.
(6). Preparation of scientific foundation for planning of solid waste management system in Dak Lak urban and industrial areas funded by Dak Lak Department of Science and Technology.
(7). The study on proper measures to mitigate odor pollution in some production units which cause serious pollution – pilot application in a rubber latex processing factory, a processing factory and a pesticide business shop, funded by Vietnam Environmental Protection Agency, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment .
(8). The study on comprehensive measures to protect environment in some farms which typically cause environmental pollution in the South funded by Vietnam Environmental Protection Agency, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment .
(9). Assessment of application of bio-technology in environmental protection funded by Vietnam Environmental Protection Agency, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment .
(10). The survey and assessment of current situation of business and protection units which cause pollution in Buon Ma Thuat City funded by Dak Lak Department of Science and Technology.
(11). The application of technological and environmental management measures in construction of environment-friendly industrial zones funded by Vietnam Environmental Protection Agency, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment .
(12). Preparation of guideline for environment impact assessment of aquaculture projects funded by Environment Impact Assessment and Appraisal Department, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment .
(13).The assistance in preparation of schemes and alternatives to solve polluted production units comprehensively in accordance with Decision No. 64/2003/QĐ-TTg (hospital) funded by Vietnam Environmental Protection Agency, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment .
(14). Environmental audit of Nhieu Loc – Thi Nghe Improvement Project funded by World Bank.
(15). Designing, manufacturing and installing medical waste incinerator in Binh Duong funded by Binh Duong Department of Health.
(16). Designing and manufacturing incinerator in Krong Pak district funded by Dak Lak Department of Science and Technology.
(17). Appraisal of petroleum waste incinerator in Vung Tau funded by VietsovPetro.
(18). Design of wastewater treatment system of VIFON Company funded by VIFON Company.
(19). Odor treatment in Tien Giang Pesticide Factory funded by Tien Giang Agricultural Materials Joint-stock Company.
(20). Environmental Improvement of Van Phuc Craft Village, Ha Tay Province funded by JICA
All above projects have been implemented successfully.
5. Contact Address
Agency: Environmental Technology Center, Vietnam Natural and Environmental Protection Association.
Address: 439A9 Phan Văn Trị, Ward No. 5, Go Vap District, HCM City
Tel : 08.9850540 Fax :08.9850541 E-mail :
Contact Person: Assist. Prof. Dr. Phung Chi Sy
Position: Acting Director
Tel: 08.9850540 Fax: 08.9850541 E-mail:
6. Bank Account
Account name: Environmental Technology Center – ENTEC
Account No. (VND): 102010000160041
Account No. (USD): 102020000019775
At Commercial and Industrial Bank, Branch Office No. 9, Ho Chi Minh City Address: 01 Nguyễn Oanh, Ward 10, Go Vap District, HCMC
Tel: 84.8.8946587 Fax: 84.8.8942873
II. Project Contents
1. Natural and socio-economic condition
There is a village which produces tapioca starch in Xuan Tho 2 commune, Song Cau district, Phu Yen province, comprised from about 80 households. Each household processes about 0.5-1.0 ton tapioca bulb per day, generating thousands ton waste, including wastewater, solid waste and odor. Currently, the waste has not been treated and a part of solid waste is utilized for breeding but almost solid waste are discharged together with other waste (manioc skin, dregs, etc.) which cause water and odor pollution as well as soil pollution.
2. The necessity of the project and issues needed to solve.
(1). The necessity of the project
Site-treatment of waste including wastewater, air emission and solid waste generated from small-scale tapioca starch production units is an effective measure to protect environment; saving transport cost and general treatment cost of the community. Thus, it is necessary to study on proper technological process for treatment of waste generated from small-scale tapioca starch production units in Xuan Tho 2 commune, Song Cau district, Phu Yen Province.
(2). Issues needed to solve
- To survey and assess wastewater, odor and solid waste pollutions caused by manioc starch production units in Xuan Tho 2 commune, Song Cau district, Phu Yen Province.
- To study proper technology for waste treatment including wastewater, odor, and solid waste generated from small-scale manioc production units.
- To apply the waste treatment technology including wastewater, odor, and solid waste treatment in a manioc starch production unit which has a capacity of 1.0 ton tapioca per day. The technologies, which could be applied, are as follows:
+ Wastewater: Preliminary treatment of wastewater by physic-chemical method (separating dreg) and then by bio-pond.
+Treatment of solid waste (manioc skin, dreg, domestic solid waste, etc.) in combination with cattle and fowl dung by biogas compost and collection of biogas for cooking.
+ Odor treatment by combined method (cleaning the production area, collection and treatment of wastewater, solid waste, etc.; utilizing bio-products, strong oxidizers (H2O2, ozone, etc.))
- To evaluate economic, socio- and environmental efficiency of the applied model in one tapioca starch production unit.
- To prepare technical guideline for the technological process of waste treatment in small-scale tapioca starch production units.
- To print handbook and propagate it to similar production units.
- To study on establishment of self-managed environmental cleaning team in Xuan Tho 2 commune, preparation of its operation regulation to implement and maintain environmental sanitation in small-scale tapioca starch production units.
- To propose proper mechanism and polity to improve environmental sanitation in one rural village having tapioca starch processing craft (in Xuan Tho 2 commune).
3. Methodology
Measures applied to solve the issues include:
- Site-surveys and investigation
- Sampling, classification to define waste composition.
- Studying on pilot scale to define optimum conditions.
- Site-implementation
- Cost-benefit analysis to evaluate socio-economic and environmental efficiency.
- Participation of experts and community
4. Project’s Creativity
The project could utilize two of 3 priority-fields of this competition to improve the participation of community and Non-Governmental Organizations which includes:
- Solid waste management
- Participation of community in environmental pollution monitor.
To achieve the above target, some creative ideas will be applied in 1 rural village which has a tapioca starch processing craft in combination with agriculture production as follows:
+ To combine treatment of waste generated from tapioca starch processing including wastewater, odor and solid waste with treatment of domestic and breeding solid waste (dung and garbage).
+ To combine treatment of waste generated from agricultural products and domestic and breeding waste with production of bio-energy (biogas) supplying for daily living.
+ To combine technological performance in 1 tapioca starch processing unit with preparation of guideline and dissemination in Xuan Tho 2 commune as well as similar production units in Phu Yen and other provinces.
+ To combine technological transfer with improvement of awareness and raising community voice through operation of the self-managed environmental cleaning team in Xuan Tho 2 commune.
+ To combine treatment of waste in households who process tapioca starch with waste discharged from other households in villages to improve environmental sanitation in the commune.
+ To combine community pressure with proper mechanism and policy to improve environmental sanitation in a rural village which has tapioca starch processing craft (Xuan Tho 2 commune).
5. Beneficiary
The following groups could get direct benefit from the project:
- Households processing tapioca starch in Xuan Tho 2 commune, Song Cau district, Phu Yen province.
- Local environmental management body (Phu Yen Department of Environment and Natural Resources) and the State (the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources).
- Residential community surrounding the project area.
- Tapioca starch processing units which have similar scale and technology in other provinces.
- Consulting agency (ENTEC).
6. Indicators to evaluate the project success
The real results of the project will be important indicators to evaluate the project success. They are as follows:
- One (01) simple wastewater, odor and solid waste treatment model which could be operated easily and efficiently to treat waste generated from 01 units processing tapioca starch with capacity of 4 ton fresh tapioca per day.
- Guideline on waste treatment technology process (wastewater, odor, and solid waste) discharged from small-scale tapioca starch processing unit.
- Printing of the guideline (100 copies) and disseminating it to similar production units.
- Establishment of self-managed environmental cleaning team in Xuan Tho 2 commune and its operation regulation to improve environmental sanitation in general and in small-scale tapioca starch processing units in particular.
- Adequate mechanism and policy to improve environmental sanitation in a village which has tapioca starch processing craft (Xuan Tho 2 commune).
In addition, the project success could also be evaluated via the application of the technology in similar processing units.
7. More detail information of the project
1). The state project “Study on proper technology to treat waste generated from small and medium production units" (Code No. KHCN 07-17) (1999-2001) under the Study Program of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment on “Using natural resources properly to protect environment” (Code No. KHCN07) chaired by Assist. Prof. Dr. Phung Chi Sy which considered technology for processing wastewater, odor and solid waste generated from small-scale production units including manioc starch processing units. Its results could be briefly described as follows:
- Wastewater: Preliminary treatment of wastewater by chemical-physic methods (dreg separation) and then by bio-pond.
- Treatment of solid waste (skin and dreg of manioc, solid waste, etc.) in combination with cattle and fowl dung by biogas compost and collection of biogas for cooking.
- Odor treatment by combined method (cleaning production area, collection and treatment of wastewater, solid waste, dung, etc. comprehensively, and utilizing strong oxidizers (H2O2, ozone, etc.))