VWS is on the back end of the green revolution

David Duong in talks with American experts about new technologies for VWS

What is your business philosophy after 10 years in Vietnam’s waste treatment industry?

I have always believed actions speak louder than words. According to our investment commitments, Vietnam Waste Solutions (VWS) is only required to deal with waste disposal. But when we saw our garbage trucks were too dirty, we invested in an automatic wheel wash system. Other investors only target economic efficiency, while we also do what is right for our homeland.

Garbage is not waste but a resource – and we should make efficient use of this resource for the community in ways like recycling. California Waste Solutions (CWS), the parent firm of VWS, won a billion US dollar bid for waste collection and treatment in the US – although our competitors are the world’s leading waste treatment firms. The main reason is that our business is associated with community benefits, while other investors focus on corporate benefits.

Personally, I always strive to do my best for the homeland as an overseas Vietnamese. When I started my business in Vietnam, Da Phuoc in Ho Chi Minh City’s Binh Chanh district was a deserted area. The city’s leaders decided to turn it into a landfill site, which was in line with then-current economic conditions.

After 10 years, the composition of solid waste has changed in quality and quantity due to the city’s fast growth and urbanisation. Nevertheless, authorised bodies have not fulfilled their commitments to projects like waste classification from its sources and tree planting on the landfill site border. As a result, VWS has not been able to make the most out of technology to boost waste classification and recycling while reducing landfill waste.

The city recently directed us to plant trees around the landfill, but the trees will require at least four years of growth before having an effect at the site. As we are committed to do the best for the homeland, we decided to transform VWS’ operations also.

VWS is developing the $450 million Green Technology Park in Long An province

Could you shed some light on major improvements to VWS’ operations?

VWS is developing an environmentally-friendly waste treatment park in Long An. The Green Technology Park is expected to meet the demand of waste treatment for Long An and Ho Chi Minh City, as well as the key southern economic zone.

So far, VWS has completed the construction of bridges and a six-lane road in the Green Technology Park. We are now focused on protecting the surrounding environment – the network of canals, green coverage, and the flora and fauna ecosystem in the area.

Once completed, the $450 million project will process different types of waste, including household waste, hazardous waste, medical waste, industrial waste, electronic waste, sewage, and used tires. This facility will not require source-based waste classification.

In addition, VWS hired three groups of independent experts from the US to evaluate our projects, spanning technology, equipment, methodology, implementation, and deodorants. Based on the results, VWS has proposed incineration for part of the 5,000 tonnes of waste produced daily by the city.

The incineration plant could process half of the waste and convert it into energy and compressed natural gas (CNG) for transporting solid waste and producing fluid and compost fertilisers. The self-contained process is not only environmentally friendly but also facilitates recycling. This approach can lower landfill waste to 10 per cent, which meets the government’s regulations and requirements for future waste treatment projects.

If our proposal is approved, VWS will accelerate the implementation of this plan immediately. The project will be put into operation after 16 months of construction. We are studying this technology to implement in the Long An Green Technology Park. But, we are willing to apply this technology to the Da Phuoc waste treatment complex first.

Ho Chi Minh City plans to shut down all polluting waste treatment facilities by 2020 but there have been no discussions for future treatment plans. We expect to have discussions with the city’s authorities to find suitable technology for the facility in Long An. Also, we urge the city to develop at least three waste transfer stations to facilitate the operations of upcoming waste treatment projects.

VWS faced some difficulties in 2016. How did you overcome these obstacles?

For me, the business world is fraught with risks. It is vital for businessmen to overcome difficulties to show their talent. Indeed, the investment environment in Vietnam is quite favourable, as leaders from central to local levels often listen and resolve business problems.

Furthermore, Vietnam is my homeland so I value things that benefit the country more than profits. I always encourage my partners to focus on profits generated by our projects in the US. When we suffer pressures in Vietnam, we see them as an opportunity to sharpen our skills.

It is also a chance for me to validate my investment in Vietnam. I will never regret this decision, so I will find ways to make it better.

I have also received support from many people on Facebook and Twitter. The encouragement has given me and my family the strength to implement projects in Vietnam. As our determination is to do better than before, we strive to overcome challenges by studying our weaknesses and improving on our limitations.

Hopefully, my commitment to Vietnam will set an example for other overseas Vietnamese. An increasing number of overseas Vietnamese have returned to their homeland after the country opened its doors for foreign investors. Still, many of them failed to achieve their goals here, due to changing investment environments, regulations, language barriers, and lack of support.

I would like to establish a bridge connecting the overseas Vietnamese community with their motherland. I am willing to share my story with other overseas Vietnamese who believe in the growth of Vietnam. I believe this shows my devotion to the country more than any of my projects.