Accompanying Minister Do Duc Duy were Secretary of Ha Tinh provincial Party Committee Hoang Trung Dung, along with leaders from various departments under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.

Minister Do Duc Duy and Ha Tinh Provincial Party Secretary Hoang Trung Dung visit the Meguro Incineration Plant (Tokyo, Japan)

At the plant, Mr. Yutaka Matsuzawa, Vice-Minister for Global Environmental Affairs, introduced the Vietnamese delegation to Japan's urban waste management policies and the operations of the Meguro Incineration Plant.

Located in Meguro ward, Tokyo, the facility is one of Japan’s most advanced waste treatment plants. It employs state-of-the-art “JFE Hyper 21 – Continuous Combustion” technology to process household waste, significantly reducing landfill use while harnessing the heat generated during combustion to produce electricity.

Vice-Minister for Global Environmental Affairs, Yutaka Matsuzawa, introducing the Vietnamese delegation to Japan's urban waste management policies and the operations of the Meguro Incineration Plant

The plant achieves a processing and combustion rate of up to 99% of incoming waste, leaving only about 1% for environmental disposal. This contributes to substantial land conservation and minimizes negative environmental impacts.

The facility handles household waste collected from nearby areas in Tokyo. The Tokyo Environment Bureau requires residents to sort waste at the source into categories such as burnable, non-burnable, recyclable, and other types. Burnable waste, including food scraps, soiled paper, and non-recyclable plastics, is collected daily and delivered to facilities like the Meguro Incineration Plant for further sorting before incineration.

Minister Do Duc Duy praised the Meguro Incineration Plant for not only playing a vital role in waste treatment but also contributing to the city’s energy supply by generating electricity from incineration heat

Minister Do Duc Duy and Ha Tinh Provincial Party Secretary Hoang Trung Dung visit the Meguro Incineration Plant (Tokyo, Japan)

The plant operates under a "shredding - compressing - incinerating" principle. Collected waste is shredded and compressed into blocks, reducing its volume to 1/20 of the original size (to optimize incinerator space), and then burned at high temperatures. This process ensures that emissions are treated to prevent harm to the environment and human health.

In terms of design, the plant incorporates a permissible height and a terraced structure to harmonize with the surrounding landscape. Inside, greenery is maximized to create a “green buffer zone” between the plant, residential areas, and the Meguro River. Noise-reducing walls are also in place to minimize disturbances from waste collection vehicles and plant machinery.

Minister Do Duc Duy examining the incinerator model at the plant

During the visit, Minister Do Duc Duy praised the Meguro Incineration Plant for not only playing a vital role in waste treatment but also contributing to the city’s energy supply by generating electricity from incineration heat.

Vice Minister Yutaka Matsuzawa emphasized that the facility is part of Tokyo's broader strategy to establish an efficient and sustainable waste management system, aimed at fostering a circular economy.

Minister Do Duc Duy and Vice Minister Yutaka Matsuzawa discussing in the plant's courtyard

Minister Do Duc Duy and Vice Minister Yutaka Matsuzawa posing for a commemorative photo in the plant's courtyard

Minister Do Duc Duy and Vice Minister Yutaka Matsuzawa taking a group photo with the Vietnamese delegation

Earlier, Minister Do Duc Duy accompanied National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man in a meeting with the Japan Business Federation (Keidanren), chaired by the co-chairs of the Japan-Vietnam Economic Committee.

Chairman of the National Assembly Tran Thanh Man taking photo with leaders of the Japan Business Federation

The meeting produced significant outcomes for businesses and localities in both countries. It provided opportunities for enterprises and regions to strengthen exchanges and collaborations in various fields, leveraging each other's strengths. These efforts aim to advance Vietnam-Japan economic relations, maintain their status as a highlight in bilateral cooperation, and foster mutual development in the future.

Ngoc Huyen (NRE Newspaper)