This move is part of a reconciliation agreement between Ho Chi Minh City and VWS to end a lawsuit at the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC). The dispute arose from a waste treatment contract signed in 2006.
According to the agreement signed on 10/2/2026, Ho Chi Minh City committed to accompanying and supporting the enterprise in completing legal procedures to increase the project's capacity to 41 million tons.
Previously, in 8/2025, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment temporarily suspended its appraisal of the environmental impact assessment report for the Da Phuoc landfill capacity expansion project. The Ministry requested VWS to supplement its investment policy adjustment documents.
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The exterior of the Da Phuoc Solid Waste Treatment Complex in Binh Chanh, 1/2025. Photo: Dinh Van
In a recent document, Ho Chi Minh City requested the Ministry to guide the enterprise in coordinating with experts and relevant units to specifically determine the landfill's reception capacity according to the approved design capacity. The city also assigned the Department of Agriculture and Environment to coordinate in providing documents for the review process.
According to the city government, increasing Da Phuoc's capacity aligns with current waste treatment needs. Following mergers, daily household waste generation is approximately 14,000 tons. Waste-to-energy plants are not expected to operate until phase 2026-2028, making the city heavily reliant on Da Phuoc to prevent system overload.
This landfill has already received approximately 31,5 million tons of waste, significantly exceeding its initial design capacity calculated at 24 million cubic meters.
The Da Phuoc Solid Waste Treatment Complex spans 128 hectares, with an investment of over 107 million USD. It has been operational since 2007 and is Ho Chi Minh City's largest landfill. For many years, it has primarily processed waste using landfill technology.
Residents in the southern Saigon area have repeatedly complained about unpleasant odors from the landfill affecting their daily lives. This has prompted the authorities to demand corrective measures multiple times. Previously, Ho Chi Minh City's environmental sector leaders stated that the landfill was expected to reach full capacity and close by 2024.
Le Tuyet
