Hanoi's sanitation sector will work around the clock to ensure environmental hygiene and urban aesthetics during the upcoming Tet holiday, said Nguyen Thanh Son, Deputy General Director of the Hanoi Urban Environment Limited Company (URENCO).

"The first day of the Lunar New Year falls on February 10. For the seven days of Tet, from February 8 to 14, the company's workers will work around the clock," Son said.

Sanitation workers collect garbage and clean streets around My Dinh National Stadium in Hanoi. Photo: Van Nhi/The Hanoi Times

He added that URENCO's workers will carry out waste collection, transportation and treatment, and garbage collection on the city's main streets. The delivery of domestic solid waste to waste transfer stations and waste treatment facilities will be ensured.

"Decorating homes and streets during Tet is one of the traditions of the Vietnamese people. From February 7 and 8 (the 28th and 29th of the 12th lunar month), the amount of household waste could double, so sanitation workers would also have to double the frequency of waste collection. The workers will work harder from early morning until 6 p.m. on February 8 (the 29th of the 12th lunar month) to make sure all the garbage is collected," Son said.

Since mid-January 2024, URENCO estimates that the amount of household waste has increased by about 30% compared to normal days. As a result, the company's sanitation workers will have to work from 4 a.m. instead of 5 a.m. every day.

Le Thanh Nam, Director of the Hanoi Department of Natural Resources and Environment, said they will conduct inspections and strictly deal with administrative violations of environmental protection.

The city's departments of transport and construction will assist the Department of Natural Resources and Environment in inspecting and demanding that construction sites in the city be cleaned up and fenced by February 5 (lunar December 26).

The Municipal People's Committee will allow garbage trucks to circulate during peak hours from February 7 to 14, especially in places where fireworks are organized.