Menace of Waste from Cheap “Green Technology” Devices Raises Environmental Concerns in Việt Nam
HÀ NỘI — On July 15, 2025, concerns over the growing environmental impact of electronic waste in Việt Nam have come to the forefront, spotlighting the increasing menace posed by cheap “green technology” devices. Despite being marketed as eco-friendly, energy-efficient gadgets, many of these products are contributing significantly to electronic waste pollution, with experts urging immediate action to mitigate environmental and health hazards.
Growing Electronic Waste Problem
According to official statistics, Việt Nam discards more than 90,000 tonnes of electronic waste annually, a figure that includes a large proportion of mini rechargeable fans and power banks. These devices, often obtained via e-commerce platforms, are popular for their affordability and convenience but have become emblematic of a broader waste management issue.
Mini rechargeable fans—highly visible during hot summer days in offices, schools, parks, and streets—and other small electronic devices such as wireless earphones and LED lamps are promoted as clean energy alternatives. However, their short lifespan coupled with widespread improper disposal practices results in these gadgets frequently ending up in household waste streams. This disposal method causes soil and water contamination, posing a serious threat to public health.
Environmental Risks Linked to Lithium-Ion Batteries
Many of these devices rely on lithium-ion batteries prized for their high energy capacity but notorious for their environmental hazards. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), electronic waste is among the fastest growing waste categories globally, with projections suggesting an increase to 74 million tonnes worldwide by 2030—double the amount recorded in 2014. When lithium-ion batteries from obsolete electronic gadgets are discarded improperly, they risk leaking hazardous chemicals including cadmium, mercury, and lithium into the environment. Additionally, these batteries can cause fires and explosions. The complex construction of these devices, with batteries often permanently affixed within plastic casings, makes recycling technically challenging and financially costly.
Consumer Behavior and Product Design Underpin Waste Generation
Consumer habits and product manufacturing design also play key roles in escalating waste levels. Nguyễn Văn Hùng, an office worker in Hà Nội, shared his experience: “I bought a portable rechargeable fan for only VNĐ80,000 (approximately US$3.5). It broke after just a few months. Repair costs were too high, so I discarded it and bought a new one.” Such patterns of quick disposal and replacement are common among Vietnamese consumers seeking affordable and easily available gadgets.
Environmental technician Trần Văn Nam, who runs a recycling facility in Hà Nội, highlighted that few workshops specialize in recycling these devices due to the technical difficulty and expense involved in extracting valuable components like lithium-ion battery panels. Many small-scale recyclers focus only on recovering copper and then burn or dump remaining parts, exacerbating pollution.
Limited Recycling Infrastructure and Systemic Challenges
Currently, Việt Nam hosts only about 15 licensed facilities capable of electronic waste recycling, each with a limited processing capacity of 0.5 to 3 tonnes daily. This modest infrastructure restricts the country’s ability to recover precious metals such as copper, gold, and lithium, while leaving considerable volumes of hazardous waste untreated, creating environmental and health risks.
Experts emphasize that a fundamental barrier to efficient e-waste recycling is the absence of a comprehensive and specialized collection system. Without convenient collection points in residential areas, supermarkets, and shopping centers, many consumers lack safe disposal options for electronic waste.
Shared Responsibility and the Need for Stronger Regulations
Environmental specialists point to a significant “responsibility gap” in waste management, where manufacturers, importers, and distributors often shirk post-sale accountability. The widespread entry of cheap technology products through unofficial channels and informal sellers prioritizes rapid sales turnover over environmental responsibility, resulting in a linear production-consumption-disposal cycle that externalizes environmental costs onto society and government bodies.
Lawyer Bùi Đình Ứng notes that Việt Nam’s Law on Environmental Protection includes provisions on Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), which mandates producers and importers of potentially polluting products to take charge of collection and recycling or provide financial support. Nevertheless, enforcement remains difficult, particularly with low-cost, unbranded products prevalent in the market.
Experts advocate for stronger enforcement of EPR rules regardless of company size, urging authorities to compel businesses to shoulder environmental treatment fees and to promote greener product design. This approach would ensure that environmental costs are integrated into production, reducing the burden on the state and taxpayers.
Towards a Circular Economy and Improved Waste Management
Addressing the root causes requires an overhaul of current consumption and waste management practices. Establishing and expanding convenient collection points will enable safer disposal of hazardous electronic waste. At the corporate level, companies can adopt social responsibility measures by initiating take-back programs, such as exchanging old devices for subsidized new ones. Such programs not only prevent environmental harm but also foster customer loyalty and build sustainable brand reputations.
Transitioning from a linear to a circular economic model—focusing on reuse, repair, and recycling—will be pivotal in mitigating the environmental impacts of small electronic devices. With both policy and consumer participation, Việt Nam can ensure that “green technology” lives up to its promise without leaving behind a mountain of toxic waste.
The growing issue of electronic waste from cheap “green technology” devices underscores the urgency for coordinated actions among government bodies, businesses, and consumers to protect the environment and public health in Việt Nam. Without such measures, the environmental costs of convenience and low prices will continue to rise.
— Việt Nam News (VNS)
