Environment and natural resources
Pollution and waste
Pakse to Build Wastewater Treatment Facility Worth USD 2.1 Million
The Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) held a groundbreaking ceremony last week to build four decentralized wastewater treatment plants and a city-level excrement treatment facility in Pakse City, Champasack that would benefit around 9,000 people.These facilities are being developed under the Wastewater and Solid Waste ...
Jonathan Meadley
Plastic Waste Causing Serious Environmental, Health and Economic Impacts in Laos
Almost a quarter of the waste found in Lao cities is plastic. Plastic waste is now found everywhere in the Lao environment, affecting fish catches, blocking drains, causing air pollution, and harming tourism destinations. The plan considers a “circular economy” approach to help achieve the ...
Latsamy Phonevilay
Landfill Fire Covers Laos Capital in Toxic Smoke
Smoke covered the skies in and around Xaythany District over the weekend, with residents complaining of the stench. Authorities have yet to make a statement regarding the fire, which is believed to have begun Saturday morning. The landfill site at KM 32 in Xaythany District, ...
Latsamy Phonevilay
Fishermen call for river pollution to be addressed
Members of a large fishing community in Naxab village, Naxaithong district, Vientiane, are appealing to authorities to address the problem of farms dumping animal waste in the Khon River, which they say is creating a threat to fishing.The polluted river affects some 1,648 people who ...
Times Reporters
Garbage Burning Remains a Hot Issue for Vientiane Capital
Residents in Vientiane Capital have complained that garbage burning remains a problem, despite hopes a hotline for complaints would put a stop to the issue.The Vientiane Capital Department of Natural Resource and Environment established a hotline, 1523, in September last year, allowing residents to report the illegal ...
Phayboune Thanabouasy
Vientiane, Pakxe set in motion wastewater, solids treatment project
VIENTIANE (Vientiane Times/ANN) – Vientiane and Pakxe are set to improve waste management and treatment services, including collection, waste-to-resource opportunities, and wastewater treatment.Authorities officially launched the ‘Wastewater and Solid Waste Treatment Capacity Building Project for City Environment Improvement in Laos’ project in Vientiane on Monday.The project ...
Keoviengkhone Bounviseth
Chinese-Owned Factory in Laos Causes Health Scare, Foul Smells in Nearby Villages
A Chinese-owned factory in Laos that recently started operations is causing noise and air pollution that affect the health of nearby residents in the country’s Bolikhamxay province.The factory, which produces packing foam for use in transporting bananas, is made up of one building situated on ...
RFA’s Lao Service
Air pollution from cooking fires, tobacco a serious health hazard
VIENTIANE (Vientiane Times/ANN) – Household air pollution from both cooking fires and tobacco is highly prevalent; nearly three-quarters of all households surveyed reported exposure to smoking in the home and exposure to indoor cooking fire smoke.When multiple sources of exposure are evaluated together, a third ...
Xayxana Leukai
NUOL, Hanoi university making progress in reducing plastic use
VIENTIANE (Vientiane Times/ANN) – The Faculty of Environmental Sciences at the National University of Laos (NUOL), Hanoi University of Sciences and other organisations are reporting progress in efforts to reduce plastics use under the “SEA Plastic Edu Erasmus+ Project”.The European Union is supporting the project ...
Sangkhomsay Bubphanouvong
Capital marks World Cleanup Day, Green Vientiane campaign
Students joined officials from schools, university and various organisations on Saturday morning to clean along the capital’s main roads marking the 11th anniversary of World Cleanup Day and the Green Vientiane project.More than 3,000 people took part in the cleaning which concentrated on roads in ...
Sangkhomsay Bubphanouvong