HCMC – Producers and importers of packaging, batteries and electronic products will be required to either recycle their products themselves or contribute to the Vietnam Environmental Protection Fund from May 25, according to a new Government decree.
To promote the circular economy, the Government issued Decree 110/2026 requiring producers and importers to recycle products and packaging placed on the market under mandatory recycling rates and standards.
The rules apply to products including paper, plastic, metal and glass packaging, tires, electronics, batteries and lubricants, and extend to outsourcing and authorized import entities.
Mandatory recycling rates are calculated based on the minimum proportion of products or packaging, by weight, that must be recycled each year relative to the total volume sold on the market.
For packaging products, the mandatory recycling rate is set at 22% for aluminum and rigid PET plastic packaging, while paper, carton and steel packaging are subject to a 20% rate. This means a company placing 100 tons of aluminum or PET packaging on the market annually must recycle at least 22 tons.
For household electronic devices, mobile phones face the highest recycling requirement at 15%, followed by computers, printers and photocopiers at 9%. Lead-acid batteries and rechargeable batteries, excluding lithium and Nickel-Metal Hydride batteries used in transportation, are subject to recycling rates ranging from 8% to 15%.
The recycling rates will be reviewed and increased every three years, with the first adjustment scheduled for 2029.
Companies may carry out recycling themselves, hire licensed recycling firms or authorize intermediary organizations to handle collection and recycling on their behalf. Recycling plans and annual reports must be submitted through the national information system before April 1 each year.
Companies that do not organize recycling directly may instead fulfill their obligations by making financial contributions to the Vietnam Environmental Protection Fund.
The contribution amount will be calculated based on the volume of products placed on the market, mandatory recycling rates and estimated recycling costs per unit. Payments must be made annually before April 20.
Producers and importers generating less than VND30 billion in annual revenue from products and packaging subject to recycling requirements will be exempt. Products manufactured for export or temporary import for re-export are also excluded.
