The Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) and Laos’ Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment officially concluded the ASEAN Municipal Solid Waste Management Enhancement (AMUSE) Project on April 25 after two years of work. The project introduced innovative solutions to tackle waste challenges across the city.
The initiative set up 75 recycling banks in hotels, restaurants, and guesthouses across Vang Vieng, helping businesses separate waste at the source.
This has created a stronger recycling system where 108 tons of materials are now recovered and safely recycled every month. A total of 286 hospitality service providers were trained, and almost half a million residents and tourists have benefited from the cleaner environment.
Highlighting the system’s success, Viraphon Neuansengsy from the Department of Environment said, “The AMUSE project has improved the system through establishing a city-wide recycling bank system and increased participation from the private sector and the tourism industry.”
In addition to setting up physical recycling points, the project focused on shaping the future of waste management in Vang Vieng. It introduced new ways to handle organic waste and developed a city-wide plan based on circular economy principles — treating waste as a resource rather than a problem.
The improvements have made a real difference for local businesses too, according to Ken Insane from Patthana Recycling Shop.
He shared, “The biggest change is cleaner recyclable materials and an increase in the volume that we can recover. Before, everything was mixed in the landfill truck. Now, with source separation, our job is easier and more profitable. We receive and process four times more materials than we used to receive in 2022 before the project started.”
Beyond environmental impacts, AMUSE also delivered important social benefits. The project trained public and private sector workers on sustainable solid waste management, with a focus on supporting informal waste workers and women by offering safety training and creating new income opportunities.
Looking ahead, local officials are determined to keep the momentum going. Vice Mayor Souviengthong Vongchampa emphasized, “This project has not only improved our environment but also raised awareness among our community and visitors. We will continue building on these successes to make Vang Vieng a model for sustainable tourism and waste management across Lao PDR.”
Echoing this optimism, Eva Diaz Ugena from GGGI concluded, “Through close collaboration with our government and regional partners, we’ve achieved 100 percent completion of planned activities, including recycling banks and local capacity building. Vang Vieng now stands as a strong example of how circular economy models can be locally led and regionally relevant.”