Every business premises, from an office or shop to a production workshop, generates waste. What differs is the level of obligation: an office generating little waste can follow simple, household-style practices, a premises generating large volumes must sign a collection contract, and a premises with significant wastewater must treat it or complete environmental procedures. Knowing which group you belong to helps you do what is required, correctly, without wasted effort.
Quick answer:
- Domestic waste: below 300 kg/day, may be managed like a household (handed to the local collection service); from 300 kg/day upward, handed over to collection, transport and treatment facilities under a service contract (Article 58, Decree 08/2022/NĐ-CP).
- Sorting: 3 groups, namely reusable and recyclable waste; food waste; and other waste (Clause 1, Article 75, Law on Environmental Protection 2020).
- Hazardous waste: store separately, hand over to a competent facility, and keep handover records.
- Wastewater: connect as agreed if a common drainage system exists; if not, treat to the standard before discharge.
Where do a premises’ waste management duties begin?
Article 72 of the Law on Environmental Protection No. 72/2020/QH14 sets the general requirement: solid waste is managed throughout its whole lifecycle, from generation, minimisation, sorting, collection, storage and transport to reuse, recycling and treatment. The organisation or individual that generates the waste is responsible for managing it, whether it is a factory or an office.
For business premises, the obligations are divided into three groups of waste: domestic waste, hazardous waste and wastewater. Each has its own legal basis, set out in turn below.
Domestic waste: the 300 kg/day threshold
Article 58 of Decree 08/2022/NĐ-CP sets out separate rules for agencies, organisations, and production, business and service premises. The dividing line is total domestic and office waste of 300 kg per day.
| Quantity generated | How to manage | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Below 300 kg/day | May choose to be managed like a household or individual: sort and hand over to the local collection service; or choose to be managed like a premises of 300 kg/day or more | Clause 1, Article 58 Decree 08/2022/NĐ-CP; Article 75 Law on Environmental Protection |
| 300 kg/day or more | Hand over to one of: a collection and transport facility selected by the local government; a collection facility with a transfer contract to those facilities; a treatment facility; a feed or fertiliser producer (for food waste) | Clause 2, Article 58 |
| 300 kg/day or more | Sign a service contract for collection, transport and treatment; pay the service price under the contract and local regulations | Clause 3, Article 58 |
Most offices and small shops fall in the first row: sort correctly and hand the waste to the local collection service, paying the service price set by the locality. Labour-intensive premises, large restaurants and workshops should estimate actual volumes to see whether they exceed 300 kg/day.
Sorting into three groups
Clause 1, Article 75 of the Law on Environmental Protection 2020 requires domestic solid waste to be sorted into:
- solid waste that can be reused or recycled (paper, plastic, metal, etc.);
- food waste;
- other domestic solid waste.
This rule is written for households and individuals, and applies to premises that choose to be managed like households under Clause 1, Article 58 of Decree 08/2022/NĐ-CP. The provincial People’s Committee decides how “other domestic solid waste” is specifically classified in its area (Clause 2, Article 75), so premises should also review the provincial rules where they operate. Three labelled bins in a shared area is a simple way to get staff sorting correctly from the start.
Hazardous waste: store separately, hand over to the right entity
Used printer ink cartridges, broken fluorescent lamps, batteries, accumulators, rags soaked in oil or paint, and solvents are hazardous waste that can arise even in small offices and service premises. Under the Law on Environmental Protection 2020 and the guidance in Decree 08/2022/NĐ-CP (as amended), the waste generator should:
- identify the hazardous waste being generated and estimate its quantity;
- store it separately, in dedicated bins or an area, not mixed with domestic waste;
- hand it over to a competent hazardous waste treatment entity, with handover records for each transfer.
Hazardous waste must be treated at a licensed facility, so on-site methods such as burning, burying or disposing of it together with domestic waste should be removed from the internal process. Assigning one person as the point of contact for collection and for keeping records is a simple way to manage this in a small premises.
Wastewater: connect or treat on site?
Wastewater from a premises (staff domestic wastewater, kitchen wastewater, laundry water, water from service areas) follows one of two routes, depending on whether a common drainage system is available.
Where an urban drainage system or industrial park system exists. Under Article 29 of Decree 80/2014/NĐ-CP on drainage and wastewater treatment (as amended), users of drainage services must:
- connect in accordance with the connection agreement with the drainage operator;
- discharge wastewater into the system in compliance with the prescribed technical standard;
- pay the drainage service fee;
- promptly notify the operator when abnormal conditions arise that could cause incidents in the system.
Where no common collection system exists. The premises treats its wastewater to the technical standard before discharging it into the environment, using a system suited to the type of wastewater. For food and drink premises, a grease trap before the discharge point is a basic item that helps the drainage system run stably.
Wastewater volume and environmental procedures
Wastewater volume also determines whether a premises must complete environmental procedures. From 18/5/2026 to 28/02/2027, under Resolution 66.19/2026/NQ-CP: wastewater from 05 to under 50 m³/day requires environmental registration at the commune-level People’s Committee; from 50 m³/day it is registered at the provincial-level People’s Committee; higher levels or specific types require an environmental permit. The volume includes both domestic and industrial wastewater. When expanding (adding shifts, tables or production lines), an increase in volume can move the premises into another group, so review this before expanding. For details, see the article Environmental permit or environmental registration.
Summary: three groups of obligations and records to keep
| Group | What to do | Records to keep |
|---|---|---|
| Domestic waste below 300 kg/day | Sort into 3 groups; hand over to the local collection service | Receipts and documents for paying the locality’s collection service |
| Domestic waste from 300 kg/day | Sort; hand over under Clause 2, Article 58 | Collection, transport and treatment service contract; payment records |
| Hazardous waste | Store separately; hand over to a competent entity | Handover records for each transfer |
| Wastewater | Connect as agreed, or treat to the standard on site | Connection agreement; treatment system documents; environmental registration or permit (if applicable) |
These three groups are independent of each other. Checking each group against the table above shows immediately which parts are complete and which need to be supplemented.
What Thái Tín supports on solid waste and wastewater of premises
We act as the coordinating point, helping the premises review its obligations correctly and connect with the right people to carry them out:
- Review the current situation: the estimated domestic waste volume against the 300 kg/day threshold, the hazardous waste being generated, and the current wastewater discharge method.
- Determine whether the premises falls under environmental registration or an environmental permit, based on wastewater and emission volumes.
- Connect partners for hazardous waste collection and treatment, and partners to design or review the wastewater treatment system. The technical work is carried out by partners, while we track progress and serve as the premises’ point of contact.
- For premises that are expanding, coordinate an early review so that the environmental documents keep pace with the new scale.
What to prepare now: estimate the daily domestic waste volume; list the hazardous waste being generated and how it is currently handled; confirm whether the area has a common drainage system and whether a connection agreement exists; and for food premises, check the grease trap. Send this information so we can identify the group of work and connect the right partner.
Questions and answers
Does a small office have to sign a waste collection contract?
It depends on the volume. Under Clause 1, Article 58 of Decree 08/2022/NĐ-CP, agencies, organisations and business premises generating office or activity waste below 300 kg/day may choose to manage domestic solid waste like households and individuals (handing it to the local collection service under Article 75 of the Law on Environmental Protection), or manage it as a large facility. From 300 kg/day upward, the premises must hand the waste over to collection, transport and treatment facilities under Clause 2 and sign a service contract, paying the service price under local regulations (Clause 3).
How many groups is a premises' domestic waste sorted into?
Three: solid waste that can be reused or recycled; food waste; and other domestic solid waste (Clause 1, Article 75 of the Law on Environmental Protection 2020, applicable to premises below 300 kg/day that choose to be managed like households under Clause 1, Article 58 of Decree 08/2022/NĐ-CP). The specific classification of the 'other' group is decided by the provincial People's Committee, so premises should also check the regulations of the province or city where they operate.
How should an office handle used printer cartridges and broken bulbs?
These items generally fall within the hazardous waste category. They should be stored separately, not mixed with domestic waste, and handed over to a licensed hazardous waste treatment entity, with handover records. Decree 08/2022/NĐ-CP (as amended) provides detailed guidance on the management of hazardous waste by waste generators.
What if the area has no common drainage system?
The premises must treat its wastewater to the prescribed technical standard before discharging it into the environment, using a system suited to the type of wastewater generated (for example, a grease trap for kitchen wastewater). The wastewater volume is also the basis for determining whether the premises falls under environmental registration or an environmental permit.
If there is an urban drainage system, what must the premises do?
Connect in accordance with the connection agreement with the drainage operator, discharge wastewater that meets the prescribed standard, pay the drainage service fee, and promptly report abnormal conditions (Article 29 of Nghị định 80/2014/NĐ-CP, Decree 80/2014/NĐ-CP, as amended). A connection does not mean the premises may discharge any type of wastewater without preliminary treatment.
Legal basis · verification date
Verified 2 October 2026 · next review 30 December 2026. The content is general guidance and does not replace advice for a specific case.
- Law on Environmental Protection No. 72/2020/QH14 (Luật Bảo vệ môi trường số 72/2020/QH14; in force 01/01/2022): Article 72 (general requirements on solid waste management) and Article 75 (sorting, storage and handover of domestic solid waste of households and individuals). Law No. 146/2025/QH15 (in force 01/01/2026) amends Articles 39, 41 and 49 and does not amend Articles 72 and 75.
- Decree 08/2022/NĐ-CP (10/01/2022), Article 58 (management of domestic solid waste of agencies, organisations, and production, business and service premises: Clause 1 threshold below 300 kg/day; Clause 2 recipients of transfers; Clause 3 service contract), and the section on hazardous waste management. Amended by Decree 05/2025/NĐ-CP (06/01/2025) and Decree 48/2026/NĐ-CP (29/01/2026); as checked up to 02/10/2026, no amendment to Article 58 has been found.
- Decree 80/2014/NĐ-CP (06/8/2014) on drainage and wastewater treatment, Article 29 (rights and obligations of organisations, individuals and households using drainage services); amended by Decree 98/2019/NĐ-CP, Decree 08/2022/NĐ-CP and Decree 85/2024/NĐ-CP. Consolidated text 50/VBHN-BXD (2026). The Law on Water Supply and Drainage (Luật Cấp, thoát nước) is at draft stage (Ministry of Construction consultation 17/7/2026).
- Nghị quyết 66.19/2026/NQ-CP (Resolution 66.19/2026/NQ-CP; 18/5/2026 to 28/02/2027): wastewater and emission thresholds for determining environmental registration or environmental permit.
