Abstract

The article examines the development of Vietnam’s legal framework on waste recycling since 2005 in the context of promoting a circular economy and meeting international emission-reduction commitments. While notable progress has been made in institutionalising recycling—particularly through the adoption of the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) mechanism - the system of national technical regulations remains incomplete and inconsistent. This creates challenges for quality control of recycled products, the development of secondary material markets, and the assurance of environmental safety. Accordingly, the paper outlines several recommendations to improve the regulatory framework so as to enhance recycling governance and support sustainable circular-economy development in Vietnam.

Keywords: recycling, end-of-waste, EPR, environmental law, waste management.