The idea of a “megacity” using "recycled plastic" materials in Vietnam is about to come true

Recycled plastic waste will be processed by UpCycling Plastic, who is leading in environmental technology in the Netherlands, to create floorboards, balconies, materials for paving walkways, paving swimming pool and wharf of new urban area in Phu Quoc.

On the occasion of Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte’s official visit to Vietnam, on April 11th, representatives of UpCycling Plastic (Netherlands) and Toan Hai Van JSC (a member company of TTC Land) signed a Memorandum of cooperation and deployment the construction of a cyclic plastic waste disposal plant in Phu Quoc island.

Representatives of UpCycling Plastic (Netherlands) and Toan Hai Van JSC (a member company of TTC Land) signed a Memorandum of cooperation and deployment the construction of a cyclic plastic waste disposal plant in Phu Quoc island

According to the memorandum, the two companies will cooperate and establish a joint venture with the final goal is to convert plastic waste in the island into materials used for constructing local resorts and hotels or infrastructure, etc. This joint venture will recycle plastic waste from the sea, beach, landfill. Thereby, it contributes to a cleaner, greener world.

It is known that in the first phase of the project a pilot plant will be built from 1 to 2 production lines to dispose plastic waste into basic construction materials such as pavement bricks, roof tiles, boards and columns. The plant will be in operation not later than in November 2019 with the expanding scale (the capacity of 3,000-4,000 tons/year in 2020) and other cyclic plastic waste recycling plants will be also established in Phu Quoc island as well as in some other suitable locations.

UpCycling Plastic's cyclic technology process is evaluated by the EU as a modern breakthrough technology including many stages:

Sorting-washing-milling-Aglomeration-conglomeration-pelletizing - Extrusion, flatbed-extrusion, co-extrusion - Intrusion (combination of extrusion and intrusion to make e.g. planks & poles) - Injection moulding - Blow-moulding - Rotational-moulding- 3D-printing – Others

In his speech at the ceremony, Mr. Jan Jaap Folmer, CEO of Upp! UpCycling Plastic, Netherland said: “Upp! UpCycling Plastic was founded with the purpose to solve issues relating to plastic waste. Upp! offers solutions for recycling plastic waste into a durable, environmental-friendly products that are applicable in the construction industry. Currently, the company's products are mainly environmental-friendly PP and PE that can be used for many urban buildings. The company researched to build a plastic waste recycling plant in Vietnam in order to contribute to dealing with waste in Vietnam.”

Also at the ceremony, Ms. Huynh Bich Ngoc, Chairman of Toan Hai Van JSC, also shared: “Over the years, the amount of waste that Vietnam discharges into the environment have been increased day by day. We can see and feel the effects of waste on land, in the ocean and everywhere, but there is not enough solution to solve the problem. With alarming figures, we need to enhance awareness and actions of both communities and individuals. By this cooperation, we expect people to realize the value of recycling and how to turn waste into a non-polluting product, creating a green and healthy living environment.”

It is known that in the first phase of the project, the products of the Joint Venture UpCycling Plastic and Toan Hai Van will be used for constructing Hoa Sen artificial island (belonging to the Vinh Dam Complex with the commercial name called Ocean Lotus Island).

Ocean Lotus is developed by TTC Land

This project is developed by TTC Land with the scale of nearly 300 ha and is located in Vinh Dam, South Phu Quoc, 15 minutes from Phu Quoc International Airport and about 25 minutes from Duong Dong Town.

According to official announcement from TTC Land, the project includes of two separate zones: Vinh Dam port - industry - service complex with scale of 110 ha; Resort - Tourism (Ocean Lotus Island) with scale 180 ha.

Regarding of the first subdivision, Phu Quoc is an isolated island, as a result, all products and services must be supplied from the mainland and the current problem is that there is no warehouse large enough for storage purpose. Therefore, Vinh Dam port - industry - service complex with scale of 110 ha is constructed to solve this issue, which is expected to be an advantage for TTC Land.

Ocean Lotus Island subdivision is also a combination of commercial areas, general services; hotels and resorts; beach resort apartment; high-class villa area with 03-side sea view; hillside villas resorts with sea views; ecological park; marine conservation area.

Currently, TTC Land has already co-operated with Royal Haskoning DHV, a Dutch enterprise and countryman of UpCycling Plastic, who consulted for Palm Island project in Dubai.