Exchange trash for gifts: Small activity, big meaning

Once a month, Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh Huong (residing in Group 27, Phuoc My Ward) brings plastic waste to the Phuoc My Ward People's Committee headquarters to exchange for gifts. The gifts exchanged are essential goods, necessities for family life such as: spices, cooking oil, etc.

Ms. Huong said that the activity of exchanging plastic waste for gifts is maintained regularly by Phuoc My ward. Just 2-3kg of plastic can be exchanged for a packet of seasoning powder, and 2kg of cans can be exchanged for a bottle of cooking oil...

“After hearing about the activity of exchanging plastic waste for gifts, I was very happy and excited to participate. I don’t get much money from selling it, but participating in this activity not only helps protect the environment but also gives me food to bring home,” said Ms. Huong.

Like Mrs. Huong, in the past, Mrs. Nguyen Thi Thoi (residing in Group 43, Phuoc My Ward) often put plastic bottles, cans, etc. in the household waste bin and threw them out on the street at the end of the day. But recently, Thoi no longer does that. Bottles, cans, cardboard boxes, etc. are sorted separately and saved for exchange as gifts.

People exchange trash for gifts

Ms. Thoi said that when she heard about the local waste-for-gift exchange activity, she gradually formed the habit of sorting waste, bringing waste to exchange for rice, cooking oil, fish sauce, salt, etc. to have more essential items for her family and contribute to cleaning the environment.

“This is a very meaningful activity, spreading a green lifestyle to everyone. I hope that in the future, the locality will continue to have many meaningful activities like this so that everyone can join hands to say no to plastic waste to protect the environment, for a green - clean - beautiful environment,” Ms. Thoi shared.

“Exchanging trash for gifts” is one of the environmental protection activities implemented by the People's Committee of Phuoc My Ward under the project “Improving the quality of the natural environment in Son Tra district in the period of 2021-2025” in 2024.

The activities have contributed to raising awareness and creating positive changes in people's actions in protecting the environment; improving the quality of the living environment; ensuring environmental sanitation, promptly handling pollution points, thereby contributing to the successful implementation of the project "Building Da Nang - Environmental City".

Garbage is sorted by people and brought to the headquarters of Phuoc My Ward People's Committee.

According to Ms. Le Thi Bich Mai, Officer of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment, People's Committee of Phuoc My Ward (Son Tra District), exchanging simple gifts is a small act but has great significance in protecting the environment.

“With this activity, plastic waste will be collected in the right place, not only not polluting the environment but also helping people raise their awareness of environmental protection. These activities are widely promoted by the Ward People's Committee in meetings, dialogues, etc. so that people can respond and spread strongly,” Ms. Mai shared.

In addition to the “trading trash for gifts” activity, Phuoc My Ward People’s Committee also expanded models and initiatives on waste classification at source, combating plastic waste, and protecting the environment. These include organizing an Environmental Festival and exchanging trash for gifts, limiting the use of plastic bags, and classifying and collecting recyclable waste in residential areas.

At the same time, promptly handle pollution points, ensure environmental sanitation; urban sanitation and household waste collection; inspect and supervise compliance with environmental protection laws; plant and manage trees on roads smaller than 5.5m and in alleys, lanes, parks, walking gardens, and planned areas according to decentralization...

THANH HAI

Source: https://www.danang.gov.vn/web/guest/chinh-quyen/chi-tiet?id=60886&_c=3