Positive change in reducing plastic waste

Efforts to reduce plastic waste

Fishermen in Tuy Hoa City participate in a model of bringing waste from the sea to shore. Photo: ANH NGOC

Phu Yen has been drastically implementing many solutions to handle waste hotspots, especially plastic waste in coastal areas.

In addition to effectively using the environmental career budget for plastic waste management, the province also strives to mobilize resources from domestic and international environmental protection organizations to implement projects and models to reduce plastic waste, including the Ocean Plastic Waste Reduction Project...

According to the World Wildlife Fund in Vietnam (WWF - Vietnam), in our country, the rate of plastic waste and non-biodegradable waste tends to increase gradually, causing many challenges for collection and treatment.

It is estimated that Vietnam releases about 1.8 million tons of plastic waste into the environment each year, but only about 27% is collected for recycling. Waste is one of the main causes of environmental pollution, especially the hot issue of "white pollution" due to plastic waste...

According to WWF - Vietnam, the Ocean Plastic Waste Reduction Project in Vietnam is being implemented in 10 localities (7 cities, districts and 3 marine protected areas) in 9 provinces and cities nationwide.

In Phu Yen, the project was implemented over a long period of time with many efforts to organize extensive and continuous communication to many components, contributing to raising public awareness of plastic waste and the harmful effects of plastic waste on human health, contributing to changing consumer behavior towards plastic, especially single-use plastic.

Mr. Huynh Huy Viet, Head of the General Department - Environmental Impact Assessment, Department of Environmental Protection and Seas and Islands (Department of Agriculture and Environment) said: The project has trained and improved the capacity of officials in the field of environmental protection on plastic waste, from which these officials have become propagandists in agencies and communities.

Project models such as Plastic Waste Reduction Schools have been continuously implemented for many years and achieved many positive results. This model, from the initial pilot, has now been built into criteria and regulations related to plastic waste reduction that are widely applied in schools in the province.

The project to reduce ocean plastic waste in Vietnam in the province also implements pilot models on waste classification and post-classification waste treatment suitable for each object and scale, which is the basis for implementing the plan of the Provincial People's Committee on implementing solid waste classification activities in the province.

The project has also been continuously implementing the elimination of waste hotspots in the province from 2021-2025, collecting hundreds of thousands of tons of waste, contributing to reducing the loss of plastic waste into the environment.

During the implementation process, the Project to reduce ocean plastic waste in Vietnam in the province also implemented models to prevent plastic waste loss from fishing and aquaculture activities such as the model of Mobilizing fishermen to bring garbage to shore.

The models were implemented from 2023-2024, laid the initial foundation and had many positive results. The locality is maintaining and replicating them in the coming time.

Say no to single-use plastic

Ms. Trinh Ngoc Anh, technical coordinator of WWF - Vietnam informed: The project to reduce ocean plastic waste in Vietnam is funded by the Ministry of the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety of the Federal Republic of Germany, and will be implemented from 2022-2025.

The project aims to contribute to reducing the impact of plastic waste on marine ecosystems; preserving marine biodiversity; raising community and social awareness about the relationship between plastic waste dumping and its negative consequences on the environment and human health; and improving the capacity of staff in managing and implementing activities related to waste management and ocean plastic waste.

The project also aims to support the implementation of the National Action Plan on Marine Plastic Waste Management by 2030 in Vietnam.

With the joint efforts of the community and the whole society, up to now, environmental protection work in the province has had many positive changes, contributing to effective basic management and control of the environment.

Ms. Dao Thi Kim Chi, Head of the Department of Environmental Protection and Sea and Islands, said: The project to reduce ocean plastic waste in Vietnam in the province has been creating positive changes in environmental protection work in the locality. The project not only contributes to supporting resources to improve the collection system, pilot local models and initiatives, but also helps connect and unite the efforts of different stakeholders in society for the common effort to reduce waste pollution.

According to WWF - Vietnam, by 2026, the sale and supply of single-use plastic bags will be banned in supermarkets and shopping malls; after 2030, the production and import of single-use plastic products will be stopped... "To limit plastic waste, Phu Yen needs to build and implement a roadmap to reduce and move towards saying no to single-use plastic bags and plastic products...", Ms. Trinh Ngoc Anh proposed a solution.

Phu Yen continues to call for support in terms of experience, technology, and finance from domestic and foreign environmental protection organizations, and strengthen coordination to effectively implement projects on waste and plastic waste management.
Deputy Director of Department of Agriculture and Environment Dang Thi Thuy

In order for people to have the opportunity to get used to waste classification in order to change their behavior, gradually form the habit of waste classification, and reduce plastic use, according to Ms. Dang Thi Thuy, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment, the replication of the waste classification model combined with the reduction of plastic use based on the community needs to be prioritized. The province has developed and agreed on waste classification methods and organic waste treatment techniques at the source to create useful products in the community; replicate the model of classification, reduction of plastic waste; guide waste classification, organic waste treatment techniques and plastic reduction practices...

Source: https://baophuyen.vn/kinh-te/202506/doi-thay-tich-cuc-trong-giam-thieu-rac-thai-nhua-c58150e/