Responding to World Environment Day (June 5): Fighting plastic pollution: from awareness to action

This year's World Environment Day (June 5) was launched by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) with the theme "Beat Plastic Pollution" to call on the global community to take drastic action to address plastic waste (RTN), one of the most urgent environmental challenges today. This is the second time in three years (2023-2025) that this theme has been chosen, clearly demonstrating the global priority goal of controlling plastic pollution, while reaffirming the commitment to using resources efficiently, protecting biodiversity, enhancing adaptability, promoting innovation and strengthening regional and international cooperation towards a circular economy and sustainable development.

Students of Giao Thuy district participate in a campaign to clean up the coastal area where they live.

Resolutely fight plastic pollution from land to sea

With 72km of coastline and a system of major rivers: Hong, So, Ninh Co, Day flowing into the sea, Nam Dinh pays special attention to controlling plastic waste from the mainland to the sea. The Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee has issued a Directive on strengthening the management, reuse, recycling and reduction of plastic waste; launching the "Anti-plastic pollution" movement, and at the same time assigning the Department of Agriculture and Environment to preside over the investigation and classification of sources of plastic waste from the coast, mainland and sea, and building a database of ocean plastic waste. On that basis, many specific solutions have been implemented: The Department of Agriculture and Environment has advised and proposed appropriate mechanisms and policies to organize the implementation of plans, projects, and programs for plastic waste management associated with the exploitation and sustainable use of marine resources; guiding coastal localities to organize a system for collecting, classifying, transporting and treating coastal plastic waste. The Department also focuses on strictly controlling the discharge of waste from fishing and aquaculture activities, especially in Xuan Thuy National Park, Nghia Hung mangrove forest area and coastal fishing communities. At the same time, it requires strict handling of vessels that intentionally discharge waste and damaged fishing gear into the sea. The Department of Construction strengthens inspection and handling of violations in the field of maritime transport and seaports and requires the arrangement of appropriate infrastructure for receiving and storing waste in coastal tourist areas and concentrated solid waste treatment areas.

In particular, the project "Reducing plastic waste pollution on the Red River" implemented by the Department of Agriculture and Environment in coordination with the Center for Marine Life Conservation and Community Development (MCD) is increasingly effective. The project has installed 6 trash traps on major rivers, including 5 trash traps on the Red River in the districts of Nam Truc, Xuan Truong, Giao Thuy, Nam Dinh city and 1 trash trap on the Dao River in Nam Dinh city. The trash traps have contributed to increasing the efficiency of collecting floating trash on the river, minimizing trash flowing into the sea and raising awareness of local communities in solid waste and plastic waste management, contributing to the global trash trap network data system. The coastal districts of Giao Thuy, Hai Hau, and Nghia Hung have actively organized training to improve plastic waste management capacity for environmental officers, while closely inspecting and monitoring coastal service establishments on plastic waste collection and treatment. Regular beach clean-up campaigns are also held at beaches with the participation of the community and businesses.

Not only focusing on controlling the sea and coastal areas, the province has also synchronously implemented measures to reduce waste in daily life, agriculture and tourism services. Up to now, 82% of communes, wards and towns in the province have participated in sorting waste at source and reducing the use of disposable, hard-to-decompose plastic products, reusing plastic products; contributing to reducing about 30% of the amount of waste sent for treatment, including a significant amount of waste. The use of fertilizers and pesticides in agricultural production also generates hazardous waste in the form of packaging and bags, accounting for about 10% of the amount of fertilizer. To limit environmental pollution from this type of waste, localities have built tanks to collect and safely treat used pesticide packaging according to regulations. The province has 20,075 tanks built on the main roads of the fields, convenient for collection; The communes have also signed contracts with competent units to transport and process the collected pesticide packaging according to regulations. Green tourism is also integrated with environmental goals. The Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism organized a commitment to not use disposable plastic with accommodation establishments and coastal tourist destinations, piloting the "Plastic-free Tourism" model in Quat Lam, Thinh Long, etc.

Provincial Women's Unions at all levels actively promote and mobilize members to abandon the habit of using plastic bags and disposable plastic products, replacing them with environmentally friendly products. Many practical models have been implemented such as: "Women's Union 5 no, 3 clean", "Say no to plastic bags", "Union without waste", "Green - clean - beautiful route", "River without waste"... Every year, from the activities of the models, dozens of tons of plastic waste are collected, recycled, and sold to raise funds. This source of funding is used by the Union to visit, give gifts, and support the livelihoods of disadvantaged women and orphans, contributing to spreading a green lifestyle and a spirit of compassion in the community.

Innovate ways of doing things, spread green actions in the community

Responding to World Environment Day (June 5) with the theme "Fighting plastic pollution", authorities at all levels and functional sectors have closely followed the province's direction in Plan 99/KH-UBND dated May 27, 2025, focusing on implementing many specific and practical tasks associated with the Environmental Action Month 2025 (from the end of May to the end of June).

The highlight of this year is that the response activities are organized synchronously, closely linked with the program of building advanced new rural areas, models and circular economic development strategy. Anti-plastic models are launched and widely deployed at the grassroots level, especially at traditional markets, schools, supermarkets, and public offices; each district and city strives to build at least one specific, effective, and replicable "No Plastic" model. In addition, this year, the province launched the "No Single-Use Plastic" Day across the province, launching the communication campaign "Join hands to reduce plastic waste - Spreading a green lifestyle". Communication activities are innovated with the participation of the youth community, mass organizations, and businesses, through many digital platforms, social networks, in addition to the mainstream press system. Departments, branches, sectors, organizations and localities focus on organizing launching ceremonies, rallies, general environmental cleaning, and collecting plastic waste in rivers, canals, ponds and lakes; at the same time, praising and replicating good initiatives, models and effective methods in reducing plastic waste and protecting the environment.

The synchronous and practical activities being implemented throughout the province not only concretize the goal of combating plastic pollution but also mark a strong shift from awareness to action, from propaganda to implementation; efforts to spread green lifestyle, build civilized communities, and sustainable consumption.

Article and photos: Thanh Thuy

Source: https://baonamdinh.vn/kinh-te/202506/huong-ung-ngay-moi-truong-the-gioi-56-chong-o-nhiem-nhuatu-nhan-thuc-den-hanh-dong-92d3471/