Spreading the movement "Say no to plastic waste" in Lao Cai

After 5 years of implementing the Project "Promoting propaganda on plastic waste prevention and control in the period of 2021 - 2025", Lao Cai province has achieved many clear results; gradually forming a green, environmentally friendly lifestyle. From public offices to residential areas, schools or traditional markets, the movement of "saying no to plastic waste" has become a regular action, contributing to building the image of a green - clean - beautiful Lao Cai.

Implementing Decision No. 175/QD-TTg of the Prime Minister on approving the Project "Promoting propaganda on plastic waste prevention and control in the period of 2021 - 2025", the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of the province has coordinated with sectors, organizations and localities to synchronously deploy propaganda work from the province to the grassroots.

Thousands of communication sessions, training sessions, competitions and forums were held with more than 80,000 participants. Thousands of news, articles, video clips and infographics were continuously posted on mass media with the message of reducing plastic waste, encouraging people to change their behavior and consumption habits.

Women's associations set up plastic waste collection points.

According to Ms. Tran Xuan Hue - Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Lao Cai province, recently, the propaganda work on the Project "Promoting propaganda on plastic waste prevention and control in the period 2021 - 2025" has been implemented with focus, key points and increasingly innovative in form.

We focus on guiding press and media agencies to regularly propagate the Law on Environmental Protection, activities in response to World Environment Day, Green Sunday, Earth Hour... Thereby, helping people understand the harmful effects of plastic waste and see the benefits of switching to environmentally friendly products. From officials, civil servants to people have proactively "said no" to disposable plastic.

Ms. Tran Xuan Hue - Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Lao Cai province

Along with that, propaganda content is integrated into major movements such as: "All people unite to build a cultural life", "Building new rural areas and civilized urban areas", thereby linking the goal of socio-economic development with environmental protection.

Many models such as "Women's group collecting and classifying plastic waste", "Self-managed residential area to reduce pollution", "People's market to reduce plastic waste" or "Lao Cai youth join hands to fight plastic waste" have shown clear effectiveness, becoming bright spots in mobilizing the community to participate in environmental protection.

Women in Bo Mi village, Lam Thuong commune use bamboo baskets and baskets to go to the market.

Not only being the target of propaganda, Lao Cai women are also the vanguard force in the movement to reduce plastic waste. Over the past 5 years, the Provincial Women's Union has organized more than 40 training courses, integrating propaganda content on limiting the use of disposable plastic waste for more than 2,000 members. Many models and clubs such as "Women say no to plastic waste", "Women go to the market with baskets", "Exchanging plastic waste for gifts" have been effectively maintained, contributing to spreading green lifestyle in the community.

Right from the beginning of the term, the Women's Union has identified that mobilizing members to reduce plastic waste is not only an act of environmental protection but also a responsibility of women to their families and society. From carrying baskets to the market, using cloth bags and glass bottles to guiding waste classification at source, women have made significant changes in their daily lives. The model of "Women's groups collecting and classifying plastic waste" has been deployed in most communes and wards, contributing to keeping the landscape clean and beautiful.

Ms. Hoang Phuong Thuy - Vice President of Lao Cai Provincial Women's Union

The Women's Union at all levels also cooperated with the Provincial Environmental Protection Fund, the Department of Education and Training, and the Provincial Youth Union to organize many creative activities such as the "Recycled Fashion" contest, "Green Living Festival", "Plastic Waste Free Market", contributing to spreading environmental protection awareness to the community. The image of plastic baskets and reusable cloth bags replacing nylon bags has now become familiar at markets, village meetings, or branch meetings.

People and traders at Pom Han market, Cam Duong ward bring beer cans, plastic bottles and scrap paper to exchange for plastic baskets, cloth bags and paper bags.

Accordingly, in the province, many pilot models have been deployed and replicated. In Lao Cai city and Sa Pa town (old), self-managed residential areas for environmental protection operate effectively, periodically organizing “Green Sundays” to collect plastic waste.

In the tourism sector, many hotels and homestays have switched to using environmentally friendly products such as bamboo straws, glass water bottles, and recycled items, contributing to spreading the message of "Green tourism, no plastic waste".

Schools implement the program "Lao Cai Youth join hands to fight plastic waste" in 2023. (Photo courtesy)

At schools, the "Green - Clean - Beautiful School" movement has been strongly responded to by creating costumes from recycled waste and building environmentally friendly robot models.

According to statistics, more than 11,000 teachers and students participated in extracurricular activities, competitions, and seminars on plastic waste prevention, demonstrating the widespread effectiveness of propaganda in the education sector.

Thanks to the propaganda work on plastic waste prevention that has been implemented synchronously, effectively and sustainably, up to now, 100% of agencies, units and localities in the province do not use disposable plastic products in regular activities; the rate of using hard-to-decompose plastic bags in daily life and services has decreased significantly. More importantly, people's awareness and actions have changed significantly.

Ms. Le Thi Yen, Yen Ninh 11 residential group, Yen Bai ward, shared: "In the past, when I went to the market, I often used plastic bags and plastic boxes given by the sellers. Since being informed about the harmful effects of plastic waste, my family has changed this habit and switched to using carts, glass boxes and safe plastic boxes. At first, it was a bit confusing, but gradually it became a habit, it is both safe for health and contributes to protecting the environment."

Not only stopping at changing every time she goes to the market, in family activities, Ms. Yen has also eliminated many disposable plastic items.

Although the propaganda work on plastic waste prevention and control has achieved encouraging results, there are still many difficulties. In mountainous and ethnic minority areas, the collection and classification of plastic waste is still limited; some models have not been maintained regularly due to lack of funding and human resources. Replacing hard-to-decompose plastic bags with environmentally friendly products is still facing obstacles due to high costs, and not many businesses have invested in production.

The Environmental Protection Fund handed over trash bins to the Pom Han Market Management Board, supporting waste collection at points in the market area in 2024. (Photo courtesy)

To overcome this, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism proposed to continue promoting propaganda and replicating the models of "Agency without disposable plastic", "Environmentally friendly residential area", and at the same time mobilizing social resources for communication activities, training, and supporting solutions to replace disposable plastic products.

Ms. Tran Xuan Hue - Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Lao Cai province affirmed: "The province encourages businesses and production facilities to convert to a circular economic model, using recycled and environmentally friendly materials, towards green and sustainable development".

Many stores use paper bags instead of non-biodegradable plastic bags for take-out food.

The results achieved over the past 5 years show that the propaganda work on plastic waste prevention in Lao Cai has really gone into depth, contributing to changing people's awareness and behavior.

From the movements “Green Sunday”, “Say no to disposable plastic”, to the models “Women go to the market with baskets”, “Green schools”, Lao Cai is gradually realizing the goal of becoming a pioneering locality in building a green - clean - beautiful living environment.

Source: https://baolaocai.vn/lan-toa-phong-trao-noi-khong-voi-rac-thai-nhua-o-lao-cai-post886843.html