Efforts to reduce plastic waste for a green future

With the theme “Beat Plastic Pollution”, this year ’s World Environment Day calls on the global community to take drastic action to address plastic waste - one of the most pressing environmental challenges today.

Responding to the Peak Month of Action for the Environment in 2025 (from the end of May to the end of June), Lao Cai has implemented many practical activities, focusing on the campaign "Join hands to reduce plastic waste - Spreading green lifestyle". Events such as launching ceremonies, community forums, exhibitions of recycled products, environmental cleaning campaigns, "no single-use plastic" day... have attracted the participation of many people and organizations. In particular, many good models continue to be widely applied, such as the "no plastic" model in supermarkets, traditional markets, restaurants, offices, schools...

Ms. Nguyen Thi Huong, Executive Committee Member of the Youth Union of Lao Cai Province Environment and Urban Joint Stock Company, said: “Every year, on the occasion of World Environment Day and in response to the Month of Action for the Environment, the company and especially the Youth Union organize the exchange of plastic waste for trees or organic fertilizers, integrating environmental sanitation activities and promoting waste classification. This is a meaningful activity to raise awareness of waste classification and limit the use of disposable plastic items in the community.”

Faced with that situation, since 2020, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment (now the Department of Agriculture and Environment) has advised the Provincial People's Committee to issue Decision No. 392/QD-UBND dated February 18, 2020 approving the Project to reduce environmental pollution caused by plastic waste in the province for the period 2020 - 2025. This is considered a strategic step, clearly demonstrating political determination in controlling and reducing plastic pollution, especially disposable plastic products and hard-to-decompose plastic bags.

After nearly 5 years of implementation, the objectives of the Project have basically been achieved according to the set roadmap. 100% of cadres, civil servants, public employees, workers and people in the province have been propagandized, disseminated and raised awareness about the harmful effects of disposable plastic products, and have been guided on alternative measures. All agencies, units and localities have switched to using environmentally friendly items such as glass cups, stainless steel bottles, cloth bags, etc. in regular activities. At the same time, the role and responsibility of authorities at all levels have been strongly promoted; models and movements have been replicated such as: "Cultural market to reduce plastic waste", "Women's group to collect and classify plastic waste", "Self-managed residential area to reduce environmental pollution caused by plastic waste", etc., creating a positive spread in the community.

Implementing the Law on Environmental Protection 2020, Lao Cai province continues to institutionalize by issuing Decision No. 16/2023/QD-UBND dated May 19, 2023, which clearly stipulates the roadmap for reducing, reusing, recycling and treating plastic waste in the area. This is an important legal basis for departments, branches and localities to develop specific action programs and effectively monitor implementation.

Over the past years, the implementation of the Project to reduce environmental pollution caused by plastic waste has gradually helped people limit and gradually change their habits from using disposable plastic products and hard-to-decompose plastic bags to products made from environmentally friendly materials, forming the habit of bringing reusable bags when shopping, and classifying waste right at the source.
Mr. Tran Minh Sang, Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Lao Cai province affirmed.

According to Mr. Sang, in the coming time, specialized agencies will coordinate with localities to continue promoting propaganda and mobilization to mobilize the participation of the whole society, from the government, businesses to the people to join hands to reduce plastic waste, contributing to environmental protection. Along with that, maintain and replicate effective models, at the same time coordinate with relevant agencies, strengthen inspection, closely monitor and strictly handle violations of environmental protection regulations.

The results achieved demonstrate the efforts of the entire political system, businesses and people of Lao Cai in reducing pollution from plastic waste. Lao Cai province is gradually realizing the goal of building a green - clean - beautiful living environment, developing the economy in parallel with environmental protection, contributing to the common efforts of the whole country and the world in the fight against plastic waste pollution, for a green planet.

Source: https://baolaocai.vn/no-luc-giam-thieu-rac-thai-nhu-vi-mot-tuong-lai-xanh-post402854.html