Green market

Many people coming to Ba Xa market use cloth bags to carry things.

Every 5 days, on the 2nd, 7th, 12th, 17th, 22nd and 27th of the lunar calendar, Ba Xa market in Tan Doan commune is always crowded with buyers and sellers. According to the market management board, each session has about 100 permanent business households and hundreds of people from neighboring communes bringing goods to exchange, with an average of nearly 1,000 people per session, causing hundreds of kilograms of plastic bags to be thrown into the environment.

To continue promoting the "Anti-plastic waste" movement, on November 21, the Department of Agriculture and Environment coordinated with the People's Committee of Tan Doan commune to deploy the model "Market day without using hard-to-decompose plastic bags and disposable plastic products". This is the first model organized at traditional markets in the province, with the desire to create new, more sustainable habits in people's daily lives.

To implement the model, the Party Committee and the government of Tan Doan commune have previously promoted propaganda to people in 21 villages and schools in the area about measures to reduce plastic waste; encouraged people to bring cloth bags, plastic baskets, and bamboo baskets when going to the market; and distributed nearly 500 cloth bags to people. At the same time, the Market Management Board organized for traders to sign a commitment to minimize the use of hard-to-decompose plastic bags and replace them with environmentally friendly bags and packaging.

Mr. Vu Ngoc Ha, Chairman of Tan Doan Commune People's Committee, said: Ba Xa Market is the most crowded place in the region, the amount of plastic bags used is very large. When implementing the model, we hope that people will preserve traditional cultural features such as carrying baskets, cloth bags, and bundles to the market, while forming new consumer habits, saying no to plastic waste. From there, it will spread throughout the community, gradually forming a common movement.

Thanks to the government's propaganda and mobilization, many people and students have actively responded. After only two market sessions, many people have limited the use of disposable plastic bags.

Ms. Lo Thi Xuan, Khon Nhu village, Yen Phuc commune shared: Now when I go to the market, I bring a cloth bag with me, it can hold many things, I don't have to ask for many plastic bags. Cloth bags are compact, sturdy, and reduce trash in the house.

Not only buyers, but also traders are gradually changing. Ms. Hoang Thi Tuyen, a trader at Ba Xa market, Tan Doan commune, said: I sell food, every month I have to use at least 2kg of plastic bags, and thanks to the propaganda, I limit the use of plastic bags to contain things. I also encourage everyone to proactively bring their own bags, say no to hard-to-decompose plastic bags and disposable plastic products. If everyone is a little conscious, just a few market sessions will make a difference, garbage will be reduced, and there will be no more plastic bags flying everywhere.

From those simple changes, a new look has been created for the market in Xu Lang, gradually contributing to raising awareness of environmental protection and forming a green lifestyle in everyday life.

From now until the end of December 2025, the Department of Agriculture and Environment will expand the model to many fairs in the province. The People's Committees of communes and wards will step up propaganda and organize the signing of commitments against plastic waste, not using disposable plastic products and hard-to-decompose plastic packaging for production facilities, distribution organizations, shopping centers, shops, restaurants, markets, small traders and supermarkets. In the immediate future, this regulation will be applied at fair meetings.

Mr. Trieu Duc Minh, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment, commented: With the characteristics of Lang Son , fairs still play an important role in community life, so implementing the model here will bring practical results. When propagating in crowded places, it will impact people's awareness and behavior more quickly and deeply. From there, forming the habit of using cloth bags, baskets and other types of easily decomposable bags in daily life, contributing to reducing environmental pollution.

According to statistics, the province currently has more than 80 traditional markets, of which about 65 are session markets. Replicating the "Green Market" model will help significantly reduce the amount of plastic waste generated each month.

The "Green Market" model is very important, creating a transformation from words to actions, from slogans to concrete actions. From the rural markets, that green habit will spread to every household, contributing to the formation of a clean and civilized living environment for the community.

Source: https://baolangson.vn/phien-cho-xanh-thoi-quen-moi-5066084.html