Using plastic bags - double waste

Vendors use plastic bags to store food for customers at Gia Lam market (Bo De ward). *Photo: Do Tam*

However, in Vietnam in general and Hanoi in particular, the use of plastic bags to store food and goods of all kinds is still quite common, even being abused by people. This situation has caused and is causing double waste.

A survey of many traditional markets, "toad" markets, shops, clothing stores... in the wards of Khuong Dinh, Thanh Xuan, Dong Da, O Cho Dua, Kim Lien, Hoan Kiem... in Hanoi shows that most small traders and business households use a lot of plastic bags to hold goods for customers. Also because of the convenience of plastic bags such as being easy to carry, tough, durable and especially cheap, instead of using environmentally friendly items to hold goods, both sellers and buyers freely use plastic bags to hold daily items.

According to research, in recent times, all levels, sectors and localities of Hanoi have implemented many programs to limit the use of plastic bags. In particular, the Hanoi Women's Union has also launched a campaign to its members to limit the use of plastic bags and disposable plastic products. Accordingly, female cadres and members in the area have actively responded, many have switched to using plastic baskets, carts... to carry goods when going to the market. However, the movement has not really spread widely, the majority of housewives as well as vendors still use plastic bags to carry goods, food...

According to the observations of the Hanoi Moi Newspaper reporter, most of the nylon bags in markets and stores are hard-to-decompose nylon bags (plastic bags - this type is subject to environmental protection tax). According to Article 8 of the Law on Environmental Protection Tax No. 57/2010/QH12, the environmental protection tax on taxable nylon bags ranges from 30,000 VND to 50,000 VND/kg. However, in reality, the imposition of tax on taxable nylon bags in the city has not been strictly implemented, the average price of 1kg of nylon bags is only 35,000-45,000 VND depending on the type. Therefore, small traders still buy and use nylon bags to hold goods and food for customers. It is common in many localities that each family throws 5-10 nylon bags/day into the environment. This has caused double waste for many years without being remedied. Meanwhile, the use of biodegradable, environmentally friendly plastic bags has not received much attention from businesses and shop owners.

It is known that to limit the use of plastic bags, currently, in most countries in the world , in addition to imposing high taxes on taxable hard-to-decompose plastic bags (plastic bags); mainly use environmentally friendly bags (paper bags, biodegradable bags). Supermarkets and stores charge a fee if customers need bags (plastic or other materials) to hold goods, and do not provide free plastic bags to customers. Therefore, people often proactively bring other bags and tools to hold goods, thereby gradually giving up the habit of using plastic bags, limiting the large amount of plastic bags discharged into the environment.

Determined to implement solutions to reduce plastic emissions, the Hanoi People's Council recently passed a resolution stipulating measures to reduce plastic emissions in the city. According to this resolution, from 2027, markets and convenience stores will not provide free biodegradable plastic bags. In particular, the resolution also stipulates that from 2028, markets and convenience stores will not circulate or use single-use plastic products or biodegradable plastic packaging to package and contain food, except for products and goods with biodegradable plastic packaging.

Hanoi residents expect that, along with the implementation of this resolution, the city's authorities will strictly implement the imposition of tax on taxable plastic bags, soon overcoming the current situation of double waste when using plastic bags widely.

Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/su-dung-tui-nilon-lang-phi-kep-710317.html