Why should we pick up trash?

The simple answer is: because there's trash! But why is there trash?

Residents of Vung Tau volunteer to collect trash on the beach - Photo: LOAN NGUYEN

This time, the answer is not simple but full of concern, given that many countries around the world have eliminated litter, and because education has taught children from a young age not to litter, and even to pick up litter and put it in the bin when they see it…

Let's start today with education, laws, and media to shape future generations so they no longer litter, or if they do, they litter responsibly and thoughtfully. Then we won't have to pick up trash anymore.

Littering without a care.

My family lives in Vung Tau, a city famous for its long and beautiful beaches. Nature has also blessed this place with fresh air and lush green mountains.

I came here from the North to start my career in the 2000s, when the coastal roads were still quiet and clean on weekdays. Even on weekends , tourists flocked here, but there wasn't the traffic congestion we see now. And no matter how heavy the rain, the streets never flooded like rivers.

Now, on holidays and weekends, Vung Tau is packed with tourists. And along with that comes trash: garbage everywhere, on the streets, in the parks, along the beach… The trash mainly consists of plastic, disposable cups, straws, candy and food packaging, fishing nets, styrofoam containers…

In Vung Tau, trash cans are placed throughout the parks and many streets, but they are rarely filled. People can carelessly stand up and leave behind styrofoam boxes with leftover food, plastic cups, and straws on park benches.

While driving, it's not uncommon to see plastic bags and water bottles unexpectedly flying out from moving vehicles.

On the beach, it's not uncommon to see people casually leaving their trash behind after eating, sometimes even right in front of children. What lesson will these children learn from such behavior?

Along the road up to Hai Dang or Viba mountain, it's not difficult to find piles of waste consisting of large items like mattresses, sofas, or styrofoam boxes... These types of waste take hundreds of years to decompose. They are like ugly scars on a beautiful face.

I didn't have to look far; right at the end of the street where I live, there's an empty plot of land. Every morning when I wake up, I open the door, walk a few steps to the end of the street, and find more trash, mostly large pieces of waste. In just one month, the garbage dump grew bigger and bigger. I complained to the neighborhood committee, and a few days later, the land was cleaned up.

But just a few days later, large bags of garbage reappeared. Nighttime was the easiest time for people to take the trash out.

40 hours accumulated

People want to keep their homes and cars clean and beautiful, but they are willing to pollute the environment, of which they are also a part.

I think of Australia, where they put up signs that make you think: "On the beach and in the sea, animals do not leave trash, humans do. Please behave like animals." The message is truly meaningful and profound!

We often collaborate with volunteer organizations in Vung Tau to clean up, mainly collecting plastic waste. When waves bring in a huge amount of water hyacinth, the authorities mobilize various forces from the army, youth union, women's association, and environmental companies to help clean up the beaches quickly.

But we're only addressing the symptom. The question is how to avoid picking up trash, and the simple answer, understood by everyone, is: if you don't litter, you won't have to pick up trash.

I was quite pleased to read the recent news that Hanoi is on track to completely ban single-use plastic products. Prior to this, some tourist areas in Quang Ninh and Da Nang had already banned their use. Change takes a long time, especially in terms of consumer habits. Until then, we need to continue sorting and collecting waste properly.

Perhaps our problem lies in the lack of integration between theory and practice. Current volunteer activities are based on voluntarism. Should we perhaps mandate this as a compulsory component of general education?

As far as I know, in the province of Ontario, Canada, in addition to completing a required number of credits, students must also complete 40 hours of volunteer work to receive their high school diploma. They can help out at their own school, assist in churches, care for the elderly, or participate in community activities in the city, etc.

Students will receive a document issued by the school. After each activity, the program organizers will confirm the number of working hours and participation time. Students will accumulate these hours throughout their four years of high school. 40 hours is not a lot and is easy to accomplish, especially during holidays and summer breaks when students have plenty of free time.

That's a good method we should learn from. And when we implement it, let's do it genuinely, with a sense of responsibility and love for our homeland. All calls to action will be meaningless if we don't take action ourselves.

Littering costs money.

A relative of mine living in Tokyo, Japan, said that every time her family has to throw away trash, they feel very "guilty" and "cautious" because it's not easy to dispose of trash.

For large household waste, you need to register in advance and schedule a specific time slot. Upon arrival, you must place the waste in the designated area for each type and… pay the fee to complete the process. For special types of waste such as broken glass, aluminum or tin bottle caps, it can take months before it's your turn to be collected.

Back to the topic

LOAN NGUYEN

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/tai-sao-phai-nhat-rac-20250813092301295.htm