Changing behavior, spreading green lifestyle in Nghe An

World Environment Day June 5, 2025 with the theme "Fighting plastic pollution", once again alerted the global community to the increasingly serious dangers from plastic waste; raised the need to create a large and in-depth campaign to change behavior, reduce plastic waste and spread green lifestyle in the community in Nghe An.

Officials from the provincial Department of Environmental Protection inspect the wastewater treatment system at Hoa Son Cassava Starch Processing Factory, Anh Son District. Photo: Mai Hoa

Major consequences of plastic waste

It is undeniable that plastic is a revolutionary invention in the field of science and technology. Thanks to its light, durable, waterproof and cheap properties, plastic has become an indispensable material in a series of fields: packaging, medicine, electronics, automobiles, construction, aviation, agriculture and in people's daily lives. The appearance of plastic has partly helped reduce pressure on natural resources such as wood, metal, etc.

However, because of its natural sustainability, plastic has become a “double-edged sword”. Single-use plastic products such as plastic bags, plastic bottles, straws, foam boxes, etc. are causing a global environmental crisis.

It is estimated that millions of tons of plastic waste are released into the environment every year, of which only a small portion is collected and recycled properly. The rest persists in soil, water, and air for hundreds of years.

Plastic waste is being thrown haphazardly on river banks, canals and ditches in some localities in the province. Photo: Mai Hoa

Plastic waste, especially single-use waste, accounts for a large proportion of total household waste. If not classified, collected and treated properly, it will seriously affect the natural environment, causing loss of aesthetics in rural and urban areas, polluting rivers and oceans and degrading ecosystems. Burning plastic waste in particular and waste in general improperly will create toxic substances such as dioxin and furan - the cause of cancer, respiratory failure and endocrine disorders.

More seriously, plastic products that do not completely decompose will form microplastics - extremely small particles that enter the human body through food, drinking water, and air. Studies have shown that microplastics can cause neurological, endocrine and digestive disorders. "We are silently consuming plastic every day without knowing it," an environmental expert warned.

In addition, plastic waste also clogs drainage systems, increasing the risk of flooding and disease outbreaks in densely populated areas.

Plastic products are widely used in the agricultural industry. Photo: Mai Hoa

The fight against plastic pollution

One of the biggest barriers today is the limited awareness, consciousness, and responsibility in consumption of many people. In fact, it is the convenience, utility, and especially the disposable plastic products that often come with free purchases that people still use freely.

Even many people, when buying just a few lemons, or a few onions, or a few bunches of herbs, tomatoes..., each item is in a plastic bag without the awareness to put them all in one bag. As for the sellers, usually disposable plastic products are cheap, so they are not aware of changing their behavior to limit and save usage.

Officials of the Women's Union of Hoang Mai town launched a campaign to collect beach waste in Quynh Phuong ward. Photo: Mai Hoa

Currently, the use of disposable plastic products is widespread, while the infrastructure to meet the needs of plastic waste treatment nationwide, including Nghe An, is still limited.

According to the report of the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Nghe An, currently in the province there is only one facility for treating household waste according to classification. Currently, the Plant for Treating Hazardous Waste, Industrial Solid Waste, and Domestic Solid Waste in Tan Ky District has completed the investment phase and is in the trial operation period, preparing to put into operation the incinerator for hazardous waste, industrial solid waste, and domestic solid waste with a capacity of 48,000 kg/day and night; at the same time, there is a system for recycling nylon and plastic waste with a capacity of 5,000 kg/day and night and a system for producing unburnt bricks from waste with a capacity of 44,000 kg/day.

This affects the implementation of the policy of waste classification at source according to the Law on Environmental Protection 2020 and has been specified by the People's Committee of Nghe An province into regulations on the management of domestic solid waste in the province, in Decision No. 26, dated July 30, 2024.

The provincial Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee mobilized forces to collect coastal waste. Photo: Mai Hoa

During the process of approaching the facilities, we also recorded some reflections in some localities, although the program of waste classification at source has been implemented, the post-classification treatment is still not uniform. Many times, although people have classified organic, inorganic and recyclable waste, at the collection and treatment stage, all are mixed together and then buried or burned together, causing waste of resources and loss of community trust.

Another major drawback is that the cost of waste collection, transportation and treatment is still calculated based on household size, which does not accurately reflect the amount of waste generated by waste generators. The lack of a mechanism for charging fees based on waste volume leaves people with no incentive to reduce or properly sort their waste. This has a major impact on the entire waste management system.

The movement “Turning scrap into useful jobs” associated with waste classification has been widely developed at all levels of women's associations in Do Luong district. Photo: Mai Hoa

Solution

World Environment Day 5/6/2025 with the theme “Combating Plastic Pollution” once again warns the global community about the increasingly serious dangers of plastic waste. The fight against plastic pollution requires a comprehensive strategy, combining individual behavior change and upgrading treatment infrastructure.

Mr. Le Van Hung - Head of the Department of Environmental Protection, Nghe An Department of Agriculture and Environment discussed environmental protection work in the province: We are consulting on tasks to continue implementing Resolution No. 08-NQ/TU, dated March 2, 2022 of the Provincial Party Committee on strengthening the Party's leadership in environmental protection work in the province for the period 2022 - 2030, including the task of communicating to raise awareness of environmental protection.

The Women's Union of Hoang Mai town and Nghi Loc and Do Luong districts launched models of using plastic baskets instead of plastic bags when going to the market. Photo: Mai Hoa

In order to create changes in community behavior in environmental protection, especially limiting the use of disposable plastic products, communication work needs to be taken seriously. In recent times, this work has been implemented by all levels, sectors, organizations, and localities and created some positive movements with specific models, such as using plastic baskets to go to the market to avoid using plastic bags or using bamboo straws instead of plastic straws, using newspapers to wrap flowers instead of plastic, using biodegradable paper cups...; many agencies and units have stopped using plastic bottled water in conferences...

However, communication about the harmful effects of plastic waste has not yet created large, in-depth campaigns to create general behavioral changes in the community. Therefore, this task needs to be further promoted, especially in schools, workplaces and residential areas; this task is a shared responsibility of the whole society for a safe living environment, for the common health of the community. Community awareness is the key to change.

Nghe An Provincial Women's Union supports and spreads the use of recycled bags to replace plastic bags in Hoang Mai town. Photo: Mai Hoa

Along with propaganda, changing consumer habits, replacing disposable plastic products with environmentally friendly products such as cloth bags, glass bottles, bamboo straws, etc.; waste classification at source will also continue to be promoted, associated with the implementation of collection and treatment stages in accordance with the classification process. Currently, the Southeast Economic Zone Management Board has accepted the investment policy for the waste power plant project at Nghi Yen Solid Waste Treatment Complex (Nghi Loc) to treat 1,500 tons of waste per day and night, combined with electricity generation, expected to come into operation in the fourth quarter of 2027. This is a direction in line with the circular economic trend, both helping to reduce the amount of waste remaining and creating economic value.

In addition, the province also encourages the implementation of models for recycling and collecting plastic waste to turn waste into resources; associated with the effective implementation of Decision No. 26/2024/QD-UBND, dated July 30, 2024, regulating the management of domestic solid waste in Nghe An province, which clearly stipulates the classification of domestic solid waste and plastic waste in the province.

The Women's Union of Quynh Chau Commune (Quynh Luu) organized a program to exchange scrap for biodegradable food bags to limit the use of plastic bags that pollute the environment. Photo: Mai Hoa

Currently, the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Nghe An is coordinating with relevant sectors and units to advise the Provincial People's Committee to select a unit to develop a price plan as a basis for promulgating a reduced price for treating domestic solid waste in the province in a direction that is close to the actual waste generation.

"When people have to pay for the amount of waste they create, they will be motivated to reduce their consumption of disposable plastic and classify waste properly. This transparent policy also helps attract businesses to invest in modern advanced waste treatment technology," emphasized Le Van Hung, head of the provincial Department of Environmental Protection.

Plastic waste pollution is one of the biggest challenges facing the environment and public health today. If each individual changes their habits, each organization, business and government takes strong and coordinated action, it is completely possible to control and repel plastic pollution. Limiting the use of single-use plastic, classifying waste at source and properly disposing of it is not only an act of environmental protection, but also an ethical responsibility to future generations. The journey to reduce plastic pollution will be long, but the first step must start today, joining hands to respond to the national campaign "Join hands to reduce plastic waste - Spreading green lifestyle".

Source: https://baonghean.vn/thay-doi-hanh-vi-lan-toa-loi-song-xanh-o-nghe-an-10299006.html