The DRS model contributes to encouraging Hue residents to develop the habit of sorting waste. Photo: Ngu Giao

A new approach to recycling collection.

For the past six months, Ms. Nguyen Tuong Vy, a resident of Nera Garden apartment complex (Phu My An urban area, To Huu Street), has regularly used the DRS (Drinking Service Rate) model, which is being piloted at the complex, with her son. “When buying each bottle of water, I pay an additional 1,000 VND deposit. This amount is refunded when I return the empty bottle at the machine. Although the refund amount isn't large, the feeling of doing something beneficial for the environment makes us quite enthusiastic about this activity. My son also frequently reminds me to bring the empty bottles down to put in the machine,” Ms. Vy shared.

The story of Ms. Vy's family is one of many examples showing the initial changes in waste disposal habits among people in Hue. From July 2025 to January 2026, the DRS model was piloted at the University of Science , Hue University and Nera Garden apartment complex to encourage people to collect and return plastic bottles after use. With the DRS model, when purchasing beverage products with packaging such as plastic bottles or aluminum cans, consumers will pay a small deposit for the bottle. This deposit will be refunded when users bring the bottle to designated collection points.

According to Mr. Nguyen Ngu Giao, a project specialist for Hue - a plastic-reducing city in Central Vietnam, during the pilot phase, more than 2,200 water bottles were tagged with barcodes and placed as deposits at sales points in universities and residential areas. Bottle recycling machines provided by Botol Vietnam were installed in convenient locations such as university lobbies and common areas of apartment buildings. Users simply place their bottles into the machine, scan the code, and receive their money back through a mobile application.

Nguyen Thuc To Linh, a student at the University of Science, Hue University, believes that the DRS model is a practical experience that helps change perceptions about waste. “Before, my friends and I used to throw our bottles into the common trash can after drinking water. When the recycling machine was installed on campus, many students started saving their empty bottles to return them. Initially, we found it quite novel, but after using it a few times, it became a habit. Not only did we get our deposit back, but we also felt we were contributing to reducing plastic waste on campus,” To Linh said.

Positive signal

After a period of implementation, the numbers regarding the number of participants and the number of plastic bottles collected have initially shown positive signs. By the end of January 2026, the recycling system had recorded 329 participants, of which 186 had used it at least twice. “In total, the machine collected 192 bottles with deposits and over 3,600 bottles without deposits that people brought in to put into the system. This shows that many people have proactively kept their bottles to put into the machine instead of throwing them in with household waste as before,” Mr. Nguyen Ngu Giao informed.

According to Associate Professor Hoang Cong Tin, Head of the Environmental Science Department, Hue University of Science, and advisor to the Hue - Plastic-Reducing City in Central Vietnam project, the DRS model has shown the potential to positively impact community awareness and behavior. “The most important thing is not just the number of bottles collected, but the fact that people are starting to change their perspective on waste. When a bottle is kept and returned to the system instead of being thrown away, that's the first step in forming the habit of waste sorting,” Associate Professor Hoang Cong Tin stated.

According to Associate Professor Dr. Hoang Cong Tin, the DRS model has proven effective in recovering beverage packaging and promoting recycling in many countries around the world . Therefore, the pilot project in Hue is significant as an important test to assess its applicability in the real-world conditions of Vietnam, especially in the context of localities gradually promoting waste sorting at source.

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Source: https://huengaynay.vn/kinh-te/thay-doi-thoi-quen-phan-loai-rac-163921.html