Promoting circular economy in environmental protection

In the context of climate change, resource depletion and increasingly serious environmental pollution, developing a circular economy is no longer a choice, but an inevitable requirement. Not only stopping at theory, the province has concretized this policy through a series of policies, action programs and especially practical models, bringing about positive changes in the field of environmental protection.

The VracBank model - "Garbage Bank - Deposit garbage, withdraw money" of Quang Ninh Cement and Construction Joint Stock Company, deployed since April 2022, is increasingly attracting the attention of the people.

Implementing the Resolution of the 15th Provincial Party Congress, term 2020-2025, along with the Central's guidelines and policies, a series of strategic programs and plans have been issued by the province, laying the foundation for the process of transforming the development model, including: Action Program No. 572/CTr-UBND dated March 17, 2023 implementing Resolution No. 10-NQ/TU on strengthening resource management, environmental protection and climate change response; Plan No. 235/KH-UBND dated October 18, 2024 implementing Conclusion 81-KL/TW of the Politburo on continuing to implement Resolution 7 of the Central Committee (term XI) on proactively responding to climate change, strengthening resource management and environmental protection; Plan No. 91/KH-UBND dated April 4, 2024 on the circulation of organic solid waste by 2025, with a vision to 2030. Most recently, Plan No. 104/KH-UBND dated April 8, 2025 on implementing the National Action Plan on Circular Economy by 2035 in the province. These are not only directive documents, but also a guideline for consistent action from the government level to businesses and people in linking economic development with environmental responsibility.

Thanks to that, the circular economy is no longer a strange concept in Quang Ninh when more and more specific models are being built and replicated. The "VracBank - depositing garbage and withdrawing money" model of Quang Ninh Cement and Construction Joint Stock Company is a vivid example, contributing to raising people's awareness in waste classification and recycling. Deployed since April 2022, the "Garbage ATM" model has received the support of many workers and local people. After 3 years of implementation, the program has collected more than 500 tons of recyclable waste, contributing to reducing the load on the local waste treatment system and raising awareness of environmental protection in the community.

Mr. Dang Viet Hung, a worker at the Cement Workshop (Lam Thach Cement Factory) said: For many months now, every Wednesday and Friday morning, my motorbike has been carrying additional bags of plastic waste. Since joining the model, I have collected hundreds of kilograms of plastic waste of all kinds.

To solve the problem of fly ash from thermal power plants, the province has allowed some units to use fly ash from thermal power plants to produce unburnt bricks. According to data from the Department of Construction, in 2024, the whole province consumed about 350,000m³ of unburnt bricks using ash, equivalent to recycling about 60,000 tons of industrial waste, saving tens of thousands of tons of clay materials and reducing about 15,000 tons of CO₂ emissions. Or for the Coal industry, which is the mainstay of Quang Ninh, it emits millions of m³ of rock and soil each year from mining activities. In the period of 2021-2024, the province has implemented research projects on reusing mine waste rock and soil as filling materials and road construction. The results show that the reuse rate is up to 45% in some mining areas, not only reducing environmental pressure but also saving hundreds of billions of VND each year for landfill treatment.

Leaders of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment visited the booth displaying plastic baskets and trays made from recycled materials of the Provincial Women's Union at the Rally in response to World Environment Day and the Month of Action for the Environment.

Despite important progress, circular economic development in Quang Ninh still faces many challenges. One of the biggest barriers is awareness. According to a 2024 survey by the Department of Agriculture and Environment in three localities, Ha Long, Cam Pha and Dong Trieu, only about 28% of people have the habit of sorting waste at source, while the rate of enterprises applying circular production is only 14%. In terms of resources, although in the 2021-2024 period, the province has attracted 5 large projects on environmental protection with a total investment of over 48,000 billion VND, they mainly focus on treating domestic waste on a regional scale. There are still not many high-tech projects on waste recycling and circulation. The lack of high-quality human resources and modern technological infrastructure also limits the scale and effectiveness of circular models in the city.

To make the circular economy the foundation for green and sustainable development, Quang Ninh province has identified the need to synchronize many solutions, focusing on environmental protection. First of all, propaganda and awareness raising work needs to continue to be promoted in depth, especially on waste classification at source, sustainable consumption and environmental responsibility of enterprises.

Mr. Nghiem Xuan Cuong, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, affirmed: Circular economy is not a destination, but a path to a green future. The province will focus on perfecting institutions and developing specific regulations to effectively implement the national action plan on circular economy. Including a mechanism to bind the responsibility of manufacturers and distributors in collecting and recycling discarded products; building a roadmap to ban the use of disposable plastics and non-degradable packaging in supermarkets, shopping malls, tourist areas, etc. At the same time, research to support, attract, and develop models and projects for in-depth economic growth, effectively use input resources, apply science and technology to industries, especially waste treatment to regenerate new materials; apply technology to monitor, inspect, and publicize waste treatment data, which will contribute to improving management efficiency and creating trust for people and businesses. At the same time, calling on technology enterprises and startups to invest in this field, expanding the high-tech application circulation model; enhancing the exchange of learning experiences from domestic and international localities... Thereby, gradually greening living spaces, regenerating resources and creating a more sustainable economy for future generations.

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Source: https://baoquangninh.vn/thuc-day-kinh-te-tuan-hoan-trong-linh-vuc-bao-ve-moi-truong-3361157.html