For a plastic waste-free environment: Efforts to reduce plastic waste

Responding to the "July Program without single-use plastic", departments, branches, people and businesses in the province have been actively implementing many meaningful and practical actions for an environment without plastic waste, green and sustainable development.

Adverse environmental impact

According to a report by the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment , each year, about 1.8 million tons of plastic waste are released into the environment in Vietnam. Of which, 90% is treated by burying, filling, and burning; only 10% is recycled. Currently, plastic bags and disposable plastic products (plastic bottles, plastic cups, straws, foam boxes, etc.) are very popular because they are cheap and convenient. According to the reporter's records, at some traditional markets in the Nha Trang area, the use of plastic bags is still high. Many items are contained in plastic bags such as: Fish, meat, vegetables, fruits, candy, etc. Each year, Vietnamese people use more than 30 billion plastic bags; on average, a family uses about 4 plastic bags per day. Plastic bags take 500 - 1,000 years to completely decompose. Burning plastic waste will create toxic emissions that persist in the environment for a long time, directly affecting human health.

CamlamOnline store (Cam Lam commune) limits the use of disposable plastic products.

In Khanh Hoa , in recent years, the amount of disposable plastic waste has increased, causing landfills and waste treatment sites to be at risk of overload. In Nha Trang area, the amount of collected waste is treated by landfill technology at Luong Hoa landfill (North Nha Trang ward) with an area of 12.8 hectares. According to Mr. Tran Van Huong - Director of the Environmental Enterprise (Nha Trang Urban Environment Joint Stock Company), the enterprise collects waste in 4 wards in Nha Trang area, an average of 550 tons/day, on peak days of holidays, Tet, or storms..., the amount of waste increases to 900 - 1,000 tons/day. The amount of waste is mostly disposable plastic products, causing great pressure on collection workers and the risk of overload at the landfill.

Propaganda board against single-use plastic use at Nha Trang Tourist Wharf.

At Hon Ngang landfill (Dien Lam commune) after 10 years of operation, it has become overloaded; in the sea areas of Tri Nguyen island (Nha Trang ward), Binh Ba island (Nam Cam Ranh commune) ..., there is currently a lot of plastic waste. Binh Ba island alone generates an average of about 4 tons of waste/day and night, of which the amount of plastic waste accounts for about 20% of household waste, equivalent to about 800kg of plastic waste/day and night ... A lot of plastic waste lying on the seabed has affected the development of the marine ecosystem in Khanh Hoa. In the coming years, the amount of waste will continue to increase along with socio-economic activities, especially with the increasing number of tourists to Khanh Hoa, making waste treatment even more stressful.

According to the assessment of According to the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the current situation of plastic waste in the tourism sector in Khanh Hoa is not only an environmental issue but also a major challenge to the strategy of sustainable tourism development. This not only affects the tourism industry but also threatens the livelihoods of local communities who depend on tourism and marine resources.

Gradually replace with environmentally friendly products

According to the reporter's records, at TTC Premium Hotel - Michelia (No. 4 Pasteur, Nha Trang Ward), currently, plastic products such as: Water cups, straws, gift bags... have been replaced by paper items. Ms. Ton Nu Thanh Hoa - Chairman of TTC Tourism Company Limited and Director of Khanh Hoa Cluster shared that currently, the trend of green tourism is increasingly receiving attention. Implementing the policies of the central government and Khanh Hoa province on green tourism and sustainable development, branches and units in the TTC system have been gradually replacing all disposable plastic products with environmentally friendly materials such as: Paper, bamboo... "In addition, the hotel also has propaganda boards in many languages about not using disposable plastic. Tourists who use products that replace plastic products are very satisfied and supportive", Mrs. Hoa shared.

Paper cups and straws at TTC Premium Hotel - Michelia.

According to records at some markets in Nha Trang area such as Phuoc Hai, Xom Moi, Phuong Son..., currently, some vegetable stalls have used bamboo and banana strings instead of nylon and rubber bands. Supermarkets such as Go! Nha Trang and Co.opmart Nha Trang are using some types of biodegradable bags to contribute to environmental protection, encouraging people to limit the use of plastic products. Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh Van (Northern Nha Trang ward) said: "I often choose to buy vegetables wrapped in leaves at the supermarket because they use environmentally friendly materials, ensure hygiene and do not have to waste more plastic bags to store them."

At the Provincial Border Guard Command (Provincial Military Command), Khanh Hoa University and many agencies and units..., in meetings, glass water bottles and glass cups are used instead of disposable bottled water. Ms. Tran Thi Thanh Nga - Head of Organization and Administration Department (Khanh Hoa University) said that in the past 5 years, to serve major events, the school has designed and launched items made from environmentally friendly materials such as: Paper cups, glass bottles for drinking water and non-woven fabric bags that can be reused many times...

Women in Hoa Tri commune go to market with baskets and traders wrap food in banana leaves.

In addition, local women's unions have had many practical and meaningful activities to contribute to reducing disposable plastic waste, such as: Van Ninh Women's Union organized the program "Exchange plastic waste for breakfast"; Hoa Tri Women's Union implemented the model "Small traders in the traditional market say no to disposable plastic waste" in Tan Ninh village, implemented the model "Exchange waste for shopping bags"...

Need to synchronize solutions

Over the years, Khanh Hoa province has always encouraged waste reduction and resource exploitation through recycling, reduction and reuse. Plans, propaganda campaigns and specific actions of all levels, sectors and localities have been gradually changing people's awareness and limiting single-use plastics.

People choose to buy vegetables wrapped in banana leaves at Go! Nha Trang supermarket.

Mr. Le Dai Duong - Vice Chairman of Nha Trang Ward People's Committee shared: "Some solutions to minimize the harmful effects of plastic waste such as: Propagating to people and organizations to say no to plastic bags and disposable plastic products, bring bags when shopping; use reusable products that are environmentally friendly. At the same time, use economically and reuse plastic products reasonably, classify waste for recycling; do not arbitrarily bury and burn waste, especially plastic waste; use economically and reasonably, limit giving out free plastic bags to customers; replace plastic bags with bags made of environmentally friendly materials... Everyone should change for a green life".

Mr. Hoang Anh Hao - Deputy Head of the Department of Fisheries, Sea and Islands of the province (Department of Agriculture and Environment) said that the Provincial People's Committee has issued Decision No. 362, dated February 12, 2020, promulgating the Action Plan on ocean plastic waste management by 2030 in the province. Accordingly, the goal by 2030 is to reduce 75% of plastic waste in the sea and ocean; 100% of discarded fishing gear is collected, ending the disposal of fishing gear directly into the sea... To achieve the set results, it is necessary to synchronously implement solutions such as: Limiting the use of foam buoys in the fisheries industry, recovering fishing gear such as: Nets, buoys that are lost, forgotten or discarded at sea; reusing, limiting the use of plastic materials in fisheries production; Replace plastic materials with environmentally friendly materials such as glass, bamboo materials, rice flour, etc. Along with that, apply advanced technology to limit plastic waste; increase tax rates on materials such as plastic bags, packaging and other plastic products; apply technology to produce plastic materials that can decompose in seawater, bioplastic materials, etc.

Use glass bottles and cups in meetings and conferences instead of disposable bottled water at Khanh Hoa University.

According to the leader The Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Provincial People's Committee have issued Plan No. 11891, dated October 22, 2024, on developing green and sustainable tourism in Khanh Hoa province by 2030; The Department of Tourism has issued a Plan to implement the Green Transformation Project in Khanh Hoa province for the period 2024-2030, and a Plan to develop green and sustainable tourism in Khanh Hoa province by 2030. Thereby, there have been solutions to reduce plastic waste such as: Replacing plastic products with environmentally friendly materials, encouraging the use of environmentally friendly alternative products... Along with that, local authorities need to have policies to support businesses that produce and distribute these alternative products, and have preferential policies on taxes or loans for pioneering units. At the same time, it is necessary to apply technology and digital transformation in management such as: Investing in advanced plastic waste recycling equipment and technology, helping to convert plastic waste into raw materials or other useful products; smart applications can help monitor waste volume, providing optimal solutions for waste classification and treatment at the source.

THAI THINH - CHAU TUONG

Source: https://baokhanhhoa.vn/xa-hoi/moi-truong-do-thi/202507/vi-moi-truong-khong-rac-thai-nhua-no-luc-giam-thieu-rac-thai-nhua-a0f3eef/