Efforts to reduce environmental pollution from plastic waste

Contributing to building a green economy, circular economy and sustainable development, the province organizes many practical and effective activities to promote the role of the community in environmental protection, combating plastic pollution, and increasing recycling and reuse of disposable plastics.

Youth Union members of Huong Canh town actively clean the environment and fight pollution from plastic waste in the area.

Environmental pollution from plastic waste not only destroys natural ecosystems but also directly threatens human health. Every year, the world produces an estimated 430 million tons of plastic, of which more than two-thirds are single-use products that are then discarded. As a result, the soil, water, and air environments are heavily polluted, seriously affecting biodiversity and human health.

In Vietnam, it is estimated that about 1.8 million tons of plastic waste are generated each year, but only about 27% is recycled, the rest is buried or burned, causing waste of resources and posing many potential environmental risks.

In the province, environmental pollution, especially the increase in domestic solid waste, has been seriously threatening the natural environment, human health and affecting people's quality of life.

To strengthen plastic waste management, aiming at green and sustainable development, the province has issued a plan to classify domestic solid waste at source; an action plan on plastic waste management in the province; and a directive on strengthening activities to reduce, classify, collect, reuse, recycle and treat plastic waste.

Responding to World Environment Day and the 2025 Environmental Action Week, the Department of Agriculture and Environment recently issued a document requesting departments, branches, sectors, organizations, and People's Committees of districts and cities to develop plans and organize practical and effective activities.

In particular, comprehensively innovate the work of propaganda and dissemination of policies and laws on environmental protection. Perfect policies, promote production and recycling of waste in an environmentally friendly direction. Focus on organizing a peak month of action for the environment associated with the national campaign "Join hands to reduce plastic waste - Spread green lifestyle".

Encourage the development of “no plastic” models in supermarkets, traditional markets, restaurants, offices, schools, cooperatives and businesses. Launch community models for collecting - recycling - reusing single-use plastics, support and honor individuals and organizations that are pioneers in converting to green packaging and green services.

On June 5, the Provincial Police Department held a launching ceremony to respond to World Environment Day on June 5 and the Environmental Action Month in 2025. At the ceremony, the Youth Union of the Police Department of 10 communes and wards in Vinh Yen city and Binh Xuyen district signed a competition agreement "Joining hands to protect the environment, prevent and combat plastic waste.

After the launching ceremony, the provincial police and departments organized parades, cheering and propaganda on major roads in Vinh Yen city; participated in cleaning the environment around the lake at Ho Chi Minh Square; and donated environmentally friendly products at Vinh Yen market.

With the aim of propagating, raising awareness, consciousness and responsibility of the community towards environmental protection activities, especially activities against plastic pollution, the Center for Natural Resources and Environment Monitoring, the Department of Agriculture and Environment in coordination with the People's Committee of Huong Canh town (Binh Xuyen) organized a training conference to propagate and instruct members and youth on solutions to reduce plastic waste pollution, limit the use of disposable plastic products and hard-to-decompose nylon bags in Huong Canh town. Attending the training session, delegates planted trees to protect the environment and presented environmentally friendly waste packaging to some people.

Currently, the amount of domestic solid waste generated in the province is about 920 tons/day, of which 350 tons/day in urban areas and nearly 570 tons/day in rural areas. Although the amount of domestic solid waste generated in the province has continuously increased in recent years, the amount of plastic waste generated in the province has tended to decrease. According to statistical survey data in 2022, the amount of plastic waste in the province in 2020 was about 45,013 tons; in 2021 it was about 42,030 tons and in 2022 it decreased to only 40,490 tons.

Currently, the Department of Agriculture and Environment continues to strengthen propaganda and mobilize people to join hands to reduce plastic waste, increase the use of environmentally friendly products and packaging, implement the conversion to green packaging and green services, contributing to environmental protection.

Strengthen inspection, supervision and handling of violations of regulations on environmental protection; maintain, replicate and build “plastic-free” models, collect - recycle - reuse disposable plastics.

Article and photos: Hong Tinh

Source: http://baovinhphuc.com.vn/Multimedia/Images/Id/129584/No-luc-giam-thieu-o-nhiem-moi-truong-tu-rac-thai-nhu