[Audio] Anti-plastic waste: From slogan to reality

The "Green House" model of the Women's Union contributes to reducing plastic waste and raising people's awareness in waste classification.

Many models, good ways

This year's World Environment Day on June 5 has the theme "Solutions to plastic pollution", conveying the message of building a sustainable lifestyle, controlling and solving plastic waste pollution, towards a greener, cleaner lifestyle.
In response to World Environment Day 5.6 this year, on June 2, in Tam Ky commune (Kim Thanh), the Provincial Department of Environmental Protection (Department of Natural Resources and Environment) organized a rally and launched a tree planting campaign to protect the environment. On this occasion, APT Seraphin Hai Duong Environmental Joint Stock Company donated 1,500 trees and 40 sets of protective clothing to the locality; the companies: Sumidenso Vietnam, KPF Vietnam and the Provincial Environmental Protection Fund donated 62 trash bins and 29 garbage trucks to Tam Ky commune.

Previously, on the afternoon of May 28, the Women's Union of Lien Mac commune (Thanh Ha) deployed the "Green House" model located at the Cultural House of Mac Thu village. Immediately after its establishment, women's union members actively collected plastic scrap and recyclable scrap to gather here. According to Ms. Nguyen Thi Lam, Head of the Propaganda and Legal Policy Department (Provincial Women's Union), "Green House" is one of many models to protect the environment of the Women's Union along with other models such as "Green lane to the market", "Women's Union to classify and process organic waste at households". At the same time, the sale of collected scrap contributes to creating funds for charity activities, supporting disadvantaged women and children.

To reduce plastic waste in the environment, Big C Hai Duong supermarket has implemented a series of solutions and good practices over the years. According to Ms. Vu Thi Sen, Director of Big C Hai Duong supermarket, in addition to using biodegradable plastic bags in sales activities, the supermarket has increased the sale of products that replace single-use plastic items such as boxes and cups made of stainless steel and glass. The supermarket has applied the initiative of using carton boxes from suppliers to package products for customers instead of using plastic bags to save costs and reduce plastic waste emissions. Big C Hai Duong supermarket also applies a policy of selling reusable bags at no profit. Food stalls in the supermarket use bowls, chopsticks, and cups that are used many times, instead of disposable items as before.

Through the reporter's investigation, not only conferences and seminars of agencies, departments, and localities but also many businesses in the province do not use plastic bottles to store water. Instead, they use glass and ceramic bottles and cups that can be used many times. Most schools classify school waste, encourage students to collect used batteries, and organize competitions to learn about the harmful effects of using disposable plastic products and solutions to combat plastic waste.
Implementing the State's policy and joining hands to solve the problem of plastic waste, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism has recently directed and guided the departments of culture and information, management boards of relic sites, tourist areas, hotels, and tourist accommodation establishments in the province to promote anti-plastic waste. Signs, banners, posters, leaflets, and brochures promoting "anti-plastic waste" are hung in visible areas. Launching a movement against plastic waste, promoting the reduction of the use of disposable plastic products at major events in the province.

Big C Hai Duong Supermarket has implemented many solutions to reduce plastic waste.

decisive direction

Since 2019, the People's Committee of Hai Duong province has issued documents directing all levels and sectors to develop plans and implement the reduction of plastic waste in their units and localities. The province has directed agencies and organizations not to use plastic bags and single-use plastic products in daily activities and in meetings and conferences of the unit. Typically, Plan No. 2389/KH-UBND dated July 18, 2019 on implementing the movement "anti-plastic waste" and "say no to plastic bags and single-use plastic products" in Hai Duong; Plan 1994/KH-UBND dated June 1, 2021 on implementing the project "Promoting propaganda on plastic waste prevention in the period of 2021-2025 in Hai Duong"... Departments, branches, sectors, and district-level People's Committees in the province have also developed and issued specific implementation plans.

The leadership and direction work has been carried out resolutely with the aim of raising the sense of responsibility of organizations, individuals and communities in preventing plastic waste; promoting and enhancing community participation in collecting and classifying plastic waste. The highest goal is to move towards a circular economy, green economy and green growth. Mr. Vu Manh Tuong, Head of the Provincial Department of Environmental Protection, shared that in recent years, all levels, sectors, localities and units in the province have made efforts to implement many solutions to reduce plastic waste according to the set goals. In addition to propagating and mobilizing people to limit the use of plastic products and reduce plastic waste, waste classification at source is one of the fundamental solutions to facilitate and thoroughly handle plastic waste in the area. This solution has been and is being paid special attention to by the province, widely implemented, and initially brought about clear results.

PHAN ANH