Waste sorting at source: The day is coming

According to the Law on Environmental Protection, families and individuals are responsible for reducing and classifying solid waste at source, collecting and transporting classified waste to the right place, effective from January 1, 2025. The regulation aims to reduce waste before it is released into the environment, thereby reducing transportation costs, promoting the development of a circular economy, and making the environment cleaner...

In Hai Duong, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment, organizations such as the Farmers’ Association, the Women’s Union, and the District People’s Committees have long established pilot models for waste classification at source. The number of participating households is increasing and the amount of waste released into the environment is decreasing.

Hai Duong currently has about 70,000 households classifying waste at source, an increase of 19,600 households compared to the end of 2023, accounting for about 13.3% of households in the province. After classification, the amount of waste is reduced by about 76 tons/day, thereby reducing waste treatment costs, transportation costs, and limiting environmental pollution. Nam Sach and Kim Thanh districts... do a good job of classifying waste at source.

The effectiveness of waste classification at source is clear, but up to now, some localities are still "silent". As a citizen living in Hai Duong City, I have not received any information or instructions from organizations or specialized agencies to announce the implementation of waste classification at source. The same goes for people around the area where I live, everyone does not have the knowledge and has not prepared the means and tools to classify waste at source according to regulations.

To carry out the classification, each family must have 2-3 trash bins: organic waste, recyclable waste and other types of waste, instead of just putting everything in one bin or bag as before. Thus, if waste classification is carried out at the source, more work and tools must be prepared, so some families and localities are reluctant to do it.

The collection work is similar. Garbage trucks need to have compartments for each type of garbage according to the classification criteria. Garbage collectors must be professionally trained, have the ability to propagate, persuade, and even dare to refuse to accept unsorted garbage...

The effectiveness of waste classification at source is clear, especially in the current context of increasingly limited land and increasing quantity and types of waste.

In just a few days, it will be time for families to classify waste at source. It is difficult but not impossible if there is determination. I remember, when the regulation on wearing helmets for motorcyclists was first implemented, many people opposed it, especially those in the city and traveling short distances. However, with the determination of all levels and localities, especially strict punishment for those who do not comply, people's awareness has changed, compliance has become routine, and those who do not comply have become out of place.

To effectively classify waste at the source, each family and individual needs to take the initiative to do very simple things. Personally, I have a habit of putting bottles, jars, scrap paper, etc. in a separate bag after use. When I have enough, I will take it to the "green house" of the organizations to put it in there or give it to a scrap collector. I also put leftover food in a livestock breeder's bin located at the beginning of the neighborhood. This is not difficult and does not take much time. The amount of garbage left is very small.

Organizations need to get involved in raising awareness and guiding people. Localities also need to prepare collection vehicles, landfills, and organic waste treatment facilities.

The regulation is available, the implementation date is near, hopefully the regulation will be implemented soon so that the environment will become cleaner and the pressure of waste treatment will decrease in localities.