Can Tho, Netherlands join hands to handle plastic waste in Hau river

Hau river in Can Tho city (Photo: VNA)

Can Tho (VNA) – Officials of the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho have worked with representatives of the Dutch Embassy in Vietnam and Clear Rivers on implementing a pilot project to collect plastic waste in Hau river.

During the January 11 meeting, Ramon Knoester, founding director of Clear Rivers, said the waste collection model in the Hau river includes a machine called "Litter Trap", which can operate automatically without using fuel to collect plastic waste floating on the river into a bag.

The trap is expected to collect about 8 tonnes of plastic waste a week, he said, adding that the waste will be reused sustainably in accordance with a circular economy model.

Clear Rivers successfully produced many reusable products from plastic waste collected in rivers, including floating park, furniture, and construction materials, he noted.

In the framework of the project, communication activities will be organised to raise public awareness of measures to reduce and recycle plastic waste, and call for joint actions towards a pollution-free planet.

Deputy Head of Mission at the Dutch Embassy in Vietnam Christoph Prommersberger said many businesses of the Netherlands have strength and experience in collecting and treating waste floating at sea and rivers.

This waste collection model of Clear Rivers has been successfully implemented in Belgium, Hungary, Indonesia and Malaysia, he said.

The Netherlands hopes that this project will open up more investment cooperation opportunities between Vietnamese and Dutch businesses in general, and the European country and Can Tho in particular, he said.

Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Thuc Hien highlighted the significance of the project for Can Tho as well as the Mekong Delta region, expressing his wish that the project could be started as soon as possible.

Recently, through the Dutch Embassy in Vietnam, Can Tho has accessed funding sources to implement waste collection and treatment projects, helping to protect the environment.

Hien said the municipal authorities always pay special attention to and support cooperation activities to protect the environment, towards developing Can Tho into an ecological and civilized city imbued with river cultural identity in the Mekong Delta.

He hoped that the pilot project will be a bright spot in the friendly cooperation between Can Tho and the Netherlands, thus improving the water quality on the Hau River in particular, and addressing waste pollution in rivers worldwide in general./.