At the working session between the Netherlands’ Ocean Cleanup organisation and Can Tho authorities (Photo: VNA) Can Tho (VNA) – The Netherlands’ Ocean Cleanup organisation had a working session with leaders of Can Tho city on July 24 to discuss the implementation of automatic garbage collection in the Mekong Delta city of Vietnam.
The project aims to help reduce the amount of trash discharged into the sea causing severe environmental pollution in the immediate and long run, as well as reducing labour costs in this field.
Tim Van Emmerick, a Dutch representative, said the plans for a trash-collecting system along the rivers consists of boats of about 6m by 18m, the size of a small ferry, that automatically removes floating garbage and stores them in bags for safe disposal later.
The system is controlled by a simple electronic board along with cameras connected to the Internet, allowing the operator to conduct the trash collection on a smart phone.
Trash collection boats are operated by solar energy and automatic sensor systems. Each boat is worth around 300,000-400,000 EUR (350,850-467,800 USD).
Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Dao Anh Dung said he was optimistic about the feasibility of the project.
If successful, the project will be expanded to other provinces in the Mekong Delta which have a dense system of rivers.
He asked relevant departments to work closely with the Dutch organisation to carry out the project.
The project is due to be piloted near the walking bridge in Ninh Kieu district and the Cai Rang floating market in Cai Rang district. Both river locations have become eyesores of floating rubbish bags.–VNA
VNA
