Illustrative photo (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – A conference was held in Hanoi on March 9, focusing on the importance to raise public awareness of waste management, usage and recycling.
In his speech at the event, Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Vo Tuan Nhan said Vietnam is faced with challenges in protecting the environment and managing waste, especially as solid waste in Vietnam is increasing rapidly.
The implementation of the 3R practice – Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle has yet to prove effective and remains limited, he noted.
Also, solid waste in urban and rural areas have not been classified, and are only buried in waste landfills, which have yet to meet the technical requirements of environmental protection, he noted; adding that investment in scientific research, 3R technology transfer and solid waste treatment has not been adequate.
The official also mentioned shortcomings in handling waste in trade villages due to spontaneous recycling activities with the use of backward technologies, stressing that this has caused environmental pollution and affected the health of people.
Participants underlined the need to take suitable measures on the issue, including applying modern technologies and managing and recycling waste, changing consumption habits and raising consumers’ awareness of the issue.
How to handle electronic refuse was also on the table.
According to Dr. Sunil Herat from Australia’s Griffith University, surveys should be done to calculate the volume of electronic waste, thus outlining measures to deal with the problem. He also highlighted the crucial role played by the private sector in managing this type of waste.
General Director of the Vietnam Environment Administration Nguyen Van Tai also agreed on the necessity of changing consumer behaviours – to instill a habit of reusing and recycling waste, and promoting technology exchange among countries in the field.
Michael Pasons, an environmental policy expert from the Institute of Strategy and Policy on Natural Resources and Environment said Vietnam should increase its efforts on the issue, beginning with waste classification and encouraging its people to collect refuse.
People should be directed to use recycled products, he added.-VNA
