Youth play an important role in reducing plastic waste. (Photo: VietnamPlus) Hanoi (VNA) – Youth are the real warriors in the battle against plastic waste, heard a forum jointly held by the youth union of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MoNRE), the Vietnam Administration of Sea and Islands, and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) in Hanoi on February 28.
At the event, a representative from the youth union said that plastic waste could be treated if the key role of youth was properly promoted in the reduction of single-use plastic products, plastic recycling and classification of waste.
Vietnam discards some 1.8 million tonnes of plastic waste every year, but only 27% is recycled while up to 0.73 million tonnes ends up in the ocean.
Notably, the treatment of plastic waste is limited, as up to 90% of the trash is landfilled or dumped and only 10% is recycled.
Cao Hoang Anh from the Pollution Control Department said that Vietnam is facing a critical plastic waste crisis. Each household uses one kilogramme of plastic bags per month and the two cities of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City discharge around 80 tonnes of plastic waste into the environment every day.
The amount of plastic waste and plastic bags in Vietnam accounts for about 8-12% of the domestic solid waste. However, only 11-12% of it is recycled and the remainder is treated by burying, landfilling and burning.
Discharging plastic waste could lead to environmental disaster and ocean pollution, he said. There are 22 tonnes of plastic waste generated from the medical sector daily but collecting, recycling and burying the waste could affect public health and cause environmental pollution.
Secretary of the MoNRE youth union Dang Quoc Khanh stressed that plastic products are an indispensable part of life. Their strength and durability make it difficult for the waste to be disposed and that will leave negative impacts on people’s health.
Khanh said that sectors, socio-political organisations, enterprises and citizens, especially the youth, should join regional and global efforts to fight plastics pollution.
People should join hands to handle plastic waste. (Photo: VietnamPlus) He called on the youth union chapters in the ministry, organisations and the community to take action to reduce plastic waste, and develop effective measures to enhance plastic recycling.
Businesses, supermarkets and shopping malls should use environmentally-friendly alternatives to single-use plastics, and promote the research and application of technologies to develop disposable and recyclable products, he added.
Hoang Anh laid stress on the necessity to raise public awareness of the impacts of plastic waste, adding youth should be encouraged to branch out activities to reduce plastic waste.
Under a national plan on ocean plastic waste management to 2030, the government has set a goal of reducing 50% of plastic waste. The aim is to collect 50% of lost or throw-away fishing tools and 80% of resorts, tourist attractions, and tourist accommodation establishments along the coast do not use single-use plastic products and non-biodegradable plastic bags.
Vietnam aims to reduce the flow of plastics into the ocean by 75% by 2030, completely eliminating single-use plastic and non-biodegradable plastic bags from coastal tourist destinations, and ensuring that marine protected areas are free of plastic waste by 2030.
The country is accelerating efforts to mitigate plastic pollution and waste through the operation of the Vietnam National Plastic Action Partnership – a programme to connect key actors, initiatives and investments in order to mobilise resources to shape a more sustainable plastic circular economy for the country as well as contributing to solving global plastic pollution./.
