Approving the Project to strengthen plastic waste management in Vietnam

 

The project to strengthen plastic waste management in Vietnam has just been signed and approved by Deputy Prime Minister Le Van Thanh in Decision 1316/QD-TTG dated July 22, 2021.

Below are the highlights of the approved project.

Strengthen solutions to reduce plastic waste

Environmental pollution caused by plastic waste (white pollution) has been causing serious impacts on the environment and human health. Therefore, Vietnam has many action programs to call and encourage the community to reduce, recycle and reuse plastic waste.

Target to recycle 85% of plastic waste

 The Government has approved the Scheme to strengthen the management of plastic waste in Vietnam. The project strives to use 100% plastic bags and environmentally friendly packaging by 2025 in trade centers and supermarkets. Ensure the collection, reuse, recycling, treatment of 85% of plastic waste generated. Reduce 50% of plastic waste in the sea, ocean, and 100% in resorts, tourist accommodation establishments, hotels that do not use non-degradable plastic bags, and single-use plastic products.

To accomplish these goals, Deputy Prime Minister, Mr. Le Van Thanh, requested relevant units to step up research and application of technology, manage plastic waste and produce environmentally friendly products. Develop a plan and implement synchronously nationwide the model of shopping centers and supermarkets that do not use plastic bags or use environmentally friendly plastic bags to replace difficult-to-decompose plastic bags.

Moreover, we need to research and apply advanced and modern technologies in the collection, recycling, and treatment of plastic waste; technology to recycle plastic waste into fuel, building materials, transportation, and other plastic products. At the same time, improve the capacity of key laboratories to meet the requirements of research, testing, evaluation, and quality certification of packaging products to replace plastic products and biodegradable plastic bags. , environmentally friendly, meeting Vietnam’s regulations.

 

In parallel, there are solutions to strengthen the inspection and handling of organizations and individuals that violate the law on environmental protection in the field of production and distribution of plastic products. ; collect, transport, and treat waste, including plastic waste.

Completing policies and regulations on plastic waste management

Formulate and implement policies to promote the development of a circular economy in the field of production and consumption of plastic products; regulates the recycling responsibility of manufacturers and importers of plastic products and plastic packaging. Completing mechanisms and policies to limit the production and use of non-degradable plastic bags and disposable plastic products. Research and propose a roadmap to limit the production and import of single-use plastic products, difficult-to-biodegradable plastic packaging, and products and goods containing microplastics.

Continue to review and perfect mechanisms and policies for incentives and support for the production of environmentally friendly products, substitutes for disposable plastic products and difficult-to-decompose plastic bags; encouraging reuse and recycling of the plastic waste in service of goods production, production of building materials, and reuse of plastic waste in traffic works.

In addition, promoting research and proposing a roadmap to increase environmental protection tax on non-degradable plastic bags; additional environmental protection tax for single-use plastic products for daily-life purposes. Promulgating and implementing regulations in agencies, offices, and offices to minimize the use of non-degradable plastic bags and disposable plastic products in organizing events and daily activities.

At the same time, develop synchronous policies to classify, collect, recycle and treat plastic waste at source in accordance with the conditions of each locality in order to increase the reuse and recycling of plastic waste. Review and complete legal regulations on ocean plastic waste management; management of plastic waste arising from aquaculture and fishing activities.

Enhancing the role of enterprises

Never before in Vietnam did the movement of “against plastic waste” had such strong and synchronous participation as today. Governments and businesses all have very specific and practical action programs. On the journey of preserving the green environment and combating plastic waste, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment always acknowledges the efforts of organizations and individuals with many practical initiatives, contributing to changing people’s consciousness and habits and society.

Currently, there are many enterprises in Vietnam implementing actions to reduce the use of single-use plastic products. Co.op Mart, for example, has pioneered replace ordinary non-biodegradable plastic bags with environmentally friendly plastic bags and is gradually expanding the food packaging with banana leaves throughout the system; stop selling plastic straws.

Milo, a brand of Nestlé Vietnam Company is also proactive in saying no to plastic straws. According to the plan, this brand will complete the conversion of 90% of production using paper straws by the end of 2021 (and reach 100% by May 2022). It is estimated that the production of paper straws helps to reduce nearly 700 tons of plastic waste each year.

Director of Ho Chi Minh City Urban Environment Company Limited, Mr. Huynh Minh Nhut, said that the company and Vietnam Packaging Recycling Alliance (PRO Vietnam) signed a memorandum to build a network of collecting and treating recyclable waste in the program of sorting domestic solid waste at source.

The parties will coordinate to develop projects in areas such as building infrastructure to support the collection, classification, and preliminary treatment of recyclable waste; network with recyclers to develop an incentive model for recyclable waste. Advocacy to create mechanisms to encourage and create favorable market conditions for recyclable waste as well as communicate about waste separation at source to households and independent waste collectors.

The project is expected to promote and improve the efficiency in the implementation of the program of classifying domestic solid waste at source; manage, recover, recycle and use recycled waste effectively and help raise public awareness; promoting green production enterprises, contributing to improving efficiency in environmental protection, building a circular economy associated with sustainable development goals.

Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, Mr. Vo Tuan Nhan, said that in the current fight against plastic waste, the roles and responsibilities of businesses are important, especially in dealing with difficult-to-collect and difficult-to-recycle plastic wastes such as single-use plastic packaging. Business is not only part of the problem but can become an important part of the solution.

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Source: SGGP, VTV