For a plastic-waste-free environment

Reducing plastic waste needs the active participation of all levels, sectors, organizations and people

Synchronous implementation, determination from all levels and sectors

Implementing Directive No. 33, dated August 20, 2020 of the Prime Minister on strengthening management and reducing plastic waste, Tay Ninh has concretized it with many practical programs and action plans.

The Department of Agriculture and Environment, the focal agency, coordinates with departments, sectors and organizations to deploy a series of activities associated with emulation movements and environmental protection communication campaigns in the province.

Since 2019, the province has issued and implemented many key plans such as the "Anti-plastic waste" movement, the propaganda program on plastic waste prevention and control for the period 2021-2025, the movement "All people join hands to protect the environment, say no to plastic waste," and the plan to strengthen solid waste management for the period 2025-2030. These documents not only create a legal foundation but also serve as a guideline for the entire political system from the province to the grassroots, ensuring that the movement is implemented continuously, synchronously, and effectively.

In addition to administrative direction, the province also pays special attention to propagating and disseminating laws to raise public awareness. Every year, the Department of Agriculture and Environment coordinates with the Vietnam Fatherland Front, organizations, schools, and businesses to organize hundreds of meetings, rallies, seminars, and training sessions associated with peak periods such as World Environment Day (June 5), Vietnam Sea and Islands Week, Action Month for the Environment, etc. Images of union members and people cleaning up, clearing waterways, and collecting waste have become familiar every weekend in many localities.

According to Mr. Tran Khac Phuc - Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment, each year, the Department organizes many training courses and conferences to disseminate the 2020 Law on Environmental Protection and policies on waste management, treatment, and anti-plastic waste. In 2022, the training courses attracted nearly 400 students and more than 1,000 officials. In 2023, more than 350 environmental management officials and businesses participated in the specialized courses. In 2024, the Department organized a conference to review the emulation movement "All people join hands to protect the environment, say no to plastic waste," with the participation of 44 units, thereby proposing the Provincial People's Committee to reward many collectives and individuals with outstanding achievements.

Entering 2025, the Department continued to organize specialized seminars on pollution control and training to improve legal knowledge for more than 350 delegates, and at the same time, it implemented the directions of the Prime Minister and the Provincial People's Committee on the peak period of environmental sanitation towards the 80th anniversary of the National Day of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (September 2, 1945 - September 2, 2025).

Spreading movements from the community

In addition to the efforts of the management agency, the "Anti-plastic waste" movement is increasingly spreading deeply and widely in the community, becoming a voluntary and regular activity of the people. According to the Department of Agriculture and Environment, in the past 5 years, units under the Vietnam Fatherland Front of the province have organized nearly 2,000 propaganda sessions, attracting more than 59,000 participants, collecting more than 184 tons of waste, planting 29,000 trees, clearing nearly 10km of canals and ditches, and equipping hundreds of trash cans in public places.

Socio-political organizations play a core role in forming and maintaining creative models that are close to life. The Youth Union effectively maintains the Green Sunday, Bottle Market, and Battery House models, thereby collecting more than 5.7 tons of plastic waste, nearly 56,000 used batteries and planting 12,900 new trees. The Farmers' Association organized more than 9,800 propaganda sessions, collected 7.3 tons of pesticide packaging and more than 21 tons of household waste, and transferred 36 green and clean agricultural models.

The Women's Union at all levels launched the Green Lifestyle movement and the Green Office-Plastic-Free Office model, donated 3,700 handbags, 5,800 glass bottles, 1,471 classified trash bins, and organized more than 1,200 propaganda sessions, attracting nearly 99,000 members to participate.

In the field of education, 100% of schools in the province have included "anti-plastic waste" content in their operating regulations. Canteens and dining halls have signed a commitment not to use disposable plastic products. Many extracurricular topics, recycling festivals, turning trash into gifts contests, and green schools are held regularly, contributing to forming green consumption habits for students.

Along with that, Tay Ninh Newspaper, Radio and Television have stepped up propaganda, publishing news, articles, and reports reflecting and spreading the message "Say no to disposable plastic," encouraging the use of environmentally friendly products, and contributing to changing social behavior in a positive direction.

Towards a circular economy, green development

Women implement plastic waste collection model

According to Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Van Ut, in environmental protection, Tay Ninh always focuses on attracting investment and applying science and technology to waste management and treatment. The province is determined not to accept projects that pose a risk of pollution and, at the same time, gives priority to enterprises investing in the production of environmentally friendly materials and products, minimizing plastic waste.

In particular, Tay Ninh is one of the localities participating in the project "Promoting action on plastic pollution from source to sea," funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The international consulting unit has completed a survey of the current situation, collected data and organized a consultation workshop, initially building a provincial-level action roadmap on plastic circulation. This is considered an important initial step, helping the province move towards a circular economy model, minimizing the amount of plastic released into the environment.

Many industrial zones and clusters in the province have also actively responded to the "Clean the World" campaign, organized waste collection and classification activities, encouraged businesses to apply cleaner production, save energy, and recycle plastic right in the production process. Some large enterprises have proactively converted to environmentally friendly packaging, used recycled materials, contributing to reducing plastic emissions into the natural environment.

Tay Ninh is entering a new development stage, with the goal clearly stated in the Resolution of the Provincial Party Congress for the 2025-2030 term: "Promoting integration, breakthroughs in science and technology development, innovation, comprehensive digital transformation, associated with circular economy, green development, proactive adaptation to climate change." In particular, building a safe living environment and a civilized society and minimizing plastic waste is important content, demonstrating the province's strong commitment to the journey of sustainable development.

To achieve this goal, the province identifies close coordination between departments, branches, sectors, and localities as a key factor. The Department of Agriculture and Environment regularly advises the Provincial People's Committee to direct relevant units to increase reuse, recycling, and reduction of plastic waste, while promoting waste classification at source. Along with that, the province continues to encourage and support models of plastic waste classification and recycling, strengthen supervision, and promptly commend and reward collectives and individuals with effective initiatives and models.

Propaganda work is maintained regularly, with a focus on building green living habits, expanding the model of Green Office, Plastic-free School, Residential Areas with waste classification at source, and Green Market—reducing plastic waste. The "war" against plastic waste is not only the task of management agencies but also the responsibility of each family and each citizen.

Just a small action like bringing a cloth bag when going to the market, using a personal water bottle, saying no to plastic cups and straws can also contribute to creating a big change for the environment. Every green action today is a small brick contributing to building a sustainable future and a green, clean and beautiful environment./.

By Le Duc - Translated by Q. Thien

Source: https://baolongan.vn/vi-moi-truong-khong-rac-thai-nhua-a206334.html