Autonomous team of environmental protection – A new practical model

Helping places to be cleaner, more beautiful, furnishing with garbage cans, classifying garbage, using banana leaves instead of plastic bags, and so on were small actions have brought large meanings to the community in environmental protection. The model of autonomous team of environmental protection is an example. 

From models

Established in 2008, environmental protection autonomous team of Binh Dang quarter, Binh Hoa ward, Thuan An town was selected as key model with 50 initial household members. Executive board comprising 5 members of the team was elected. During a short period, the team mobilized VND60 million contributed by local people for pavement renovation, VND6.3 million for installing 45 bins with lids, and encouraged each household to grow 1 green plant at home. 

The effectiveness coming from this new model has been replicated. Until now, the town has more than 60 teams like this with over 4,000 members of executive boards and 33,000 household members. These teams set up their own bylaws, planning activities, convention boards at public places so that everybody could follow. Hence, local households have not only protected the environment voluntarily but also contributed funds to hire permanent garbage collecting squads to avoid the backlog of waste, environmental pollution.

Women’s Union of Chanh My ward, TDM City planted green trees to reduce littering.

Previously, in Chanh My ward, TDM City, garbage was littered everywhere, influencing badly people’s health. Therefore, ward Women's Union conducted propaganda to raise awareness of environmental protection; encouraged each woman to have one garbage can at home and classify waste. Teams cleaned roads, planted green trees at quarters and markets; thereby, people have participated enthusiastically in these activities.

Practical effects

Many small actions have brought great meanings while implementing the model of environmental protection autonomous team. In 2014, provincial Department of Natural Resources and Environment coordinated with provincial Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee to form 7 more teams in Phu Giao district, Dau Tieng district, Thuan Antown, Ben Cat town , Tan Uyen town, and TDM City.

Currently, the province has 585 teams including 15 teams funded by Department of Natural Resources and Environment, 9 teams funded by the Central, provincial Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee, and remaining teams sponsored by socialization capital of people. 

Environmental protection autonomous teams at quarters, communes have an important role in encouraging, reminding households to dispose garbage at right places, on right times; cleaned up local areas.

Typically, environmental protection autonomous team at Binh Thuan hamlet, Binh Nham commune, Thuan An town has persuaded 70 households to have trash cans, monitored farms affecting the environment, addressed pavement encroachment, illegal garbage disposal. Environmental protection autonomous team at quarter 3, My Phuoc ward, Ben Cat town persuaded local households to protect hygiene, dispose garbage at right places, pay monthly garbage fee…

Through socialization of environmental protection autonomous teams, Binh Duong province has promoted power of the people in building, implementing Party's policies and State’s laws, common regulations and conventions in the field of environmental protection.

To enhance knowledge on environmental protection, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment organized training courses at localities, provided garbage cans. Every two years. the department also awarded environmental prizes to outstanding teams. Due to close collaboration in the implementation process, environmental protection autonomous teams contributed to fulfilling targets. 

Environmental protection movement in Binh Duong province has been taken care by the political system, the business community and the people. Therefore, Binh Duong has reached and surpassed targets set by the Central in the period 2015-2020.

Reported by H.Ai – Translated by Ngoc Huynh