Reduce plastic waste by concrete and practical actions

That is the guiding opinion of Mai Hung Dung, Member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee, Permanent Vice Chairman of Provincial People's Committee, at the Environment Day was held in Bau Bang district on June 6 in response to World Environment Day themed "Solutions for plastic pollution”. In 2023, Bau Bang district was assigned by the province to organize the Environment Day, an annual activity maintained to contribute to raising awareness of all classes of people in environmental protection.

Exciting activities

At the 2023 Environment Day, environmentally friendly products were displayed at booths of communes, towns, and businesses and attracted the attention of guests coming to the event. Specific, practical, and very creative models have created positive effects in propagation and raised community awareness about environmental protection, not only during festivals but also at following stages.

Stalls of Lai Uyen town, Hung Hoa commune, and Lai Hung commune had artistic products recycled from waste, making a strong impression. Plastic bottles, motorbike and car tires seem to be thrown away, but now create very beautiful products. Nguyen Van Binh, Vice Chairman of Hung Hoa Commune People's Committee, said that in response to the movement of waste production, the commune has implemented this idea to encourage local folks to take part in. The model will continue to be maintained and extensively applied. In addition, the commune also developed model flower routes, cleaned up streets, and received a joint effort from the people.

Mai Hung Dung and delegates visited an environmentally friendly product booth of Cheng Loong Binh Duong Paper Co., Ltd.

As a resident of Bau Bang quarter in Lai Uyen town, Truong Thi Lan Huong said: “This activity was implemented by women of this neighborhood, then we accumulated experience to share with other people. Making flower vases from plastic waste both saves costs and reduces waste for the environment.

As a company specializing in the production and recycling of paper into packaging, with a booth at the festival, Cheng Loong Binh Duong Paper Co., Ltd. brought some unique paper art products. Tran Le Nhat Giang, a company official in charge of environment, said: “Participating in this festival with products made from recycled paper products, we want to send a message that let’s switch to a circular economy. Waste recycling and reuse will reduce environmental pollution and reduce the cost burden for society.

At the festival, there were also stalls of green food that displayed agricultural products from farmers' and women's associations, also attracting many visitors. Besides, there were programs of exchanging garbage for gifts, interactive games with the environment, also contributing to the success of the festival. Nguyen Phuong Vy, a resident of Bau Bang neighborhood, said: “Today I came here to participate in the program of exchanging garbage for gifts, visiting stalls, I found the program very meaningful. Thereby, it will contribute to raising people's awareness of sorting waste at source, being more environmentally responsible."

Building a lifestyle in harmony with nature

Speaking at the environment festival, Mai Hung Dung said that over the past two years, despite being affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, Binh Duong's economy is gradually recovering, continuing to develop and achieve outstanding results. In parallel with that development process, the risk of environmental pollution and degradation is increasing, in which the risk of environmental pollution due to the increase in solid waste and plastic and nylon waste arising from the industrialization and urbanization in the province is very large. According to statistics, the province generates about 2,200 tons of domestic waste and 2,800 tons of industrial waste, of which nylon and plastic waste accounts for about 300 tons/day. The amount of recyclable plastic waste in the province is still low, only about 10%. This poses many challenges and burdens in dealing with pollution caused by plastic waste.

According to Mr. Mai Hung Dung, responding to World Environment Day 2023 with the theme "Solution to plastic pollution”, the goal is to build a sustainable lifestyle, in harmony with nature, to solve the problem of plastic waste pollution in the province. All levels, branches, and mass organizations in the province should actively respond to the call and launch movements to reduce plastic waste with specific, practical, and effective actions. In the series of events in response to World Environment Day, localities, agencies, mass organizations have implemented many effective programs and activities, contributing to raising awareness and motivating actions of the community on environmental protection in the province.

Bau Bang district has also focused on economic development in parallel with environmental protection work. Prominent in activities to respond to World Environment Day this year, the district has carried out emulation movements in schools, neighborhoods, and hamlets with the aim of improving the awareness of environmental protection. Additionally, the district organized the launch of model roads, green schools - green zones, green hamlets... After launching, these programs have received enthusiastic support and consensus from teachers, students, officials, and people in the area. Nguyen Van Thuong, Vice Chairman of Bau Bang District People's Committee, said that the district has actively implemented many solutions to improve environmental quality, resolutely handled pollution cases, encouraged 100% district agencies, departments, People's Committees of communes and towns sign a commitment to reduce plastic waste... 

Reported by Tien Hanh - Translated by Ngoc Huynh