South-central provinces press ahead with plastic waste fight
Coastal provinces in the south-central region like Quang Ngai, Phu Yen and Binh Dinh have been busily tackling plastic waste in a bid to protect their marine environment.
Hon Yen coral reef in Phu Yen (Source: Industry and Trade Magazine)
Quang Ngai (VNA) – Coastal provinces in the south-central region like Quang Ngai, Phu Yen and Binh Dinh have been busily tacklingplastic waste in a bid to protect their marine environment.
Statistics from the Ministry of Natural Resources andEnvironment showed that Vietnam annually disposes between 0.28 and 0.73 milliontonnes of plastic waste to the sea, of which only 27% are recycled and reused.
In its resolution dated October 22, 2018, on a sustainabledevelopment strategy of Vietnam's marine economy to 2030, the 13th Party Central Committee set a goal for coastal localities tocollect and treat 100% of their hazardous waste and daily-life solid waste upto environmental standards.
In August 2020, the Quang Ngai People’s Committee issued aplan on marine plastic waste management for 2021-2025, aiming to halve the amountof the waste and push the number of tourism-service businesses sayingno to single-use plastic products and non-biodegradable plastic bags to 70%.
To this end, a host of measures has so far been carried out,focusing on the development of related human resources, finance, and technology,with polluters subject to hefty fines.
Quang Ngai has determined to control and treat plastic wasteat the source; and work toward completely eliminating plastic waste and hard-to-decompose plastic bags at trade centres and supermarkets. It ispreparing infrastructure serving a plan for sorting waste at source andgoing to collect household waste fees across localities simultaneously.
Meanwhile, Phu Yen has sought cooperation with internationalorganisations to implement myriad environmental protection projects, includingthose on public capacity building serving the conservation of the Hon Yen coralreefs, and plastic waste collection at sea with the consent of the fishingcommunity.
Notably, a project on plastic waste management for 2022-2025, sponsored by theWorld Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Vietnam, is underway in Phu Yen, initially witnessingthe formation of such green models as no-plastic-waste schools and waste-sortinglocations in wet markets and residential areas.
Serving the similar cause, Binh Dinh and the United NationsDevelopment Programme (UNDP) have signed a memorandum of understanding on multi-sectoralcooperation, which involves their teamwork in circular economy and wastemanagement, blue economy, climate change adaptation, and biodiversity, amongmany other fields./.
Green consumption is considered one of the effective measures to minimise the discharge of plastic waste to the environment and encourage sustainable production and consumption, according to experts.
A project on reducing plastic waste in the Vietnamese tourism sector was launched on February 16 with the support of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Vietnam.
The Vietnamese government has focused on dealing with plastic waste pollution and ocean plastic waste in recent years by renewing legal documents and policies on environmental protection.
Under the directive, the PM instructed relevant agencies to regularly inspect, supervise and proactively implement disaster prevention, response and rescue measures in line with their assigned roles and mandates, ensuring readiness, avoiding passivity or delays, and maintaining operational continuity amid ongoing political and administrative restructuring at levels.
According to Dr. Vu Anh Tuan, Deputy Director General of the Vietnam Space Centre and head of the project, this is the first study in Vietnam to simultaneously employ Sentinel-2 satellite data, advanced machine learning algorithms, and the Google Earth Engine (GEE) cloud computing platform to model and monitor key seawater quality parameters.
The Deposit Return System is seen as a potential instrument for effectively advancing Vietnam’s vision of a circular economy, as outlined in Article 142 of the 2020 Law on Environmental Protection.
The figures were highlighted in a Pre-Feasibility Study on a DRS tailored for single-use beverage packaging in Vietnam, conducted by Eunomia Research & Consulting.
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Saigon Hi-Tech Park’s ambitious 50% renewable energy goal far exceeds the city’s 15% target, positioning the park as a trailblazing “living lab” for sustainable energy solutions.
Vietnam's economic losses from natural disasters are estimated to account for 1 to 1.5% of GDP annually - a steep price that will continue to rise unless the country takes strong action.
Wutip, the first storm in the East Sea so far this year, has wreaked havoc across central Vietnam, claiming lives, displacing residents, and causing widespread damage to houses, crops, and infrastructure, the Department of Dyke Management and Disaster Prevention and Control reported as of 6:30 pm on June 13.
The tremor occurred at 7:39:46 am (Hanoi time), with the epicentre located at latitude 14.924°N and longitude 108.236°E, at a depth of approximately 8.1 kilometres. The natural disaster risk level was classified as 0 – the lowest on the scale.
Addressing a session on “Accelerating Financing for Resilience: Tailored Solutions for Disaster Risk Reduction,” Deputy Minister Hiep emphasised Vietnam's proposal in building sustainable financing in response to natural disasters, which aligns with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction's goals.
Vietnam has demonstrated its strong commitments by participating in global sustainable development forums, signing multiple free trade agreements, and attracting support from international partners for the implementation of the SDGs.
The fight against plastic pollution could not succeed through isolated efforts, but it must be a collective endeavour involving the entire political system, businesses, citizens, and the international community, said Minister of Agriculture and Environment Do Duc Duy.
Lang Son Global Geopark, with its outstanding geological values, cultural heritage, and unique natural landscapes, represents a valuable addition to UNESCO’s global geoparks system.
In 2019, Quang Ninh became one of the first localities in Vietnam to launch a province-wide campaign against plastic waste, mobilising the participation of the political system, the business sector, and the general public. Other localities—such as Hai Phong, Da Nang, Binh Duong, and Ho Chi Minh City—have also effectively implemented waste-sorting initiatives at source, along with models for plastic-free markets and urban areas.
This year’s World Oceans Day on June 8 is themed 'Wonderful Oceans: Sustaining What Sustains Us', while World Environment Day is on June 5 with the theme: 'Beat Plastic Pollution'.
According to Director of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Environment Le Huu Toan, a fire prevention and control plan has been in place since the dry season began, including round-the-clock patrols and rapid-response teams to snuff out fires before they could spread.
Renowned artists including Ha Anh Tuan, Den Vau, and Phan Manh Quynh, along with many directors and attendees, took part in planting hundreds of rare tree species such as mun (Diospyros mun) and cho chi (Parashorea chinensis) in the Thung Bong area of the Cuc Phuong National Park, contributing to forest ecosystem restoration.
The dispatch noted that since the beginning of 2025, natural disasters have claimed 29 lives and left several others missing. A total of 67 houses have collapsed, and 2,342 homes have been unroofed or damaged.
Hon Yen coral reef in Phu Yen (Source: Industry and Trade Magazine) 
Illustrative photo (Source: baotainguyenmoitruong.vn) 
