According to research, Vietnam is the fourth country in the world (after China, Indonesia and the Philippines) in terms of the amount of plastic waste discharged into the ocean. On average, each year, Vietnam discharges from 300,000 to more than 700,000 tons of plastic waste into the ocean (accounting for 6% of the world).
Faced with this problem, the Prime Minister recently issued a National Action Plan on Ocean Plastic Waste Management by 2030. The overall goal is to effectively implement Vietnam's international commitments on addressing plastic waste issues, focusing on ocean plastic waste, ensuring the prevention of plastic waste discharge from land and sea.
Specifically, by 2030, Vietnam aims to reduce 75% of plastic waste at sea; 100% of lost or discarded fishing gear will be collected; 100% of coastal tourism service businesses will not use disposable plastic products and non-biodegradable plastic bags; 100% of marine protected areas will be free of plastic waste. In addition, the Government also requested the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to assess the current status of ocean plastic waste in some estuaries and 12 island districts every 5 years.
Vietnam's beach tourism "lost points" because of garbage.
To achieve the above goals, the Government has set out key tasks including: propaganda, raising awareness, changing behavior and responses to plastic products and ocean plastic waste; collecting, classifying, storing, transporting and treating waste and plastic waste from activities in coastal areas and at sea.
This plan contributes to implementing the national strategy on solid waste and plastic waste; promoting the collection, recycling and reuse of plastic waste in Vietnam; raising awareness, behavior and habits of using disposable plastic products and hard-to-decompose nylon bags among people.
People join hands to clean up trash on the beach.
The Prime Minister has assigned the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to play a key role in implementing this plan, and coordinate with the People's Committees of coastal provinces and centrally run cities to develop and pilot a management model, reduce and eventually eliminate the use of disposable plastic products and non-biodegradable nylon bags in coastal tourist areas. In addition, relevant ministries and localities will monitor the implementation of regulations on the collection and treatment of plastic waste generated from purely marine economic activities.
