In recent years, Hanoi has implemented a number of solutions aimed to reduce plastic waste, Deputy Director of the municipal Department of Natural Resources and Environment (DONRE) Le Tuan Dinh said at a meeting on November 5.

Deputy Director of the municipal Department of Natural Resources and Environment (DONRE) Le Tuan Dinh speaks at the meeting. Photo: Kinhtedothi.vn

The local government has issued a plan on Hanoi's sustainable production and consumption program by 2020. In particular, the city required services, industrial production and trade sectors to implement waste reduction and recycling models.

Besides, the government has asked administrative agencies, socio-political organizations and non-business units to reduce disposable plastic products in meetings, conferences, seminars and other activities from September 1, 2019.

Hanoi also set the target that 100% of organizations directly under the municipal People's Committee will not use persistent plastic bags and disposable plastic products, limit 80% of persistent plastic products from November 2019.

In order to promote efficiency of plastic waste reduction in Hanoi, DONRE has partnered with the municipal Department of Education and Training to implement the program of collecting, sorting and recycling milk cartons in some schools in the city in ​​the 2019-2020 academic year.

Currently, the program has been implemented in 637 schools in 16 districts and towns in the city such as Hoan Kiem, Cau Giay, Dan Phuong, Chuong My, My Duc, Thanh Oai, Phuc Tho, Son Tay and Hoang. Mai, Gia Lam, Me Linh, Dong Anh, Soc Son and Nam Tu Liem.

In the time ahead, DONRE will continue to improve and synchronize mechanisms, policies and legal documents on plastic waste prevention. From now to 2020, the department will focus on building and implementing the program of controlling plastic waste in accordance with the plans issued by the local authority.

According to a United Nations report in 2018, Vietnam ranked 17th out of 109 countries with a high level of plastic waste pollution in the world, 80% of waste discharged into ocean comes from inland activities.

“Hanoi generates 4,000 to 5,000 tons of garbage per day, of which an average 80 tons of plastic and nylon bags are discharged into the environment,” Deputy Director of the Hanoi Agency of Environmental Protection Luu Thi Thanh Chi said.