On December 16th, 2023, in Phu Quoc city, Kien Giang province, the Vietnam Department of Seas and Islands coordinated with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF-VN) to organize the annual conference of the Reducing Ocean Plastic Waste Project 2023. The conference was chaired by Mr. Nguyễn Đức Toàn – Director of the Vietnam Department of Seas and Islands and Ms. Nguyễn Thị Diệu Thúy – Project Director of Reducing Ocean Plastic Waste and had the participation of nearly 80 delegates from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, provinces, cities and marine protected areas, National Parks participating in the Project.
The aims of the Reducing Ocean Plastic Waste Project annual conference are to share the results of the Project’s activities; Review, evaluate, and propose solutions to promote progress and improve project implementation efficiency; Discuss and agree on directions for implementing expected activities in 2024, toward the end of the project to develop and implement a local plastic waste management plan.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Mr. Nguyễn Đức Toàn, Director of the Vietnam Department of Seas and Islands, shared that “The Project was deployed more extensively and comprehensively in 2023. It led to many positive results in contributing to the process of implementing the Law on Environmental Protection 2020, decrees, and circulars under the law related to solid waste and plastic waste management. Notably, through the Project, many activities, programs, and models have created strong spillovers and effects, greatly contributing to raising awareness of the community and relevant parties in reducing minimizing, and preventing plastic waste from going to the environment”.
At the conference, delegates also reported on the results of the Project’s activities and expressed difficulties and challenges with the system of policies, project implementation mechanisms, propaganda, and advocacy programs from local authorities. Besides, opinions also say that many of the Project’s activities will face challenges in maintaining effectiveness without the beneficiary’s interest in protecting and promoting achievements, especially after the Project ends.
Figure 1: Overview of the annual conference
As one of three marine protected areas benefiting from the Project, Cham Islands Marine Protected Area has directly participated in and implemented Project activities since 2020. After nearly four years of implementation, many Programs, activities, and models were organized, established, and highly appreciated by WWF-VN for their novelty and effectiveness, such as communication programs to raise awareness for the community and tourists; activities to collect recyclable waste in school and plastic waste at sea through the “Ocean House” model. In particular, the bright spot is the “Material Recovery Facility” (MRF) Model. This is a model of garbage collection, gathering, and treatment combined with environmental education. With an initial pilot scale of 30 households in Bai Ong village (Tan Hiep commune), there are currently 203 households participating in two MRF models in Bai Ong and Bai Huong, accounting for 33.5% of the total number of households in the commune. Up to now, about 44 tons of trash have been collected, of which more than 40% (mainly organic waste) has been processed into compost and biological detergent. This result not only contributes to reducing the waste sent for treatment at the Eo Gio landfill but also creates products to serve the locals. Besides, this model is also an ideal environmental education venue for students, communities, and other localities to visit and learn about waste (in 2023, there will be 4 delegations from many different countries). Provinces: Thua Thien Hue, Phu Yen, and National Parks, Marine Protected Areas: Con Dao, Phu Quoc, Con Co and localities in Hoi An City; 02 groups of students belonging to the Club I Love the Green Island Children from Quang Trung Primary and Secondary School came to visit and study this model).
Figure 2, 3, 4, 5: MRF model in Cu Lao Cham
Figure 2, 3, 4, 5: MRF model in Cu Lao Cham
Figure 2, 3, 4, 5: MRF model in Cu Lao Cham
Figure 2, 3, 4, 5: MRF model in Cu Lao Cham
Figure 6: Biological detergent product
The “Reducing Ocean Plastic Waste in Vietnam” project was approved by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment in Decision No. 1462/QD-BTNMT dated July 2, 2020. The project aims to contribute to the implementation of Decision No. 1407/QD-TTg dated August 16, 2021, of the Prime Minister on approving the Project for Vietnam to proactively prepare and participate in building a Global Agreement on Pollution ocean plastic and Decision No. 1746/QD-TTg dated December 4, 2019 of the Prime Minister on promulgating the National Action Plan on ocean plastic waste management until 2030, while promoting the Build and effectively deploy models for managing household solid waste and reducing plastic waste in Vietnam.
The project was officially approved and implemented at the Central level; 07 provinces/cities include Ha Tinh (Ha Tinh City), Quang Binh (Dong Hoi City), Thua Thien Hue (A Luoi), Da Nang, Phu Yen, Long An (Tan An), Kien Giang (Rach Gia) and 03 Marine protected areas: Con Dao, Phu Quoc and Cu Lao Cham. The project’s expected implementation time is from 2020 to mid-2025.
Thùy Hương