Plastic waste is a global environmental threat. Together with other countries in the world, Vietnam is making efforts to eliminate pollution caused by plastic waste. The goal is to reduce the number of biodegradable plastic bags by 65% ​​in supermarkets and large trade centers by 2020. So change your behavior, the habit of using plastic bags, persistent, disposable plastic products today and now.

Currently, 1 million plastic bottles are sold every minute in the world, 5,000 billion plastic bags are consumed every year, and in Vietnam, on average, each household uses about 1 kg of plastic bags / month. . Particularly in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, the average daily releases about 80 tons of plastic and nylon. It is worrisome that it takes hundreds, even thousands of years, the plastic and plastic wastes to decompose, directly affecting human health, threatening ecosystems and development. sustainability of each country.

According to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, the current situation of plastic and plastic bags pollution is very serious, the amount of plastic waste and plastic bags in Vietnam is still very high, accounting for about 8-12%. in domestic solid waste. The world has assessed that the proportion of plastic waste generated by middle-income countries like Vietnam accounts for 12% of the generated solid waste. If an average of 10% of plastic waste and plastic bags are not reused but completely discarded, the amount of plastic waste and plastic bags in Vietnam will be approximately 2.5 million tons / year. The amount of plastic waste and plastic bags is increasing year by year. This is a “burden” for the environment, even leading to a disaster that environmental experts call a “white pollution”.

At the same time, Vietnam’s plastic recycling sector has not been developed. The rate of waste sorting at source is very low. For example, Ho Chi Minh City, each year about 250,000 tons of plastic waste is generated; of which, 48,000 tons were buried in landfills (mostly plastic of low value) accounting for 19.2%; The remaining more than 200,000 tons of plastic waste is recycled or discharged directly into the environment. It is worth mentioning that the plastic recycling technology used in Vietnam’s major cities is outdated, inefficient, high in cost and polluting the environment. In addition, recycling of plastic waste has not been organized on a large scale, mainly by small businesses, so the efficiency is low. Meanwhile, the habit of people using plastic bags and plastic disposable items is increasing. It is worrying that people still do not have the habit of classifying daily waste, and the mix of plastic waste, especially nylon, is relatively common. This makes the disposal of plastic waste more difficult.

Not only that, the world is also facing about 4.8-12.7 million tons from the continent to the ocean every year. According to the research results, Vietnam ranked 4th in the world in terms of plastic waste to the sea, with 0.28 – 0.73 million tons per year (equivalent to 6% of the total plastic waste discharged into the sea by the country). world). A recent report at the Davos Conference in Switzerland startled us when we knew that the estimated amount of plastic waste going into the sea by 2050 would be more than the fish (by weight), seriously threatening. to the ecosystem and the ocean environment.

Plastic waste is daily, hourly, negatively impacting on the ecosystem, environment, human health and sustainable development of each country. If we do not have effective and timely solutions, the negative impacts of plastic waste will become very serious.

Vietnam joins hands with the international community to “tackle plastic and plastic pollution”

To address the global threats from plastic and plastic waste, in 2018, the United Nations launched the theme “Resolving plastic and plastic pollution” to propagate, advocate and appeal to everyone. change the habit of using disposable plastic products, minimize environmental pollution and protect human health.

In the framework of the World Economic Forum in 2018, the problem of solving plastic waste pollution has been affirmed by the Heads of States and leaders of multinational corporations as a global concern. Strong commitment to fight against plastic waste. Many countries around the world have taken specific actions to reduce and ban the use of some non-environmentally friendly plastic products. At the same time, enhance recycling, reuse and recycling of plastic waste.

As a developing country, Vietnam faces many problems of degradation, environmental pollution, climate change, sea level rise, especially pollution due to plastic waste, or “pollution.” white”. The amount of plastic waste is increasing if we do not have effective and timely solutions, the negative impacts from plastic waste will become very serious.

Being aware of this issue, in recent years, the Government and the Prime Minister have drastically directed the implementation of policies and strategies to control environmental pollution caused by the use of plastic bags.