Thai Binh put more effort into reducing plastic waste

In order to minimize, prevent and avoid the harmful effects of plastic waste generated from agroproduction, on November 23 in Thai Binh, the Department of Science, Technology and Environment (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development), in collaboration with Thai Binh Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, held a meeting with the theme "Propaganda on reducing, collecting, sorting and reusing plastic waste in agriculture".

Agroproduction in recent years has achieved great results, expanding production scale, applying high technology, organic and environment-friendly models, ensuring biosecurity and disease safety, using resources with great efficiency, adapting to climate change, meeting high requirements on food quality and safety for domestic consumption and export.

However, according to Ms. Nguyen Giang Thu, Deputy Director of the Department of Science, Technology and Environment, agroproduction has also left behind certain effects on the environment, creating a large amount of plastic waste in particular. Information from the 2020 National Environment Status Report showed that an estimated 438,000 kg of packages and bottles of pesticides had been collected with a destruction rate of 79%.

The movement "Say no to plastic waste" has been deployed in many localities over the past period and achieved positive results. Among the localities, Thai Binh stands out as a pioneer province and has achieved many great feats. Some models such as "Clean field - collection of pesticide packaging", “Separation and treatment of household waste”, and “Limit the use of plastic bags” has attracted the participation of local people and brought many practical benefits. And Quynh Phu district is a typical locality participating in those movements.

“The People's Committee of Quynh Hai commune has been implementing and coming up with activities to preserve hygiene and protect the environment at every home, school, residential community, production area. The movements of ‘green, clean and beautiful’, planting trees, building flower routes are held regularly. Many activities have received a wide response from the people. The whole community actively joins with authorities at all levels to implement environmental sanitation, contributing to environmental protection in the province," said Mr. Do Cong Chuan, Chairman of Quynh Hai Commune People's Committee.

At the event, Mr. Do Cong Chuan called for the attention and active participation of mass organizations, authorities at all levels, socio-political organizations and the people to continue implementing measures to protect the environment. Some of the focus include:

- Monitoring the use of single-use plastic products, plastic bags for the environment and human health; building, improving efficiency and replicating self-management models themed on environmental protection, collection, classification and treatment of plastic waste in the field.

- Periodically and regularly organize campaigns in response to the environmental sanitation movement in fields and canals. Each citizen continues to change the habit of using non-biodegradable plastic bags and disposable plastic products in daily activities and agroproduction, using eco-friendly products.

- Party committees at all levels continue to pay attention to and direct the implementation of the movements. Each party member should raise responsibility and set an example in their residence.

Mentioning some solutions to reduce plastic waste, raise people's awareness to limit the use of inputs made from plastic, Mr. Do Cong Chuan said, “We have propagated, promoted training, put IPM and organic fertilizing production programs in practice, increase product value and income for farmers. Regarding the use of fertilizers and pesticides, we now use microbiological materials, which are toxin-reducing drugs to shorten the soil isolation time, thereby ensuring product safety standards."

In the process of applying technologies, people used products such as nylon to cover the soil before planting. So in order to reduce the use of plastic, the People's Committee of Quynh Hai commune has directed the people to use nylon coverage with good durability, capable of being used in production for 2-3 years before needing to be replaced. Every time they change, people will collect and process them.

"We have collected and contracted with a waste treatment company which comes every three months. We build storage tanks and assign teams to collect trash monthly, and then transport them to the commune’s concentrated landfill. When the company comes back, the trash will be transported and handed over to the company," said Mr. Do Cong Chuan.