Hoi An City, in central Quang Nam Province, has given the go ahead to a rubbish management project to improve the environment of Cu Lao Cham island, where waste treatment has become an urgent problem over the past years.
The project, worth VND800 million ($47,000), is aimed at systematically managing garbage on the island, creating a basis for developing an ecological island region.Around 1,300kg of garbage is discharged each day in Tan Hiep Commune where Cu Lao Cham is situated."People here often throw rubbish into the sea. Garbage released from fishing boats and ships also causes pollution of the sea," said Phan Hung, a local citizen.Under the project, rubbish will be classified into two main categories - organic garbage and inorganic garbage. Biodegradable garbage will be composted, while inorganic wastes will be compacted and transported to the mainland.Construction of garbage compactors at Bai Lang Hamlet, Tan Hiep Commune, where the largest volume of wastes is discharged each day, is scheduled to begin mid-September, with an expected capacity of 200kg of inorganic garbage per day.According to Tran Thi Hong Thuy, deputy director of the management board of the Cu Lao Cham marine reserve, the management board is training technicians to effectively operate the system.For long-term effect, a complete composting system will be built to help improve waste treatment and reduce the amount of rubbish transported to the mainland.Forty-seven organic composting containers will be built at Bai Huong, Bai Lang, Bai Ong and Thon Cam.The Natural Resources and Environment Bureau of Hoi An City has invested VND350 million ($20,600) in building a ship to transport garbage and VND40 million ($230) in buying garbage trucks."Addressing the rubbish issue in Tan Hiep Commune is the top priority of Hoi An City. The city will create favourable conditions to put the project into operation," said vice chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Van Dung.The project is being implemented by the management board of the Cu Lao Cham marine reserve, the natural resources and environment bureau of Hoi An City and Tan Hiep Commune’s People’s Committee.
