Plastic pollution, also known as “white” pollution caused by single-use plastics, is a major environmental challenge in many countries around the world, including Vietnam. Worryingly, plastic waste is negatively affecting wildlife, ecosystems, and human health. We need to take more drastic and timely actions to reduce these negative impacts.
The rapid increase in population, economic development, science and technology with new and more convenient materials have significantly increased the volume of plastic products used annually in Vietnam. Statistics from the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment show that about 1.8 million tonnes of plastic waste are discharged into the environment each year in Vietnam. Of which, 0.28 to 0.73 million tonnes are discharged into the sea, and only 27% of plastic waste is recycled and reused by facilities and businesses.
Vietnam is facing many risks from plastic waste, with each household using an average of 1 kg of nylon per month. The two major cities of Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh City alone discharge an average of 80 tonnes of plastic waste and nylon bags into the environment every day.
Meanwhile, the treatment and recycling of plastic waste is still limited, with up to 90% being treated by burying, filling, and burning, and only the remaining 10% being recycled, leading to a "burden" on the environment, and possibly even leading to a "white pollution" disaster.
According to experts in the field of natural resources and environment, plastic waste often exists in the form of objects such as straws, bottles, nylon bags, which are substances synthesised from organic chemicals (such as PE plastic). Plastic waste that is not properly treated will directly affect the air and water environment. Specifically, burning plastic waste will produce toxic substances such as dioxin and furan, which pollute the air, cause poisoning, affect the endocrine system, reduce immunity, and cause cancer.
When burying plastic waste, the soil will not be able to retain water and nutrients and oxygen is prevented from passing through the soil, causing negative impacts on plant growth. Meanwhile, it can take a long time for plastic waste to decompose - from hundreds to thousands of years.
Therefore, when it accumulates too much or is scattered on water and soil surfaces, it will cause white pollution, which greatly affects animals, microorganisms, and humans.
Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Le Cong Thanh said: Along with other countries in the world, Vietnam has issued many policies aimed at reducing plastic waste. Notably, the Law on Environmental Protection 2020 has stipulated extended producer responsibility (EPR) as an important step forward in Vietnam's environmental policy to require manufacturers and importers to be responsible for collecting, recycling and treating their products and packaging after they are discarded by consumers, including plastic products and packaging.
In addition, Decree No. 08/2022/ND-CP, which details a number of articles of the Law on Environmental Protection, also clearly states: From January 1, 2026, Vietnam will not produce and import non-biodegradable plastic bags smaller than 50cm x 50cm; and after December 31, 2030, it will stop producing and importing single-use plastic products and non-biodegradable plastic packaging.
To strictly implement the provisions of the law on reducing the use of plastic waste discharged into the environment, functional units need to promptly review, research, propose to issue or issue under their authority regulations on plastic waste management; research and propose a roadmap to limit the production and import of single-use plastic products, non-biodegradable plastic packaging, and products and goods containing microplastics.
They should also propose regulations on the recycling responsibility of manufacturers and importers of plastic products and plastic packaging, and regulations on eco-labels for environmentally friendly plastic bags and environmentally friendly products according to regulations. Focus is also being placed on research, application and transfer of technology for recycling plastic waste and production of environmentally friendly products to replace non-biodegradable plastic bags and disposable plastic products.
Environmental experts recommend that the government, ministries, branches and local authorities soon issue regulations, mechanisms and preferential policies for environmentally friendly manufacturing enterprises and recycling enterprises.
It is necessary to strengthen research and transfer of advanced technology to recycle plastic waste into useful, environmentally friendly products; promote the development of infrastructure and services for collecting and recycling plastic waste; and collect, classify and treat domestic solid waste and plastic waste at the source.
Meanwhile, localities need to build and replicate effective models in organising the collection, classification and treatment of domestic waste and plastic waste at the source.
At the same time, it is necessary to commend and reward organisations, individuals, communities and businesses with outstanding achievements and initiatives in environmental protection activities, especially solutions and initiatives to reduce plastic waste within their families, communities, and units.
Trung Tuyen - Translated by NDO
