Reducing the use of plastic bags in Hoi An - A success story rooted from the consensus of the people

THE HIGHLIGHT OF CHAM ISLAND

Cham Islands consist of 8 large and small islands in the bow shape extending over 15 km², about 19 km from Hoi An ancient town. In 2009, Cham Islands were recognized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as the world’s Biosphere Reserve (BR) with diverse and abundant natural and marine ecological values. 

In the past, plastic bags, together with domestic waste, waste from tourism and fishing activities in Cham Islands, were all discharged into the sea, polluting the environment. Under this situation, in May 2009, Hoi An City, in cooperation with the People's Committee of Tan Hiep Commune (the core zone of the Biosphere Reserve), launched the campaign "Cham Islands say no to plastic bags", mobilizing the active participation of people, especially women, with the aim to protect the environment and the biodiversity in Cham Islands.

With the determination of the leaders of the city, the efforts of the Tan Hiep Commune and the people's willingness, the campaign was successfully implemented with many practical activities to minimize plastic bags on the islands. In order to gradually change the habit of using plastic bags of the people, the commune has set up a 10-member working group to regularly communicate and persuade people not to use plastic bags; at the same time, the policy of reducing the use of plastic bags was included in the Resolution of the People's Council and as a criterion for selection of "Cultural Family". In addition, the commune also developed broadcasting programs for the public on the harms of plastic bags; putting up signs, panels, posters on the road, and the wharf, etc., with the slogan "For Cham Islands, for the blue sea and green islands"; "Shopping with baskets - the style of housewives"; "Save on the packaging is environmental protection", etc. Households, businesses and service establishments in Cham Islands must sign a commitment not to use plastic bags at home, and not to distribute plastic bags to buyers.  In early 2010, the People's Committee of Tan Hiep Commune established an inter-branch inspection team to supervise and handle administrative violations in the use of plastic bags. Businesses violating will be fined between 1-2 million VND; small traders will be fined from 300,000 to 500,000 VND; households shall be reminded and criticized before the entire neighborhood, while being removed of the title "Cultural Family”.

Besides issuing legal regulations, the People's Committee of Tan Hiep Commune also provides thousands of plastic baskets and ecologically- degradable bags for households and businesses on the islands. People also actively use net bags, banana leaves, taro leaves, cages, baskets from bamboo, etc., to keep food and goods. Furthermore, women, union members, and youth members in the commune also have the "idea" to use old books and newspapers to make paper bags for packaging. Tourists to Cham Islands are also reminded not to use plastic bags and provided with ecological bags and paper bags for using.

At the tourist attractions and resorts, after serving tourists, staff shall collect and classify waste carefully. All plastic bags and non-degradable waste are transported by specialized boats from Cham Islands to the mainland for treatment. The boat looks like a tourist boat, with a basement of about 8 - 9 m³ of waste, made of stainless steel and has a filter that does not allow the leachate to leak into the sea. In addition, Cham Islands are equipped with 5 waste trucks and basket boats to collect waste on the sea. For the convenience of collecting, people also bunch up hundreds of bamboo together, shielding the edges of the water to prevent waste and plastic bags on the sea from getting in between the rocks.

Thanks to these positive and meaningful activities, the Campaign "Cham Islands say no to plastic bags" has succeeded, contributing to making a great lesson on the consensus between the authorities and the people in environmental protection. The green, clean and beautiful environment in Cham Islands is something that any tourist coming to Cham Islands can feel. The saying no to plastic bags in Cham Islands not only creates a unique tourism product, but also contributes to environmental protection and biodiversity conservation in the Biosphere Reserve area.

SPREADING TO THE WHOLE CITY OF HOI AN

From the experience of the "saying no to plastic bags" in Cham Islands, the authority of Hoi An City has made efforts to replicate the model. On September 9, 2009, for the first time, Hoi An City launched the movement "No Plastic Bags Day" and every year, on this day, the city organizes many practical activities to minimize the use of plastic bags in the city. In 2010, the city implemented the pilot program "Reducing the use of plastic bags" in the area of ​​Minh An Ward and Hoi An Market. By 2014, Hoi An launched the program across the city for not only one day but every day, the city residents will gradually eliminate the habit of using plastic bags. With that determination, the city has promoted and diversified forms of information, education and communication (IEC), in order to raise awareness for people in reducing the use of plastic bags such as putting up banners, panels, posters, handing out leaflets; holding public meetings, seminars, training; dissemination through the radio system of the city, communes, wards; developing and implementing self-management models and programs on environmental protection, in which the content of minimizing the use of plastic bags is included. Mass organizations such as Veterans Association and Women’s Union at all levels also organize many programs such as folding paper bags for women in small businesses, mobilizing members to register in, handing out shopping baskets, replacing plastic bags, etc. Not only the mass organizations, the program of "Reducing the use of plastic bags" in Hoi An has also attracted businesses, hotels and restaurants in the city to enthusiastically respond, contributing to replace plastic bags with environmentally- friendly types of bags.

Through the IEC and implementation of activities in the past 10 years in Hoi An, the program has created positive effects in environmental protection, gradually removing the habit of using plastic bags of the people, businesses and service establishments, building the green - clean - beautiful image of Hoi An. The lesson from reducing the use of plastic bags in Hoi An is a good example for localities to study and contribute to the implementation of Vietnam's commitment to work with the international community in managing plastic waste, reducing and eliminating disposable plastic products.

The Youth Union in the commune presents paper bags to small traders in the market

People use paper bags to replace plastic bags

People in Hoi An City receive degradable plastic bags

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