Plastic waste pollution: Management solutions and scientific research

The event drew the participation of managers and scientists from the Environmental Science Institute under Vietnam Environment Administration; The Institute of Strategy and Policy on Natural Resources and Environment, the Institute for Environment and Resources under Vietnam National University, Hanoi; Hanoi University of Industry; the Vietnam Institute of Meteorology, Hydrology and Climate Change, and other units under VAST.

 At the beginning of the workshop, participants listened to a report on plastic waste pollution in Vietnam’s sea presented by Prof. Vu Thi Quynh Chi from the Marine Environment Monitoring Center under the Navy High Command. Vietnam is considered one of the countries with the largest amount of plastic waste discharged into the sea, about 1.8 million tons per year. In which, more than 80% of plastic waste comes from the mainland, the rest is plastic discharged directly at sea. Although Vietnam is one of the early countries to be acutely aware of the impact of plastic waste on the marine environment, and there have been many action programs for the marine environment and limiting plastic waste at sea, the reduction of plastic waste goes very slowly. Most people seem not to be aware of the dangers of plastic waste pollution and have not taken necessary action to protect the marine environment.

Not only causing environmental pollution, climate change, a large amount of plastic waste also has the potential to penetrate the human body and creatures. Prof. Mai Huong, a lecturer at the University of Science and Technology of Hanoi, made a presentation on micro-plastic in the environment: fragmented plastic debris, micro-plastics that are everywhere, directly affect aquatic organisms and keep coming back to impact human health through the food chain.

Photo: A number of participants presented presentations at the workshop

The delegates exchanged and shared about a number of directions for plastic waste disposal, as well as experience and policies on plastic waste management and control in countries around the world through the presentations: Research on Oxo additives to enhance the ability to disintegrate Polyolfin resins and their application products (Dr. Nguyen Trung Duc, Institute of Chemistry, VAST); Experience in policy on plastic waste management in Korea (Dr. Kim Ih Hwan, former Vice Minister of Korean Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment); International experience in marine plastic waste control (MA. Duong Phuong Anh, National Institute of Strategy and Policy on Natural Resources and Environment under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment); Applying economic tools in plastic waste management (MA. Tran Han Viet, Institute of Environmental Science under Vietnam Environment Administration).

 Several recyclable products from waste are on display at the workshop

Photos on plastic waste by various authors

In response to the environmental message, the delegates signed a commitment on the fight against plastic waste.

Scientists are also committed to launching the "say no to plastic waste" movement.

Translated by Tuyet Nhung
Link to Vietnamese version