Reducing ocean plastic pollution: Need a synchronous solution
Challenges in solid waste management
Plastic waste flooded Dam Nai beach (Khanh Hai town, Ninh Hai district, Ninh Thuan province). Photo: Nguyen Thanh/VNA
Currently, Vietnam is a country with a high rate of ocean plastic waste, plus water pollution, so it is expected that Vietnam will lose 3.5% of its gross domestic product (GDP) by 2035, along with climate change and natural disasters are forecasted to affect 11% of Vietnam's GDP by 2030. The negative impacts of human development activities on the environment and ecosystems on river basins and in coastal areas are increasing, especially when the population and demand for resources are rising.
Vu Gia - Thu Bon river basin and Quang Nam - Da Nang coastal area play an important role in the life and socio-economic development of Quang Nam province and Da Nang city. Besides water resources, the Vu Gia - Thu Bon river basin and the Quang Nam - Da Nang coast have many other resources such as minerals, forests, aquatic resources, and tourism... as a basis for the promotion of economic development, tourism, hydropower development potential... These are the driving forces for the growth of the central key economic region and become a model for the future development of the urban chain in the Central region (city facing the sea).
According to Ms. Bui Thi Thu Hien, Coordinator of the Sea and Coastal Program, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in Vietnam, during the field survey in the basin and upper coast, the study found that solid waste management is still ineffective. The ease of use of single-use plastics and low awareness among the people are the main reasons leading to the emission of plastic waste into the environment, water bodies, and hence into the ocean environment. The ease of use of single-use plastics and low awareness among the people are the main reasons leading to the emission of plastic waste into the environment, water bodies, and from there into the ocean environment. Informal recyclers (collecting, buying, selling scrap) only collect high-value plastic waste, with no significant impact on reducing plastic emissions at the source.
Currently, the landfills in the above areas do not have much space to store garbage, leading to a high risk of solid waste, especially plastic waste, into the environment, from there to water bodies and the marine environment. In addition, financial allocation for districts and communes to organize and manage waste properly is still lacking. In rural and mountainous areas, there is still a problem of illegal dumping of garbage on bare land, riverbanks, and coasts. At the same time, in these areas, the use of disposable plastic bags and packaging tends to increase due to convenience and low cost, leading to an increase in plastic waste that easily enters the environment and waterways.
In addition, research by the IUCN in Vietnam shows that, in this area, domestic solid waste services in urban areas have not integrated the classification of plastics and recyclable materials. Collection facilities also do not accept low-market, valueless plastic materials.
Currently, a large amount of solid waste from the upstream Vu Gia - Thu Bon river basin is affecting communities downstream in Quang Nam province and Da Nang city, especially in the rainy and flood seasons. Along with that, people's awareness about garbage dumped into the sea and plastic pollution is still low; regulatory frameworks and policies to limit and reduce the production and use of plastics (especially single-use plastics) have not been implemented.
Master Dang Nguyen Thuc Anh, Department of Natural Resources and Environment of Da Nang city, said that in recent years, the situation of strong economic development activities along with the approach to managing water resources has not been completely suitable. The case is becoming a factor that reduces the function of the basin, a factor that may hinder the socio-economic development of Da Nang city and Quang Nam province in the future. At the same time, with the development of hydropower, conflicts in the allocation and use of water resources between hydropower and related industries have not been satisfactorily resolved. Besides, there is a big change in the natural flow regime in an unfavorable direction, increasing the risk of floods in the rainy season, water shortage, and deeper saline intrusion than in the dry season. Along with that, the fact that most of the silt and sediment transported to the downstream and coastal areas has been changed, unbalancing the river dynamics and coastal ocean currents, which is one of the main reasons for the increasing process of riverbank erosion and coastal erosion. In addition, watershed deforestation, and illegal exploitation of gold, sand, and gravel on the river are also factors causing the degradation and depletion of water resources, changing the flow, and erosion of riverbanks, greatly affecting not only the water resources but also the natural ecosystem…
In the coming time, the People's Committee of Quang Nam Province and the People's Committee of Da Nang City will establish a Joint Coordination Committee to deal with inter-provincial and inter-regional issues in the management of the Vu Gia - Thu Bon river basin and the Quang Nam – Da Nang coastal area.
A synchronous solution is required
Youth Union of the University of Natural Sciences, Giao Thuy District Union, Nam Dinh Newspaper, Xuan Thuy National Park Management Board clean up the beach at Giao Hai commune, Giao Thuy district, Nam Dinh province. Photo: Van Dat/VNA
To implement the management of waste discharged into the sea from the source, according to Ms. Ruth Mathews, Senior Manager of the Stockholm International Water Institute, the immediate role of national governments is to strengthen institutional capacity to improve the management of freshwater and groundwater ecosystems, considering source-to-sea systemic linkages and linkages with other sectors.
In the coming time, Vietnam needs to learn more about the limitations for sustainable development in the locality; increase awareness of the link between upstream and downstream activities and their impacts; build local capacity to adopt a holistic approach to natural resource management and economic development; highlight the opportunities and challenges related to the implementation of the management approach from source to sea.
Proposing solutions to prevent ocean waste, typically in Hoi An (Quang Nam), Dr. Kieu Thi Kinh, University of Danang, said that first, it is necessary to connect resources from projects, management agencies, associations - unions; implement the strategy on plastic waste reduction; carry out an independent assessment, periodical monitoring, and evaluation of effectiveness in reducing plastic waste. In addition, the management agencies need to apply a deposit model for tourists when coming to Hoi An (tourists need to pay a guarantee to be given some environmentally friendly personal belongings and will return at the end of the tour).
Besides, Dr. Kieu Thi Kinh also suggested applying pilot models such as garbage collection by volume; extended manufacturer liability; “My green house” in school; building low-cost solutions... Environmental experts all agree that domestic solid waste is a complex problem, involving many fields and localities. Therefore, the proposal of synchronous solutions from the management model, and the waste treatment technology model to control and solve the problem of thoroughly handling the environmental pollution caused by waste is a very urgent matter.
The National Strategy on Integrated Solid Waste Management up to 2025, with a vision to 2050, has set a target that by 2025, 90% of total domestic solid waste generated in urban areas will be collected and treated to meet environmental protection requirements. All special grade cities, grade I cities, and 85% of remaining cities have solid waste recycling facilities suitable for household classification. Therefore, to achieve the above goals, in the coming time, experts emphasize the need for a modern solid waste management system, new technology, and infrastructure, especially sustainable finance and reasonable waste fees.
Ly Thanh Huong (VNA)
Join hands for an ocean without plastic waste