- Calling stakeholders for joining hands in protecting water resources and the Earth;
- Providing recyclable solutions to low value plastics.
On April 17, 2021, to celebrate Earth Day 2021 “Restore our Earth”, an event is held at 2 Le Thai To Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi. The event is co-organized by Center for Environment and Community Research (CECR), Vietnam Water Conservation Network (VIWACON), and the People's Committee of Hoan Kiem District with the strong leadership of Vietnam Administration of Seas and Islands (VASI), and with the financial support of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Dow Vietnam, and other businesses. Earth Day 2021 also has the participation of Youth Union, Women’s Union, businesses, non-governmental and environmental organizations, volunteer groups, schools, and citizens in Hoan Kiem district.
The main message of the event is: "Collective actions to reduce waste and protect water resources."
Vietnam, with its abundant surface water resources including about 3450 rivers and streams over 10 km long and thousands of lakes, ponds, and wetlands, is currently facing serious water pollution risks. The sources of water pollution come from point pollution sources such as domestic wastewater, untreated industrial wastewater, and non-point pollution sources from waste, and residues of nitrogen and phosphorus sources. Among the most serious sources of water pollution, domestic waste, which is not properly collected and managed, is the biggest source of water pollution.
Management of domestic waste in Vietnam has become a critical challenge. Urban domestic waste has doubled over the past 15 years. The amount of waste has been increasing over the years, especially plastic waste, but most of it has not been collected and recycled. According to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE), while plastic waste is a global crisis, this situation in Vietnam severe. In a study by the Ocean Conservancy, Vietnam is considered one of the top five ocean plastic contributors. The amount of waste released into the environment goes down to rivers and flows into the sea. In the next 10 years, the amount of plastic waste going into the sea will double and if we do not take action.
It is important that all people, businesses, organizations join hands to solve this problem.
Use water sparingly
Litter waste smartly
Don’t be silent
Earth needs you!
In celebration of Earth Day 2021, the event this year is organized to raise awareness and promote behavior change toward waste disposal, to use water smartly, and to call for creative initiatives and solutions to reduce and recycle waste and use water effectively. The event also raises awareness and understanding for the community about water pollution, its impacts on the economy and human health, thereby promoting people's active participation.
The event has many meaningful interactive activities such as a race of 500 people around Hoan Kiem lake; exhibition of initiatives to reduce, recycle waste, protect water, protect the Earth from members of the Vietnam Water Conservation Network (VIWACON), the women's union, the eco-volunteer team, and schools in Hoan Kiem District; Awareness-raising interactive game on minimizing, recycling eco-friendly garbage, protecting water resources and protecting the Earth.
Speaking at the event, Mr. Pham Tuan Long, Chairman of Hoan Kiem District People's Committee emphasizes: “Our action will not stop at today's event, I hope that each participant will continue to act and show your sense of responsibility for the environment, for our own lives by specific actions in daily life. At the same time, we can spread the message and mobilize family members and relatives, neighbors, and people in the community to join hands in action to restore our earth. "
Ms. Holly Lindquist Thomas, Environment, Science, Technology & Health Officer, US Embassy: “At the U.S. Embassy, we are working hard to eliminate most single-use plastics. USAID is also working with several provinces in Vietnam on solid waste management projects. I believe and hope that those of us present here today are also taking actions to get rid of plastics waste and to manage waste properly. Today is the chance for us to show a bigger commitment to protect the environment, protect our own health, and protect our children’s future.”
Significantly, at the Earth Day 2021 Celebration event, Dow Vietnam officially launched the Project of “National Collaboration to establish Plastics Circular Economy Model in Vietnam” to promote circular economy in waste management, with a focus on low value plastic waste in Vietnam. Through this public-private partnership, Dow Vietnam will partner with Hoan Kiem District, CECR and related stakeholders to tackle plastic waste in the environment by supporting a pilot community-based model in Hanoi. Also, this pilot project aims to help increase effective recycling through household waste separation and trainings to maximize the productivity and effectiveness of informal waste collectors.
As a leading materials science company and solutions provider, Dow Vietnam has been striving to find innovative solutions to promote the reuse and recycle of plastic products and keep plastics waste out of the environment. Mr. Ekkasit Lakkananithiphan, President of Dow Vietnam says, “Dow is strongly committed to ending plastics waste by finding solutions to collect, reuse and turn plastic waste into new products as well as developing new end markets for recycled plastics. Over the years, Dow has collaborated with local governments and stakeholders to develop a circular economy for plastics in Vietnam, including the enhancement of public awareness on plastic sorting, reusing and recycling technologies.”
The project "National cooperation to establish economic model of plastic waste circulation in Vietnam” funded by Dow Vietnam, aims to support the implementation of the Law on Environmental Protection 2020 on Circulating Economy and The People's Committee of Hoan Kiem district’s Plan 10. The project was supported by Hoan Kiem District Authority’s Decision issued on January 7, 2020 on the implementation of the program "Managing, classifying garbage, preventing plastic waste and plastic bags in Hoan Kiem district by 2020, with a vision to 2025”, promoting a circular economy in waste management, focusing on low-value plastic waste in Vietnam.