Inspired by other cities, Dong Hoi Joins as the 10th Plastic Smart City in Viet Nam
Dong Hoi City officially declared its commitment to becoming a Plastic Smart City (3 May 2024). The Mitigating Marine Plastic Debris Programme in Viet Nam coordinated with the People’s Committee of Dong Hoi City and the Viet Nam Agency of Seas and Islands to organize the signing ceremony, including a workshop sharing the Action Plan on Marine Plastic Debris Management.
In November 2023, Dong Hoi joined a milestone nation-wide meeting gathering 76 province leaders to commit to reducing plastic pollution and preventing plastic leakage into rivers, seas and other places of nature. Inspired by other cities and their progress towards better plastic waste management, Dong Hoi finally pledged its commitment and became Viet Nam’s 10th Plastic Smart Cities.
During the workshop, Dong Hoi City announced its participation in the Plastic Smart Cities initiative and outlined its key activities. These include carrying out communication campaigns and pilot intervention actions to reduce plastic waste at source, strengthening waste management and treatment, recycling towards a circular economy, classifying waste at source, and implementing pollution controls to minimize plastic leakage. This comprehensive approach serves as a roadmap for the city’s efforts.
In addition, the workshop also shared the initial results of the assessment of the solid waste management system in Dong Hoi City, with a focus on plastic waste, and provided recommendations to improve the city’s solid waste management system in the future.
Based on the assessment, 47.3% of plastic waste comes from households and restaurants 25,.9%, and 19.2% from markets. The type of waste from households and markets was dominated by plastic bags. On the other hand, restaurants, hotels, and services produce plastic bottles and other packaging materials.
(Download the assessment of the solid waste management system in Dong Hoi City in Vietnamese and English.)
The upcoming plan for plastic waste management in Dong Hoi from 2024 to 2025 includes:
- Organize two training classes for Women’s Union and Youth Union officials on communication skills related to waste management. Whereas two classes on waste classification at source, IMO production and usage instructions for business households, and treatment for waste problems.
- Implement the pilot model of waste classification at the source and manage organic waste with IMO in the households, implement the model to collect pesticide packaging in the city, implement plastic reduction models at supermarkets and stores, and implement the model “Market to reduce plastic bags/market to classify waste” and lastly, develop pilot waste classification at source models and treat organic waste locally.
- Construction and equipment: The project will build green collection points at waste hot spots and provide trash bins to classify trash at public locations. In addition, it will build a youth project using waste materials.
- Other activities:
- Deploying waste classification at agencies, units and People’s Committees of communes and wards.
- Implement the activity “commitment to limit the use of single-use plastic items.” Eliminate waste hot spots and prevent new hot spots from arising.
- Increase plastic waste collection on beaches.
- Support the implementation of initiatives to reduce plastic and protect the environment.
- Develop a plan to classify waste at source.
- Create propaganda clips/articles about plastic waste.
About Dong Hoi
Dong Hoi City, located in central Vietnam on the coast of the South China Sea. This city serves as the administrative and economic center of Quang Binh Province. Moreover, Dong Hoi is renowned for its coastal landscape, featuring sandy beaches such as Nhat Le Beach. And its proximity to the UNESCO-listed Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, known for its karst formations and extensive cave systems. Economically, the city thrives on agriculture, fishing, and, increasingly, tourism, with its markets offering local agricultural products and handicrafts. Dong Hoi City plays a pivotal role in Vietnam’s tourism sector, attracting visitors keen to explore its natural beauty and cultural heritage.
