PM calls for drastic measures to control and reduce plastic waste
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc emphasised the need to take practical and concrete measures to control and reduce plastic waste while launching a national campaign on plastic waste prevention in Hanoi on June 9.
PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc speaks at the launching ceremony for the national campaign on plastic waste prevention in Hanoi on June 9.(Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc emphasised the need to take practical and concrete measures to control andreduce plastic waste while launching a national campaign on plastic wasteprevention in Hanoi on June 9.
Asmany as 13 million tonnes of plastic trash discharged into oceans each year, ithas left negative impacts on the living environment, people’s health andsustainable development of each nation, said PM Phuc.
Therefore,he asked competent ministries, agencies, sectors and localities to outlineprogrammes and plans on phasing out the use of plastic products and work torealise the target of not using single-use plastic products in urban markets,convenience stores and supermarkets by 2021, and nationwide by 2025.
TheGovernment leader particularly mentioned the role of the press in raisingpublic awareness of the issue, saying the communication work should focus on typicalprogrammes and models that contribute to plastic waste reduction such as GreenSunday project in Thua Thien-Hue, “Say no to plastic waste in Hoi An-Cu LaoCham”, and using natural wrapping in several supermarkets, among others.
Also,PM Phuc ordered the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and relevantministries and agencies to work together to complete regulations and policieson scaling down the use of single-use plastic products, encouraging thedevelopment of environmentally-friendly ones, and promoting the application ofadvanced technologies for plastic waste recycling.
Furthermore,rational mechanisms must be mapped out to cut and end the import of scraps andproduction of plastic bags that are hard to dissolve, he said.
Asfor the local business community, the PM asked them to improve social corporateresponsibility by joining efforts to combat plastic waste. Meanwhile, consumerswere requested to carry their own bags for multiple use while shopping.
Followingthe launching ceremony, PM Phuc, President of the Vietnam Fatherland FrontCentral Committee Tran Thanh Man, Deputy PM Trinh Dinh Dung, Minister ofNatural Resources and Environment Tran Hong Ha and many officials joined awalk, calling for the public’s involvement in the fight against plastic trash, andvisited the “Challenges for Change” photo exhibition.-VNA
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PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc speaks at the launching ceremony for the national campaign on plastic waste prevention in Hanoi on June 9.(Photo: VNA) 
