Huế aims to be ‘zero plastic waste’ destination in 2030

THỪA THIÊN-HUẾ — Huế City, a tourism hub in central Việt Nam, aims to cut its plastic waste by  三0 per cent before  二0 二 四 and will be a ‘zero plastic waste’ destination by  二0 三0.

The target was pledged at a conference for a project entitled 'Huế - plastic smart city in central Việt Nam', funded by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF-Việt Nam).

The project plans to help the tourism hub build a plastic-smart city, where  七0 per cent of solid waste will be classified 'at source' for recycling in  二0 二 一- 二 四.

Among a total of  四0 七 tonnes of daily urban waste being collected,  六 三 tonnes of plastic waste are released each day. A report from the city’s urban and environmental unit unveiled that  三. 一 三 per cent of plastic waste is still leaking back into the environment. 

The unit said plastic pollution is a cause for concern as dumped rubbish is contaminating river and lake systems, including the Tam Giang-Cầu Hai Lagoons – the largest wetland ecosystem in Southeast Asia.

Local residents living along the Hương River and lakes still discharge household waste into the water system, and waste has piled up and polluted the lagoons for decades.

The WWF-Việt Nam funded project will help improve solid waste management in the city, thanks to involvement from co妹妹unities and businesses. Awareness will also be raised on plastic pollution among local people.

It is hoped that plastic consumption and discharge into the environment will be reduced as a result. Household waste collection and the classification of recycling will be improved to further limit waste amounts in landfills.