The Da Nang People's Committee has just issued action plans to manage marine plastic waste in Da Nang by 2025, with a vision towards 2030.

Under the plans-set mid-term goal for the 2021 - 2025 period, 100% of state management agencies and organisations across the city will not use single-use plastic bottles, straws, bandages and other items in meetings, conferences, seminars and events.

Besides, 90% of citywide households, schools, businesses, offices and other units will sort domestic solid waste, including plastic trash, at the source.

At least 80% of the local fishermen will make commitment to avoiding the disposal of fishing gear and plastic waste into the sea.

More than 90% of the local riverside households will not dump plastic waste directly into rivers.

At least 70% of the local food service points at serviced accommodation establishments will not use single-use plastic products.

At least 20% of the food and beverage businesses will not use single-use plastic products.

Heed will be paid to building up at least two effective models for the sake of the environment such as markets and schools saying ‘no’ to the use of plastic bags.

The municipal People's Committee has set a closer sight on raising public awareness reducing marine plastic waste, implementing target actions on reducing single-use item across the city, and promoting international cooperation to conduct scientific research, application and technology transfer on ocean plastic waste treatment.

According to the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP)’s official web, South East Asian countries contribute to over half of land-based sources of marine plastic pollution globally. Fast growing cities with underdeveloped waste management systems in South East Asia are responsible for as much as 60% of plastic waste leakage into the environment, with 75% of land-based sources of marine plastic pollution coming from uncollected waste and 25% comes from leakages in the municipal waste management systems. Plastic pollution is also trans boundary — up to 95% of plastic in our ocean is transported by ten major rivers, eight of which are in Asia.

Reporting by HOANG HIEP – Translating by A.T