The Da Nang Department of Natural Resources and Environment organised a workshop to introduce the “Clean cities, blue ocean” (CCBO) programme on November 2 in the virtual form with the participation of 14 locations nationwide.

The CCBO is the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)'s flagship programme for combating ocean plastic pollution during the 2019 – 2024 period.

This programme works globally to target ocean plastics directly at their source, focusing on rapidly urbanizing areas that contribute significantly to the estimated eight million metric tons of plastic that flow into the ocean each year.Da Nang is one of the four localities across the country to carry out the programme. In Da Nang, the programme aims to support authorities in implementing the plan on ocean plastic waste management and initiatives to promote the fight against plastic waste pollution in terms of equipment and consulting.

In particular, the programme will support the implementation of ‘Strengthening public-private cooperation in recycling, waste recovery and circular economy in Da Nang’, which will be implemented from December 2021 to July 2023 with total capital of US$161,000.

This soon-to-be-developed project will highlight some key activities such as improving the collection of recyclable waste and the capacity of garbage collecting units, and the recycling market through digital commerce.

At the workshop, Deputy Director of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Vo Nguyen Chuong suggested that relevant agencies prioritise technical support, promote waste sorting at source, reduce plastic waste and raise students’s awareness of environmental protection.

It is forecast that by 2030, the total volume of plastic waste in Da Nang will reach 228 tonnes per day while the total volume of domestic solid waste is about 1,800-2,000 tonnes per day.

CCBO works to reduce ocean plastic pollution by incentivizing plastic recycling through policies and partnerships with the private sector, while empowering women and protecting workers; building capacity of local and national governments for improved solid waste management and a circular economy; promoting innovation and investment in locally appropriate business models, technology, and infrastructure; building social and behavior change for the 3Rs: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle 

Reporting by HOANG HIEP – Translating by A. THU