Da Nang has been on way to implement a project on developing the pilot model on integrated waste management to reduce waste volume, and optimize classification and recycling at source in Ngu Hanh Son and Hoa Vang districts for more than one year.

Members of the Hoa Ninh Commune chapter of the Da Nang Women's Union actively involved in the core group of waste collection and classification. Photo: T.D

Funded by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the VND3.5 billion project is being carried out from December 2020 to June 2022 in the wards of My An, Hoa Hai and Khue My in Ngu Hanh Son District, and communes of Hoa Ninh and Hoa Bac in Hoa Vang District.

Within the framework of the project, the municipal Women's Union has coordinated with such aforementioned localities to pilot a number of highly effective models such as a plastic waste-free tourist area, a core group to collect waste in residential areas, a club of female waste collectors, and growing bananas for leaves and producing organic fertilisers.

Seven core groups with a total of 116 members who are residents of residential areas have been established. These groups have been actively involved in 30 beach cleanups and 85 environmental cleanups. As a result, more than 3 tons of waste has been collected, contributing to protecting a green, clean and beautiful environment.

In Hoa Vang District, the project management board has coordinated with environmental experts to pilot the model of growing bananas for leaves and organic fertiliser production.

As a beneficiary from the organic fertiliser production model, Mrs. Le Thi Khanh in Hoa Ninh Commune, Hoa Vang District, said that the model has brought her many benefits, such as reducing the cost of buying chemical fertilisers, having a clean food source to avoid causing harm to the land, and protecting the environment.

“Within the framework of the project, the municipal Women's Union has provided each household a trash bin and guided them on how to sort recyclable waste. Every month, the collected waste is sold to raise funds for charity activities, contributing to ensure social welfare in the locality” added Mrs. Khanh.

Meanwhile, the model of a plastic waste-free tourist area has been piloted in Ngu Hanh Son District.

Accordingly, dozens of communication devices and trash cans have been installed at the Marble Mountains Tourist Area and the An Thuong Tourist Streets.

Besides, the district chapter of the Da Nang Women's Union has established a club of female waste collectors, which has helped to increase the average income of waste collectors to about VND1-2 million.

UNDP National Coordinator Nguyen Thi Thu Huyen said that after 15 months of implementation, the abovementioned project has achieved some positive results. She stressed the need for the project management board to maintain and expand activities in the time to come in order to raise public awareness about environmental protection and reduce plastic waste.

Reporting by THIEN DUYEN - Translating by M.DUNG