Organizing a gift exchange using recycled products or things found in home is not a new model but it is a meaningful activity in the context of the Khanh Son landfill to be full by February 2023.  Therefore, the city is focussing on promoting recycling activities in an attempt to reduce the amount of waste sent to the landfill.

High priority is given to promoting recycling activities in an effort to encourage waste separation at source and reduce the amount of trash that goes to landfills. IN THE PHOTO: The Da Nang Urban Environment Joint Stock Company organising a gift exchange using recycled items. Photo: HOANG HIEP

During an agricultural fair taking place in Hoa Vang District from August 18 - 20, an environmental booth of the District Division of Natural Resources and Environment was packed with local residents, including school pupils, who exchanged their recyclables such as paper, plastic bottles, cans for gifts like bonsai pots, plastic shopping baskets, and reusable bags.

On August 20, the Da Nang Urban Environment Joint Stock Company organised an event at the Youth Park located in Hai Chau District to promote waste source separation by encouraging local residents to exchange recyclables found at home for their favourite  gifts.

Mrs Hoang Thi Ngoc Hieu, the Deputy General Director of the Da Nang Urban Environment Joint Stock Company happily said: “On August 20, the company collected more than 1.3 tons of recyclable trash, including 203 kilograms of plastic waste, 859 kilograms of paper waste and 244 kilograms of metal waste from households and organizations in Hai Chau District while giving gifts totalling around VND10 million to them for their recyclable materials. On August 25 and 26, the company continued to collect 477 kilograms of plastic waste, more than 1.26 tons of paper waste and 307 kilograms of metal waste as well as gave gifts worth more than VND 13 million to local residents for their recyclables. The company will continue its efforts to organize a gift exchange using recycles found at home in a bid to promote household waste source separation to reduce the amount of waste sent to the landfill, and save costs of waste collection, transportation and treatment”.

According to Mrs Nguyen Thi Bich Khiem, the Manager of the Lien Chieu District Division of Natural Resources and Environment, the district has collected more than 320 kilograms of paper, plastic, and metal waste as well as given gifts, including bonsai trees, shampoo, and toothpaste to local residents for their recyclables during a recent event to put waste to good use for recycling.

In the first half of 2022, the Lien Chieu District Chapter of the Da Nang Women's Union has mobilised its members to participate in collecting more than 27 tons of recyclable waste, and more than VND 174 million VND from selling the recyclables have gone to help local disadvantaged women and school pupils. In the coming time, the heed will be paid to continuing to promote behaviour change for strengthening waste segregation at source by encouraging widespread and continuous participation of the public in exchanging recyclables for gifts.

Besides, the Da Nang Women's Union has organized many events to exchange recyclables for gifts in an effort to promote waste source separation. Every year, around VND 1 billion are earned from selling collected recyclables, and go to help thousands of poor and disadvantaged households. Meanwhile, such gifts as glass water bottles, plastic shopping baskets, and eco-friendly storage baskets are annually given to the Union’s members for their recyclables found at home. The Union’s meaningful activity obtains community consensus as it helps reduce the amount of waste from households, and save household waste collection costs.

Mr To Van Hung, the Director of the Da Nang Department of Natural Resources and Environment applauded individuals and organisations across the city, including the municipal Women's Unions at all levels, for their efforts to promote recycling around the city, especially on weekends. He also highlighted the effective implementation of the activity of exchanging recyclables for gifts across the city in order to encourage more people to separate their waste for recycling. The meaningful activity has attracted widespread involvement from the public, including children, war veterans and women.

Mr Hung said that the importance will be attached to intensifying the city’s programme on Source Separation of Domestic Waste and developing circular economy for sustainable development  in order to realise the city’s economic growth while cutting waste.

Reporting by HOANG HIEP – Translating by H.L