In their efforts to support the movement "All people participate in protecting the environment and responding to climate change", the Da Nang Fatherland Front Committees at all levels are focusing on raising awareness and taking action to protect the environment amongst the general public through finding creative ways and developing good models.

Xuan Ha Ward Front Organization and its member organizations worked with the Ward authority to plant trees along Nguyen Tat Thanh Street in response to the Tree Planting Festival 2024. Photo: T.K

According to Mr. Nguyen Tan Nghia, the Chairman of Xuan Ha Ward Front Organization, focus is on regularly coordinating with the Ward authority and the Ward Women's Organization to launch the anti-plastic movement and develop a model “Recycling bin for waste sorting solution”.

To date, a combined total of 27 waste sorting cabinets have been placed in 20 residential areas across the ward. A total of VND 53 million has been generated from selling recyclables through a waste bank initiative, and the money has gone to support local social welfare program in residential areas.

Furthermore, the Ward Front has worked with the ward authority to launch the "Tree Planting Festival 2024" to grow 100 casuarina trees along the Nguyen Tat Thanh Beach. Heed has been paid to coordinating with Women's Union and Youth Union organizations of the ward to debut “the dedicated battery collection point” model. Accordingly, 24 battery collection points worth VND 6 million in total have been set up in 20 residential areas and 4 religious facilities across the ward.

In a similar move, the "Environmentally- friendly residential area" model has been applied to all 36 residential areas across Thanh Binh Ward, Hai Chau District with a focus on engaging local residents in classifying domestic solid waste at source, reducing the use of plastic bags to reduce plastic pollution.

Importance has been attached to supporting disadvantaged people by collecting recyclables through recycling fundraisers. The money raised from the sale of recyclables goes to grant scholarships for children from poor families, support households facing unexpected challenges, give gifts to social policy beneficiaries and poor single people during pubic holidays and Lunar New Year.

Since 2023, the ward has collected over 7 tons of recyclable materials, and generated more than VND 80 million in funds from the sale of these materials for the purpose of welfare.

"Since late 2023, the model "Collecting and reusing plastic bags" has been applied to the Thanh Son 1A Residential Area. Accordingly, used plastic bags daily collected by shoppers living in the residential area after shopping at traditional markets have been washed, dried, then sorted and donated to stallholders at Thanh Binh Market. Till date, over 50kg of used plastic bags have been donated to traders, contributing to minimizing the waste being sent to landfills," remarked Mrs. Huong, the Chairwoman of Thanh Binh Ward Front Organization.

To support the city’s project to make Da Nang an eco-city in the 2021-2030 period, since 2023, Hai Chau District has yielded positive results in applying the models of "Environmentally- friendly residential areas" and "Burning votive paper offerings in a barrel” and “Not throwing offerings like salt and rice on the street” to 333 residential areas across the district.

Moreover, special attention has been paid to organizing the "Collecting recyclables" Festival themed "Say no to plastic waste", and the event saw the participation of a large number of locals, businesses, along with eating and drinking establishments. During the festival, 349.3kg of plastic, 1,462.4kg of paper, 326.9kg of metal products, and 15.1kg of nylon products were collected and sent to recycling facilities, thereby raising public awareness of classifying domestic solid waste at source, and promoting plastic recycling in local communities, contributing to reducing plastic pollution, especially reducing plastic bags sent to landfills.

Da Nang Fatherland Front Committee Vice Chairwoman Tran Thi Man highlighted the significance of environmental movements and models in residential areas in getting the city’s entire population engaged with environmental protection, thereby, helping local residents change their behavior and lifestyle to help and protect the environment in a bid to lower pollution, safeguard species, preserve natural resources, and slow the pace of climate change. Locals can do small actions to help the environment. Included are saving water, boosting recycling in residential areas, contributing to making Da Nang more green, clean and beautiful.

In 2024, the Da Nang Fatherland Front Committee will continue its efforts to raising environmental awareness through public outreach campaigns to help and protect the environment.

Reporting by NGUYEN QUANG – Translating by H.L