After the fireworks displays end, volunteers, civic groups, and young people silently spread across various areas to collect and clean up trash. The meaningful actions of the city's youth not only contribute to building Da Nang's reputation as an environmentally friendly city but also leave a positive impression on residents and tourists alike regarding its civilised and friendly image.

Youth groups cleaning up trash on the Dragon Bridge. Photo: N.Q

Small actions, significant impact

Following the fireworks nights, the banks of the Han River on both the east and west sides are strewn with litter-bottles, fast food containers, and plastic bags discarded by the public along streets and sidewalks. This is when environmental sanitation workers and young volunteers roam various routes, from the fireworks launch sites to spectator stands, sidewalks, Dragon Bridge, and Han River Bridge, picking up cans, plastic bottles, nylon, and fast-food debris to clean up the environment. Many aluminum cans and plastic bottles are sorted into separate bags for recycling, while nylon, paper, and fast-food wrappers are gathered in designated bags for disposal in trash bins.

This is the second year Vo Thuy Loan and many youths from the Youth Union organisation of Thuan Phuoc Ward, Hai Chau District have participated in post-fireworks cleanup.

Equipped with masks, gloves, and large bags, they clean up litter along Bach Dang and Nhu Nguyet streets, simultaneously reminding people to clean up and dispose of trash properly before leaving. By 10:30 PM, cleanup ends, and Loan and her friends sit down to discuss maintaining volunteer activities in the coming nights.

"I'm happy that my small actions contribute to cleaning and beautifying downtown streets after fireworks nights. We hope residents and tourists will improve their awareness and properly dispose of waste to maintain a clean and beautiful environment," Thuy Loan shares.

According to Secretary Nguyen Thanh Phong of the Youth Union organisation in Hai Chau District, over 80 youth volunteers are mobilised to clean up sidewalks, Bach Dang and Nhu Nguyet streets, Han River Bridge, and Dragon Bridge after two fireworks nights. The blue uniforms of Hai Chau youth are seen throughout the streets, quietly cleaning up, while also raising awareness among residents and tourists to maintain cleanliness and dispose of trash properly. Some youth groups collect aluminum cans and plastic bottles, and then gather them in residential areas for sale as recyclables to fund social welfare activities.

Raising awareness of public hygiene

Similarly, nearly 90 youth volunteers from Son Tra District collectively clean up the eastern Han River area after the fireworks displays. Son Tra youth and environmental workers concentrate on collecting litter along Tran Hung Dao Street, Dragon Bridge, and Han River Bridge.

According to Nguyen Anh Do, Secretary of the Youth Union organisation of An Hai Bac Ward, Son Tra District, after two fireworks nights, youth volunteers gathered nearly 150 kg of mainly aluminum cans, plastic bottles, nylon, and mixed garbage. The cleanup operation adheres to the principle of "completely cleaning each area," contributing to fostering the spirit of initiative, volunteerism, and responsibility among young people to spread positive actions within the community.

The meaningful actions of youth volunteers not only help clean and beautify the streets but also silently assist environmental sanitation workers in reducing their heavy workload.

Vo Van Hai, a worker at the Son Tra District Environmental Company, explains that after fireworks competition nights, the amount of trash doubles compared to normal days, requiring more work from sanitation workers. Thanks to volunteer groups helping collect and clean up trash, the workers' job becomes less strenuous and faster.

The city's youth's beautiful actions also leave a deep impression on residents and tourists. Seeing many young people cleaning up the streets after the fireworks, Le Van Bao, a visitor from Gia Lai Province, also volunteered to help clean the streets.

"I'm very impressed with the beautiful actions of the youth, not only cleaning the streets but also spreading a civilised, modern, and environmentally friendly image among tourists. After the fireworks competition night ends, I hope the community will dispose of trash properly, raise awareness of public hygiene, and contribute to protecting the city's clean and beautiful environment," Bao shares.

Reporting by NGOC QUOC- Translating by T.VY