In order to promote collection and recycling activities, to increase the recycling rate of plastic waste, and to develop a circular economy in Vietnam, on June 22, 2022, in Quy Nhon City, Binh Dinh Province, China. Center for Education and Development (CED) in collaboration with Vietnam Federation of Trade and Industry - Danang Branch (VCCI Da Nang) and PepsiCo Vietnam Company organized a seminar "Strengthening waste collection and recycling" plastic waste to promote circular economy in Vietnam".

THE POLLUTER MUST PAY

The workshop is one of the activities of the project "Raising awareness on plastic waste management", which will be carried out from January 2020 to December 2022.

One of the goals of the Project is to raise awareness among small and medium-sized enterprises in Vietnam in the management and treatment of plastic waste in order to seek innovative solutions towards production and business. Sustainable business through the application of the circular economy model.

According to Mr. Nguyen Thi, Chief Specialist of the Legal Department, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, in order to promote a circular economy, "Extended producer responsibility (EPR)" is one of the tools considered as a tool to promote a circular economy. a new approach towards the goal of increasing reuse, recycling, and reducing waste by promoting changes in product design and packaging.

At the same time, it also aims to find financial solutions to deal with waste management to help the Government achieve its environmental goals without increasing taxes or environmental fees.

“Enforcing Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) will generate economic benefits through strengthening the recycling market, creating jobs. In the process of implementing EPR, the state plays the role of supervisor, the enterprise is the operator, and the society is the companion.

Mr. Nguyen Thi, Chief Specialist of Legal Department, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.

In the Law on Environment 2020, the producer and importer's responsibility for recycling and waste treatment is specified in Article 54 and Article 55. Manufacturers and importers can choose one of four forms: I carry out recycling; Hire units with recycling functions; Cooperate with each other to establish a representative organization to fulfill the responsibility of the manufacturer to organize recycling activities; and Contributing funds to the Vietnam Environmental Protection Fund to organize recycling.

"EPR is one of the important stages of the circular economy model, but has an impact on all stages of the circular economy model from product design, product manufacturing, product life cycle extension. products, reuse and recycle products," said Mr. Nguyen Thi.

Adding more information, Mr. Nguyen Tien Quang, Director of VCCI, Da Nang branch, emphasized that EPR is an environmental policy based on the principle of “Polluter pays”. EPR encourages manufacturers to consider environmental issues right from the concept to design, production, consumption of products, internalizing waste management costs into product costs.

NEED STRATEGIC POLICIES AND LAW ON WASTE CLASSIFICATION AND COLLECTION

At the conference, businesses shared experiences, good practices on circular economy, sustainable development, ensuring the closure and circulation of resources between input materials and waste generated in the environment. production activities.

Mr. Jirawat Poomsrikaew - Indochina Regional Director, PepsiCo, said PepsiCo is supporting to build a positive value chain. It is expected that the Company will introduce more sustainable product packaging throughout the value chain, and reduce the use of virgin plastic in each product to 50% in all beverage and beverage products by 2030.

Collecting, recycling or converting these materials to other forms with a longer life cycle will minimize their persistence in the environment, reducing their negative impact on the environment. environment.

"The right collection and recycling will promote the circular economy model, an economic model that ensures sustainable development and optimizes the advantages as well as the interaction and mutual support of each other. factors in the economy," stressed Mr. Jirawat Poomsrikaew.

"Currently, the daily volume of garbage generated in Hanoi capital is up to 6,500 tons per day, of which plastic waste accounts for 17.14%. It is estimated that so far in Hanoi, only 2% of plastic is recycled. processing, the rest plastic waste is discharged into the environment".

Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh, Deputy Head of Engineering and Technology Department, URENCO Corporation.

As a state-owned enterprise  under the Hanoi People's Committee, operating in environmental management, waste collection and treatment in central districts and some suburban districts of Hanoi City, Ms. Thi Thanh, Deputy Head of Engineering and Technology Department, Hanoi Urban Environment Corporation (URENCO), said that URENCO is operating the Nam Son landfill with a capacity of 7,500 tons/day and the treatment area. Xuan Son solid waste treatment with a receiving capacity of over 1,500 tons/day. URENCO already has an industrial waste incinerator with a capacity of 50 tons/day and an industrial waste incinerator with a capacity of 75 tons of waste/day, with a generating capacity of 1,930kw.

URENCO is investing in building a PET plastic recycling plant with a capacity of receiving 100 tons of input waste plastic, with an estimated operating time of 2023. At the same time, building a recycling center in Bo De ward. , Long Bien district

According to Ms. Thanh, in the waste, the amount of ash and slag is also very large, the average moisture content in the garbage is high, while the average calorific value is low (1300 kcal/kg), so it is difficult to choose the right plastic waste treatment technology. and synchronized with collection technology.

Raised many difficulties in classifying and treating plastic waste, URENCO representative admitted that plastic waste is often bulky, difficult to transport and store. The State does not have funds for the implementation of waste separation at source as well as a preferential support package in investing in the recycling system. Moreover, the community's awareness in sorting garbage and using recycled items is still limited, while the authorities have not yet implemented penalties for violations of environmental hygiene.

Collection and sorting are considered key issues to help increase recycling rates, apply technology to recycle more types of waste as well as increase recycling productivity. Therefore, URENCO recommends that there should be the participation of many parties in the value chain to invest in financial solutions, infrastructure and consumer behavior. The state needs to issue stricter policies and laws on plastic waste for people and businesses to comply.