Workers collect ocean plastic waste in Quy Nhơn Port, coastal south-central province of Quy Nhơn.—VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — Việt Nam aims to reduce plastic waste discharged into the sea and ocean by 75 per cent. 

The country also wants to totally end the usage of disposable plastic products in coastal tourist attractions and resorts as well as the disposal of fishing gear into the sea by 2030.

The targets follow the National Action Plan on Ocean Plastic Waste Management by 2030, approved by Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc on Wednesday.

The plan’s overall objective was to effectively implement commitments of Việt Nam to address plastic-waste issues, especially ocean plastic waste, and ensure the prevention of plastic waste discharge into the ocean, Phúc said.

Based on that, it would make Việt Nam become the pioneer in the region to reduce ocean plastic waste, he said.

The plan is also expected to contribute to the successful implementation of the National Strategy on Solid Waste Management by 2025, with a vision to 2050, also approved by Phúc under the decision No 491/QĐ-Ttg in May, 2018 as well as raise public awareness of the harmful effects of using disposable plastic products to the environment.

To do that, the national action plan has pointed out five major tasks.

The tasks include raising public awareness to change behaviour with plastic products and ocean plastic waste; collecting, sorting out, transporting and treating ocean plastic waste; controlling plastic waste at source; taking international co-operation to transfer technologies of treating ocean plastic waste; and conducting research and building a mechanisim to effectively manage ocean plastic waste.

Under the action plan, ministries and relevant agencies will monitor annually and every five years to assess the implementation of regulations on collecting and treating plastic waste in 12 island districts nationwide.

Việt Nam is one of the five countries dumping the most plastic waste into oceans, according to international organisations. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment estimated about 80 tonnes of plastic waste and bags are thrown away every day in the two cities of Hà Nội and HCM City.—VNS