A plastic waste dump in Lao Cai province (Photo: VNA)The PHA is part of progress of the Local Solution forPlastic Pollution (LSPP) sponsored by the USAID and Center for Supporting GreenDevelopment (GreenHub).
In Vietnam, it is estimated that there is 25 million tonnesof solid domestic waste each year, and 10-20 percent of it is plastic.
The percentage of plastic waste and single-use nylon bags inthe country’s urban areas has rapidly increased, accounting for 10 to 20 percentof domestic solid waste.
Solving plastic pollution problems requires the jointefforts of many parties, such as Governmental bodies, internationalorganisations, NGOs, research institutes, universities and businesses, saidNguyen Trung Thang, ISPONRE deputy director, at the launch ceremony.
“Establishing PHA can be considered as an opportunity torecruit the participation of all related groups to help in reducing the harm ofplastic pollution on human health,” he added.
Christine Gandomi, USAID acting director office ofEnvironment and Energy, stated that the partnership would mark the beginning ofa new era of collaboration, exchange of knowledge and good practices aroundplastic pollution challenges.
PHA would be among the first partnerships focusing onplastic and its impacts on human health, she said.
“This exchange and dialogue will help us address pressingdevelopment challenges in Vietnam,” she added.
PHA has mobilised 18 organisations in Vietnam. They arepartners from international organisations, Government, NGOs, research institutesand universities.
In the future, PHA will support departments and localitiesall over the country to carry out policy advocacy activities related to plasticand health; build and contribute to a datacentre; boost communicationactivities; raise awareness on the relationship between plastic and health; anddeploy pilot models to reduce plastic pollution across the country./.
VNA
