To minimize plastic waste generated in the area, over the past time, Ho Chi Minh City has implemented many propaganda measures to limit the use of hard-to-decompose plastic bags and disposable plastic items.
 Many positive changes
In big cities like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, every day, about tens of tons of plastic and plastic bags are discharged into the environment. If calculating the index of plastic products per capita in the country is more than 41kg / person / year, while this index in 1990 was 3.8kg / person / year. With the feature of cheap and convenient production cost, plastic bags and disposable plastic products have become popular items in production, business and daily life of people, especially in big supermarkets. , malls and traditional markets. Environmental experts all affirm that, if we do not have urgent solutions to limit the use of disposable plastic products and hard-to-degrade plastic bags, the possibility of environmental degradation becomes more serious. more, followed by heavy economic losses.
According to the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Natural Resources and Environment, in recent years, the city has made efforts to implement many solutions to reduce plastic waste as well as issued many documents on reducing typical plastic waste such as the Directive. No. 19. -CT / TU dated October 19, 2018 of the Standing Committee of the City Party Committee on the campaign "The people of Ho Chi Minh City do not litter the roads and canals, because the city is clean and less flooded"; Directive No. 33 / CT-TTg dated 20-8-2020 of the Prime Minister.
 Up to now, the city has made certain results and changes in reducing and limiting the use of disposable plastic products, non-biodegradable plastic bags: 100% of general supermarkets have switched to using products. friendly with the environment (estimated at 15,231 tons); Many shops and restaurants in the city have replaced some disposable plastic utensils with environmentally friendly products such as bamboo straws, grass straws, and paper packaging. , cloth bags, glasses. Many people also have the habit of carrying baskets, reusable bags to store things when shopping.
 According to the Department of Natural Resources and Environment, although certain results have been achieved, there are still some problems calling for the restriction on the use of disposable plastic products, including non-biodegradable plastic bags. , certain difficulties. The proportion of people and small traders voluntarily participating in reducing the use of disposable plastic products is not high, but they focus on following the movement. Besides, eco-friendly products have higher cost than disposable plastic products, so small businesses still prefer to use disposable plastic products. The most important solution today is to focus on propaganda and advocacy to raise people's awareness about limiting disposable plastic products and restricting the system of trade centers, supermarkets and traditional markets. or do not distribute non-biodegradable plastic bags free to consumers. Encourage businesses to participate in the production of environmentally friendly plastic bags.
Despite the campaign, markets in Hanoi are still flooded with plastic waste. It has been more than a year since the fight against plastic waste was launched on a national scale and despite the success of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, reporters observed that single-use plastic was still popularly used in markets and supermarkets in Hanoi. Leaving Dai Tu market, one of the busiest markets in Hoang Mai district, on average, each person brings from two to five plastic bags. Some even carry 10 bags with meat, fish and vegetables inside. Along Kim Giang Street leading to Dai Tu market, roadside shop owners put food and drinks into plastic cups, bottles, and foam boxes to take away. Ms. Nguyen Thi Huyen, a housewife in Hoang Mai district, said that every day a large number of visitors come to Dai Tu market, so the amount of plastic waste it generates every day is very large. At the end of the day, collectors struggled to stack the packed plastic bags over the garbage trucks. Even supermarkets and fast food restaurants have returned to using plastic for packaging because of its convenience and low price. Ms. Nguyen Thi Hoa, a food stall at Kim Giang market, said she knew it was necessary to minimize plastic waste to protect health and the environment, but customers had to bring their own reusable bags for the sellers. eat like you no longer have to give plastic bags. handbag. “Some carry bags made of fabric but those are just a handful of customers. When the customer asks for the bag, we still have to use plastic. "Because plastic is cheap and convenient, the habit of using plastic bags is very difficult to change," she said. Mr. Nguyen Thuong Hien, Deputy Director General of Vietnam Environment Administration, admitted that the use of plastic in markets in Hanoi is still widespread.

While studies show that plastic pollution has become one of the biggest challenges countries around the world face, it's difficult to change the public's habit of using plastic packaging. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment is taking a number of initiatives to make the campaign more practical. As Vietnam aims to completely eliminate non-biodegradable plastic bags in supermarkets by 2025, "We need specific penalties for violations and community supervision" he said. It is necessary to raise awareness about environmental protection by limiting the use of persistent plastic bags. Say no to non-biodegradable plastic bags and disposable plastic items. Using plastic can be cheap and convenient, but it certainly affects your own health and the environment. According to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Vietnam generates about 2,500 tons of plastic waste per day, accounting for 7% of total solid waste.