Hoi An says no to plastic waste

(QNO) - Glass bottles, mess kits and cloth bags are popular items used in Hoi An. Eco-tourism fairs are also often organized in this tourist city. They all respond to the strategy for limiting plastic waste into the environment.

Glass bottles used instead of plastic ones in meetings.

Cham Islands is the first place nationwide to say no to plastic bags successfully. The programme started in 2009 when Cham Islands was recognized as a world biosphere reserve. All the residents on the islands have been supporting the programme wholeheartedly, so they use some kinds of leaves to wrap goods instead of plastic bags. On the other hand, all the visitors coming to Cham Islands are asked not to use plastic bags. They are provided with paper or other material bags. Gradually, plastic bags are not completely accepted on the islands.

Paper bags and banana leaves used in a small market in Hoi An.

The strategy to say no to plastic waste in Hoi An started in 2017, succeeding the Cham Islands’ programme on saying no to plastic bags. Since then, glass bottles have been used and reused at the meetings, which helps limit plastic waste released into the environment. Besides, all the staffs of Hoi An city are encouraged to use products that are friendly to the environment such as eco-cloth bags, bamboo straws, bamboo bottles.

Bamboo bottles used in Hoi An.

The strategy is also spreading to the markets and shops in Hoi An. People are encouraged to use eco-friendly reusable bags.

A restaurant in Hoi An saying no to plastic bags.

The locals’ awareness of environmental protection via the strategy for saying no to plastic bags has been raised considerably. The habit of using portable instant plastic containers and releasing them into the environment uncontrolledly has been changed. Hoi An is determined to become a tourist city saying no to plastic bags and environmentally unfriendly containers.