(VOVWORLD) - People in many residential areas in Hanoi have begun sorting waste at source in an effort to build a sustainable, greener, and cleaner lifestyle in harmony with nature. One model put forth by the Women's Union of Tan Mai Ward in Hoang Mai District is to sort garbage at home and turn it into money.
 Members of the Women's Union of Tan Mai Ward are sorting garbage. |
In the past 3 years, the yards of A2, A3 residential areas on Nguyen Chinh Street in Tan Mai ward have become the main place for members of the local Women's Union and people to collect and gather their garbage for classification every Sunday morning.
Nguyen Thi Thanh, a Union member, said, “We bring waste to the place on the regulated day. The collected waste will be placed in storage. After sorting, we’ll sell it to scrap collection agents. The money, more or less, will be used to support families facing difficult circumstances.”
Living in residential area A2, Do Thi Ngoc Nga said the locals have responded well to the garbage collection and classification initiative.
“Today I bring lots of plastic items. If we pollute the environment with plastic waste, it will still exist 100 years later. Therefore, this project is very meaningful to all people,” Nga told VOV.
The model of sorting waste to turn it into money has involved both adults and children living in the area.
Nguyen Bao Ngoc, a second grader at Tan Mai Primary School, said, “I often collect plastic bottles at home to recycle into reusable items. Recycled waste will affect the environment less.”
The Association of People with Disabilities of Hoang Mai District have mobilized more than 15,000 people in the area to sort garbage at home and donate scraps to the program.
According to Pham Quang Khoat, Chairman of the Association, “We find the model initiated by the Women's Union of Tan Mai ward useful and have worked with them to replicate it.”
Nguyen Thi Kim Thu, Chairwoman of the Tan Mai Ward Women's Union, said they have diversified activities to raise people's awareness about keeping the environment green, clean, and beautiful.
“We are the first organization to initiate the model in Hoang Mai. It has been replicated in all wards in the district. Our members have carried out a wide range of activities including doing environmental clean-ups every Saturday and Sunday,” sai Thu, adding, “We’ll continue to coordinate with the district’s Association of People with Disabilities and the Women's Union to helpimprove public awareness of environmental protection.”