Bình Thuận Province, November 3, 2020 – The Women's Union of Binh Thuan Province and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) held a ceremony to announce the project "Integrating Resources for the Reduction of Ocean Waste." This project aims to enhance awareness and change behaviors for sorting waste at the source in communities, social organizations, and marine businesses in Tuy Phong district, Phu Quy district, and Phan Thiet city. The consumption of single-use plastic products and non-biodegradable plastic bags will be decreased (towards an end goal of no plastic bags or single-use plastic products) through the implementation of policies and activities reducing waste flows from both land and sea operations into the environment.

The project will be implemented over the course of 24 months in Phu Quy district, Tuy Phong district, and Phan Thiet city as part of a larger project funded by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs entitled "Scaling Up a Socialised Model of Domestic Waste and Plastic Management in 5 Cities" (DWP5C) implemented in the five locations of Quang Ninh, Da Nang, Binh Dinh, Binh Thuan, and Binh Duong.

In parallel with its socio-economic development, Binh Thuan province is currently also facing environmental problems, especially the discharge of plastic waste. "Disposal of trash into the environment has generated a large amount of waste which is affecting the environment and causing damage to marine ecosystems, especially waste from the ocean,” said Mr. Le Tuan Phong, Vice Chairman of the Binh Thuan Provincial People's Committee.

“The implementation of this project is very important for accelerating local action for the National Action Plan on Marine Litter Management.  The project will empower the important role of the informal waste sector and promote strong collaboration and partnership between the informal and formal sector in waste management,” said Ms. Sitara Syed, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative in Viet Nam.

The project will implement seven models, including models for fishing boats at Phan Thiet and Lien Huong ports and tourist vessels from Lien Huong town to Hon Cau island, Tuy Phong district; segregating domestic waste at the source and preventing marine plastic waste along the Nguyen Dinh Chieu Coastal Global Citizen Route, Phan Thiet city; collecting and segregating domestic waste and reducing marine plastic waste in the residential area of Binh Thanh commune, Tuy Phong district; developing an integrated domestic waste management and zero ocean plastic waste plan in Tuy Phong district; recyclable plastic collection groups based on waste sorting at the source to improve local people’s livelihoods in Phu Quy district; circular economy and domestic waste segregation at Ngo Quyen High School, Phu Quy district; and domestic waste collection and sorting at the source for composting in the residential area of My Khe village, Tam Thanh commune, Phu Quy district.

Attending the ceremony were the leaders of the Binh Thuan Provincial People's Committee, Provincial Women's Union, Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Provincial Tourism Association, Fisheries Association, Phu Quy District People's Committee, Tuy Phong District People's Committee, and Phan Thiet City People's Committee.

For more information, please contact:
Phan Huong Giang
Media and Communications Analyst, Climate Change and Environment
United Nations Development Programme
Email: phan.huong.giang@undp.org
Mob: 0948466688

Nguyễn Thị Thu Huyền
SGP-GEF Coordinator in Viet Nam
United Nations Development Programme
Email: nguyen.thi.thu.huyen@undp.org