Integrating Social Resources for Waste Reduction in Binh Duong Province

March 25, 2021


Binh Duong province, 24 March 2021 – Binh Duong Provincial Women’s Union and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) jointly launched a project named “Integrating Social Resources for waste reduction in Di An City, Binh Duong Province”. The project aims to promote the socialization of domestic waste management in Di An city; collect and sort at sources all domestic wastes from households; enhance awareness, behaviours and good habits of domestic waste segregation at source; and reduce single-use plastic items and persistent nylon bags in local communities.

The project is a part of a bigger one named “Scaling up a Socialised Model of Domestic Waste and Plastic Management in 05 Cities”, funded by the Norwegian government and UNDP Viet Nam, and managed by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Small Grants Programme. This project is implemented from now to December 2022, in three wards: Di An, Tan Binh and Dong Hoa, in Di An City. The project has a total of 2.9 billion Dong in which 1.5 billion Dong is from the provincial budget.

With a high rate of urban development and a rapid transformation into an industrial province, Binh Duong is facing several social issues, the most significant environmental pollution, especially solid waste pollution, which leads to lower living quality for local people.

Mr. Mai Hung Dung, Standing Vice Chairman of Binh Duong Provincial People’s Committee, stated that “The province  is setting sustainable development goals to become a smart and modern city, by 2030 a modern industrial center, and by 2045 a smart city of the region and the whole country. Therefore, environmental protection is crucial to reach the above-mentioned goals.” He also encouraged Binh Duong Provincial Women’s Union, local authorities and agencies, and Di An City’s People’s Committee to work closely in the implementation of this project, to find and scale up suitable waste management models to the whole province.

“This project plays an important role in promoting practices at the community level, connecting social resources, elevate the role of relevant organizations, especially of the women’s union, in waste management and plastic waste reduction in Binh Duong province”, shared Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu Huyen, the National Coordinator at GEF Small Grants Programme.

In addition to training and communications to help raise the community’s awareness on effective waste management, this project is also implementing other activities, including an at-source waste segregation model, with the participation of 1,800 households and 4,500 students; 03 flower gardens transformed from illegal dumping sites; and a circular economy model in Dong Hoa and Tan Binh primary schools. Female waste workers in 03 wards are also one focus of the project, as they will be offered training, and support with loans and proper waste picking equipment. The project will provide recommendations to develop policies to better manage and reduce plastic waste in Binh Duong province.

Joining the launching was representatives of Binh Duong Provincial People’s Committee, Commission for Mass Mobilisation, Women’s Union, Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Department of Information and Communications, Environmental Protection Agency, Environmental Protection Fund, Di An City People’s Committee, wards and schools participating in the project. This shows the province’s strong commitment in dealing with plastic pollution in Di An City in particular and in Binh Duong in general.

For more information, please contact:

Phan Huong Giang
CCE Media and Communications Analyst
United Nations Development Programme
Email: phan.huong.giang@undp.org
Mob: 0948466688

Nguyen Thi Thu Huyen
National Coordinator, Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme
United Nations Development Programme
Email: nguyen.thi.thu.huyen@undp.org