Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has approved a plan to reduce the use ofplastic bags in the country as part of efforts to protect theenvironment.

Under the plan, by 2020, the quantity of plastic bagsused at supermarkets and trade centres will be reduced by 60 percentagainst 2010 and by 50 percent at traditional markets.

The plan targets the collection and recycling of 50 percent of plastic bags that are thrown away every day by 2020.

To meet the targets, several campaigns will be carried out to raisepublic awareness about the impact of plastic bags on the environment.

Households, traditional markets, supermarkets and trade centres will beencouraged to use environmentally-friendly bags, the production ofwhich will receive considerable policy support.

The Ministry ofNatural Resources and Environment has been tasked with implementing theplan in cooperation with relevant ministries, sectors, provinces andcities.

HCM City launched its sixth Waste Recycling Festival last weekend, attracting thousands of people.

The annual event aims to raise public awareness of environmental protection and encourage environmentally-friendly actions.

It encourages schools and students to reduce, reuse and recycle waste as much as possible.

The event, organised by the city's Department of Natural Resources andEnvironment, included the popular exchange-waste-for-gifts programme.

If waste is used reasonably, it can become a resource, said Nguyen Van Phuoc, deputy head of the department.

Waste recycling helps reduce the use of resources and results in the production of useful products, he said.

The festival displayed activities of classifying, reusing and recyclingwastes as well as using environmental friendly products in more than 30stalls.

Up to 60 percent of waste thrown into rubbish bins can be recycled, experts said at the event.

More than 50 percent of household waste can be used to produce compost fertiliser, they said.

HCM City produces more than 7,000 tonnes of waste a day.-VNA