Quang Ninh further implements zero- plastic-waste Ha Long Bay programme
Authorities in the northern province of Quang Ninh has approved a proposal to continue a zero-plastic-waste programme on the local Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Quang Ninh (VNA) – Authorities in the northernprovince of Quang Ninh has approved a proposal to continue a zero-plastic-wasteprogramme on the local Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Accordingly, organisations and individuals working in tourism and services on the waters commit not to use, buy and sellsingle-use plastic products, replacing them with environmentally friendly ones.
Communications are set to be strengthened for tourists notto bring single-use plastic products onboard and use during their cruisesaround Ha Long Bay. Ship owners are advised to take measures to refusetransportation in cases where customers intentionally do not comply with thisregulation.
Illustrative photo (Source: VNA)
The pilot of the programme began on September 1, 2019. Ithas so far attracted the participation of 270 businesses, ship owners, kayakservice providers, and fish farmers. Meanwhile, nearly 30 fishing vesselshave joined collecting thousands of tonnesof waste in the area.
The programme has helped reduce 90% of disposable plasticwaste at attractions on the bay and 94% of the number of foam buoys on floatingworks of organisations and individuals engaged in tourism business and serviceactivities on the bay.
Ha Long Bay is one of Vietnam’s most popular traveldestinations.
An estimate in 2020 by the Ending Plastic PollutionInnovation Challenge (EPPIC) project showed that among over the 28,280 tonnesof plastic waste released in the Ha Long Bay area each year, about 5,272 couldbe discharged to the sea, and 34 tonnes of waste came from tourism activitiesevery day./.
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In 2019, Quang Ninh became one of the first localities in Vietnam to launch a province-wide campaign against plastic waste, mobilising the participation of the political system, the business sector, and the general public. Other localities—such as Hai Phong, Da Nang, Binh Duong, and Ho Chi Minh City—have also effectively implemented waste-sorting initiatives at source, along with models for plastic-free markets and urban areas.
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Ha Long Bay (Soure: VNA) 
Illustrative photo (Source: VNA) 
