What do you see from Japan's experience in reducing ocean plastic waste?

According to the research of Ms. Tran Thi Tam (Construction Investment Project Management Board, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment), to solve the increasing situation of ocean plastic waste, Japan has introduced regulations, and morning ideas are consistent with practice.

Specifically, Japan enacted the Plastic Resources Circulation Promotion Act in June 2021. This act prescribes measures to circulate plastic resources at various stages of plastic products, from design, production, sale, and recovery to recycling to promote the reduction, collection, and disposal of plastic products. plastic waste recycling.
Along with that, the Government provides guidelines for the use and consumption of plastic products at the design and production stages. Plastic products are produced according to Government certified guidelines, giving priority to purchasing products and supporting recycling facilities, encouraging manufacturers to create environmentally friendly products.
At the distribution stage, small and retail stores will reduce the supply of single-use plastic products. At the collection and recycling stage, encourage cities to sort and collect plastic waste and turn it over to recycling businesses for recycling.

To sort and collect sorted waste, recycle containers, and packaging waste, since 1995, Japan has enacted the Packaging Recycling Act. Accordingly, the Act regulates the responsibilities of the parties involved for product containers and packages, designated containers and packages, and packaging waste and containers.
Consumers are responsible for sorting waste; urban authorities are responsible for collecting sorted waste; businesses are responsible for recycling waste. This is a closed process with high efficiency in this country.
In addition to the above policies, Japan also issued a Strategy on the circulation of plastic resources with the following objectives: To reduce the cumulative amount of single-use plastic by 25% by 2030; design the reuse and recycling by 2025; reuse, recycle 60% of containers and packaging by 2030; efficient use of 100% used plastic by 2035; double the use of recycling by 2030; maximize the use of biomass plastic to about 2 million tons by 2030...

At the same time, the country also issued a National Action Plan on ocean plastic waste. Accordingly, this Plan clearly defines the contents to be implemented including (i) Promoting an appropriate waste management system; (ii) Preventing dumping, illegal dumping, and unintentional leakage of waste into the ocean; (iii) Collecting waste scattered on the mainland; (iv) Collecting plastic waste in the ocean; (v) Innovation in the development of material substitutes; (vi) Cooperation with related parties; (vii) International cooperation with countries by sharing best practices; (viii) Research the actual situation and the development of scientific knowledge.
Implementing the national action plan on ocean plastic waste, several Japanese localities have organized activities to collect and treat plastic waste at sea; manufacturing reusable shopping bags; Stopping offering plastic bottled drinks at government meetings, and instead offering drinks in recyclable metal cans or cardboard cans.

Lessons for Vietnam

According to Nguyen Thi Tam, through the study of plastic waste management in Japan, some experiences can be drawn from Vietnam. Specifically, Vietnam needs to review and perfect policies and laws on ocean plastic waste management based on experience from Japan.

In the context of countries around the world towards the development of a circular economy, Vietnam should have mechanisms and policies to encourage the circulation of plastic resources to reduce, collect and recycle ocean plastic waste in different regions. sea; at the same time, there should be a mechanism to promote initiatives to deal with ocean plastic pollution.

In addition, Vietnam should also study, develop and implement a strategy and plan to manage ocean plastic waste in stages toward the sustainable economic development of the country. Accordingly, the ocean plastic waste management strategy and plan should clearly define the responsibilities of each agency, locality, and implementation resources, including mobilizing resources from the non-state sector, businesses, and communities in effectively preventing and preventing ocean plastic waste.

In addition, it is necessary to strengthen international cooperation in ocean plastic waste management, focusing on sharing information, data, methods of investigation, and assessment of ocean plastic waste; promote the application of science and technology to manage...

According to tapchitaichinh.vn