Vietnam discharges 1.8 million tons of plastic waste each year: How harmful is it to health?

On October 16, the Ho Chi Minh City Center for Disease Control (HCDC) said that plastic waste is one of the biggest challenges we face, and the medical field is no exception.

An estimated 19-23 million tons of plastic are dumped into lakes, rivers, and oceans every year. Once discarded, plastic waste breaks down into smaller pieces that can persist for centuries. Small plastic particles (about 5mm in diameter) can seep into food, water, and air.

Studies around the world show that the average person consumes more than 50,000 plastic particles per year, and even more if inhalation is taken into account.

Plastic waste after being released into the environment can seep into food, water and air (Illustration photo: HCDC).

Single-use plastics that are discarded or burned pose a serious threat to human health and biodiversity, and are a serious source of ecosystem pollution. Today, plastics are found everywhere, from sediments on the deepest ocean floor to icebergs in the Arctic.

Despite current efforts, an estimated 75-199 million tons of plastic are currently found in the oceans. If humans do not change the way we produce, use, and dispose of plastic, the amount of plastic waste entering marine ecosystems could triple.

At the International Exhibition on Machinery and Equipment for the Plastic and Rubber Industry (VietnamPlas 2024), taking place in Ho Chi Minh City, the organizers shared that concerns related to the accumulation of plastic waste in the natural environment are increasing, leading to the need to develop a strategy for managing and recycling plastic products.

Advances in plastic recycling and bioplastics technology could help solve environmental problems (Photo: HC).

According to statistics from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, each year in Vietnam, about 1.8 million tons of plastic waste are discharged into the environment. Of that, 0.28 million to 0.73 million tons of plastic waste are discharged into the ocean, but only 27% are recycled and utilized by facilities and businesses.

Dr. Phan Tuan Hung, Director of the Department of Legal Affairs, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, said that Vietnam's recycling industry is facing a great opportunity for development when the EPR regulation (extended producer responsibility mechanism in compliance with regulations on product and packaging recycling) comes into effect.

At that time, businesses will receive financial support for recycling activities. Advances in plastic recycling and bioplastic technology will help solve environmental problems.

To create positive change, HCDC organized a poster design competition with the theme "Reducing plastic waste in medical facilities by 2024".

This is an opportunity for local medical staff to demonstrate their talents and creativity and spread the message of reducing, reusing plastic or replacing it with environmentally friendly materials, working together to build a clean and beautiful working environment.

The submission period is from October 15 to November 10. Healthcare workers can submit their products by sending photo files via email or uploading them to online storage platforms and sharing the link via email: nuocvasuckhoecongdong.hcdc@gmail.com.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/suc-khoe/viet-nam-moi-nam-thai-18-trieu-tan-rac-nhua-nguy-hai-suc-khoe-the-nao-20241017001929955.htm