Starting from sorting waste
Every day, a large amount of domestic waste is generated, making waste sorting and recycling a necessary habit in urban life. Many people have started to change their habits, proactively sorting and bringing recycled waste to collection points instead of throwing it away as before.
Every weekend, Ms. Phan Linh Nga (24 years old, Hanoi) brings washed plastic bottles, cans of water, paper and milk cartons to TAGOM's waste sorting practice station (an organization that collects and recycles waste, helping waste to be treated and reused, extending the life cycle of materials).
I realized that just spending a few more minutes to wash and sort garbage, many seemingly discarded items can still be recycled. That helps me see that environmental protection is not as difficult as I thought," Ms. Phan Linh Nga shared.
Also regularly bringing garbage to the Station, Mr. Hoang Tuan Kiet (27 years old, Hanoi) said that before, almost all types of garbage in his family were put together in one bag. After participating in the instruction sessions, he understood more about how to classify each group of garbage and gradually changed the habits of the whole family.
Not only do I do it, I also guide parents and young children in the house to wash bottles and boxes of milk before leaving them alone. When everyone works together, I feel that living green becomes closer," said Mr. Hoang Tuan Kiet.
Gradually forming the habit of sorting waste
Sharing with reporters, Ms. Nguyen Thi Thuy Linh - Co-founder of TAGOM Environmental Organization - said that the waste sorting practice station was built with the aim of helping people form the habit of sorting waste at source through direct practice.
We want to create a space for people not only to bring garbage but also to sort it themselves. When this is repeated regularly, garbage sorting will gradually become a habit," Ms. Linh shared.
According to Ms. Linh, at the waste sorting practice station in Thanh Xuan Bac collective housing area (Hanoi), people are guided and directly practice the waste sorting procedures.
People bring pre-processed waste to the Station and sort it into many groups such as plastic, paper, metal, glass, batteries or electronic waste before transferring it to the recycling unit. When directly practiced, everyone will better understand the value of each type of waste and how to treat it according to the correct process," Ms. Linh shared.
Through guiding people, Mr. Vu Duc Trung - Co-founder of TAGOM - realized that the biggest difficulty currently lies not in collecting but in changing people's awareness and habits.
Many people are still not used to cleaning or sorting garbage right from home. Therefore, volunteers must persistently guide everyone to practice correctly from the first times," said Mr. Vu Duc Trung.
We expect more and more people to start from sorting garbage right at home. When each individual changes a small habit, a green lifestyle will gradually spread and become a community lifestyle," Mr. Vu Duc Trung expressed.
