According to the Decision, for the classification of domestic solid waste, households and individuals must classify domestic solid waste at source into solid waste that can be reused or recycled; food waste and other waste.
Regarding the principles of domestic solid waste management, all agencies, organizations, communities, households and individuals are responsible for implementing environmental sanitation regulations, classifying waste at source, etc.
According to the reporter's observations on the first day of implementing the decision (January 6), in the premises of the Ninh Kieu District Children's Cultural House (Ninh Kieu District, Can Tho City), the unit has arranged 6 clusters of waste classification at source, located in the yard and on the classroom floors.
Each cluster has 2 trash bins for sorting recyclable and non-recyclable solid waste.
For containers of recyclable solid waste, including paper of all kinds (magazines, paper, old books, boxes, cardboard boxes, bills, other scrap paper...), plastic of all kinds (bottles, jars, tubes, cans, boxes, trays, plastic items with symbols PET, PP...) and metal of all kinds (aluminum cans, iron cans,...).
As for non-recyclable waste containers, including food waste (food, expired food, discarded vegetables and fruits, etc.) and other solid waste (tissues, wet wipes, masks, candy wrappers, broken ceramics, old torn fabrics, etc.).
Speaking with Lao Dong, Mr. Vo Anh Tuan - Director of the Ninh Kieu District Children's Cultural House - informed that the waste classification model implemented by the Youth Union of the district's Children's Cultural House since January 5, 2025, mainly aims to propagate and educate children to maintain hygiene and have awareness of environmental protection.
“The model also promotes the practice of waste classification at source to parents and about 20 households doing business around the Cultural House, accompanying children,” said Mr. Tuan.
According to Mr. Tuan, after sorting waste at source, solid waste such as plastic bottles, paper... will be sold to raise funds for the Youth Union to support the work of repainting playgrounds and play equipment for children in some wards.
At some businesses and traders in Ninh Kieu district, it was observed that although bins were arranged, people did not classify waste according to each bin. Most people grouped different types of waste together, which was not consistent in implementing the Decision.
At other locations in the area, some households shared that currently, the implementation of waste classification at source still has shortcomings and problems.
Ms. Tuyet Mai (Hung Loi Ward, Ninh Kieu District) said that her family and some other households in the same row with her house are not familiar with the practice of waste classification at source. Moreover, there are not enough trash bins in front of the row of houses to classify waste according to regulations.
“Before, there was a time when we also classified waste at the source using foam boxes, but when workers came to collect the trash, they mixed it all together. Seeing that this method was not feasible, we went back to the old method,” Ms. Mai added.
According to the Law on Environmental Protection 2020 and Decree 45/2022 effective from January 1, 2025, people must classify waste at source into groups: reusable, recyclable waste; food waste; other household waste. Failure to comply will result in a fine of VND 500,000 - VND 1,000,000.
