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English-labeled bins in Vietnam spark waste sorting confusion

English-labeled bins in Vietnam spark waste sorting confusion

Thursday, January 02, 2025, 13:14 GMT+7
English-labeled bins in Vietnam spark waste sorting confusion
Trash bins with instructions only in English. Photo: L.T.T.

Editor’s note: In this piece submitted to Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper, reader Le Tan Thoi expresses his concern over the use of only English on public trash bins, highlighting how it confuses people and hinders effective waste sorting, as well as emphasizing the need for clear Vietnamese labeling.

Thoi’s opinion was translated from Vietnamese to English and edited by Tuoi Tre News for clarity, consistency, and coherence.

Public trash bins placed along urban roads, in parks, and on sidewalks help to keep urban areas clean and green. 

Public awareness of the importance of maintaining cleanliness is growing and these bins are getting more and more use. 

Some bins feature instructions in both English and Vietnamese, along with visual cues to help people sort waste according to environmental guidelines. 

However, in certain public areas, bins are esthetically pleasing but only have instructions in English. 

Trash bins with bilingual Vietnamese-English sorting instructions on Nguyen Hue Street in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: L.T.T.

Trash bins with Vietnamese-English sorting instructions on Nguyen Hue Street in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: L.T.T.

This can confuse people and even cause frustration.

I once saw a middle-aged man struggling to decide where to place his trash at a public bin because the instructions were only in English. 

With my limited English, I helped him sort the trash correctly.

As a Vietnamese citizen, I believe we should prioritize using Vietnamese in public unless there is no suitable translation. 

While knowledge of foreign languages is important in this era of integration, having clear instructions in Vietnamese is essential for making the implementation of regulations effective for everyone.

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Le Tan Thoi

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