People in Hanoi have responded positively to weekend trash-for-gift events held by an urban environment company in the capital city to raise awareness of garbage classification.

The weekly activity is part of a project initiated by the Hanoi Urban Environment Company (URENCO) since August to promote trash classification at the source.

During the campaign, people can bring sorted recyclable trash to seven exchange points in Hoan Kiem, Ba Dinh, Dong Da, and Hai Ba Trung Districts every Saturday to receive small gifts, such as soap, shampoo, and shower gel.

People can also install the mobile app Mgreen to set up a recycling schedule and book environmental staff to come to their place to collect trash.

People exchange sorted trash for shampoo and shower gel at a URENCO exchange point in Dong Da District, Hanoi, September 12, 2020. Photo: Ha Thanh / Tuoi Tre

After receiving people's garbage, URENCO will do the classification again before transporting it to recycling sites.

“Through the activity of exchanging recyclables for gifts, we want to convey to people the message, 'Unsorted garbage is just garbage, but sorted garbage is a resource as valuable as consumer goods,'” said URENCO’s deputy head of sales and communications Nguyen Thi Thuy Ninh.

The company has collected over 6.8 metric tons of waste of all kinds after more than a month running the activity.

“I do this to avoid environmental pollution. This program is very helpful, making people aware of garbage classification,” said Do Kim Nhung, a local in Dong Da District.

Pham Van Hoi brings classified trash to a URENCO exchange point in Dong Da District, Hanoi, September 12, 2020. Photo: Ha Thanh / Tuoi Tre

Classified recyclable trash is collected at a URENCO exchange point in Dong Da District, Hanoi, September 12, 2020. Photo: Ha Thanh / Tuoi Tre

A URENCO worker loads classified trash donated by local people onto a truck at a URENCO exchange point in Dong Da District, Hanoi, September 12, 2020. Photo: Ha Thanh / Tuoi Tre

People exchange sorted trash for shampoo and shower gel at a URENCO exchange point in Dong Da District, Hanoi, September 12, 2020. Photo: Ha Thanh / Tuoi Tre

A person uses the mobile app Mgreen to set up a recycling schedule and book environmental staff to come to their place to collect trash. Photo: Ha Thanh / Tuoi Tre

A URENCO worker weighs a bag of sorted trash at a URENCO exchange point in Dong Da District, Hanoi, September 12, 2020. Photo: Ha Thanh / Tuoi Tre

A student brings classified trash to a URENCO exchange point in Dong Da District, Hanoi, September 12, 2020. Photo: Ha Thanh / Tuoi Tre

People exchange sorted trash for shampoo and shower gel at a URENCO exchange point in Dong Da District, Hanoi, September 12, 2020. Photo: Ha Thanh / Tuoi Tre

A local brings classified trash to a URENCO exchange point in Dong Da District, Hanoi, September 12, 2020. Photo: Ha Thanh / Tuoi Tre

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