“Sorting waste at the source is key to a circular economy in Vietnam,” Le Viet Dong Hieu, marketing and sustainability manager at Duy Tan Recycling, said at a panel discussion in Ho Chi Minh City on Saturday.

“When waste is properly separated, it can be collected and recycled into high-quality products, continuously extending the life cycle of plastic bottles,” he added.

With 37 years of experience in the plastics industry, Duy Tan Recycling began researching recycling technologies and built a plastic recycling plant in Vietnam in 2021.

Since its establishment, the plant has collected and recycled 92,900 tonnes of plastic waste, equivalent to 701 million bottles, Hieu revealed. 

By 2026, the plant plans to produce 100,000 tonnes of plastic pellets annually, gradually increasing its efficiency in plastic waste recovery.

“Duy Tan Recycling is at the forefront of collecting plastic bottles and transforming them into new ones,” Hieu explained.

“In this circular economy model, each collected plastic bottle is recycled and reborn as a new one, creating a continuous cycle of reuse.

“Today, consumers can easily find products made out of recycled plastic, such as Coca-Cola, Pepsi, La Vie, Nestlé, and more, on supermarket shelves -- demonstrating the widespread use of recycled plastic in everyday items.”

The discussion, titled 'Sorting Trash Properly - Trash as a Resource,' was one of the highlights at the Green Vietnam Festival taking place at the Youth Culture House at 4 Pham Ngoc Thach Street in District 1 on Saturday and Sunday. 

The two-day event showcased eco-friendly products, models, and solutions from various industries, promoting the principles of a circular economy.

It gathered over 60 businesses from various sectors that introduced their green products and innovations.

The festival was part of a long-term Green Vietnam project launched by Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper in collaboration with the Packaging Recycling Organization Vietnam (PRO Vietnam) and other partners.

During the discussion, project director of PRO Vietnam Truong Thanh Thuy shared that in 2023, his organization collected and recycled over 14,000 tonnes of packaging. 

The organization has also set a target for this year to collect and recycle nearly 64,000 tonnes of various types of packaging, expecting further growth in the coming years.

According to Thuy, media support is crucial in raising awareness about waste separation, collection, and recycling.

When people understand the process, they are more likely to participate voluntarily and sustainably.

Another concern for PRO Vietnam is that scrap business in Vietnam is still largely informal, and scrap dealers often face challenges and disadvantages. 

To address this, PRO Vietnam focuses on improving the lives of waste pickers by providing accident insurance, scholarships for their children, and introducing price subsidies to augment their profit margins and encourage more effective waste collection.

After collecting comes recycling.

Although recycling technology has been in place in Vietnam for years, it remains outdated, resulting in low-quality recycled products that are not well-received in the market, Thuy pointed out.

PRO Vietnam is researching and providing support for recycling facilities to help the industry grow in a more formal and sustainable manner, she added.

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