DIRECTIVE

REGARDING STRENGTHENING OF MANAGEMENT, REUSE, RECYCILING, DISPOSAL AND REDUCTION OF PLASTIC WASTE

Plastic pollution is becoming one of the biggest challenges facing countries. Each year, the amount of plastic waste produced by humans on a global scale is enough to entirely cover the earth's surface 4 times, including 13 million tonnes of plastic waste that are dumped into the oceans. The overuse of plastic products, especially non-biodegradable plastic bags and disposable plastic products, has been causing serious consequences for the environment and the problem of plastic pollution, especially ocean plastic pollution which is a really alarming problem, and has been causing and will cause great damage to the ecological environment in our country.

On recognizing its role in solving the global plastic waste crisis, Vietnam, as a responsible member of the United Nations, is committed to taking strong action to reduce plastic waste to protect the marine and ocean ecosystem. In 2017, Vietnam officially joined the list of 127 countries that passed the United Nations Environment Council Resolution of the United Nations Environment Program on marine plastic waste and microplastics. In 2018, at the G7 Summit held in Canada, the Prime Minister pledged to take action as well as call for global cooperation in solving the problem of marine plastic waste. In 2019, after the Prime Minister embarked on a nationwide movement against plastic waste, many agencies, organizations, localities, businesses and individuals have taken many practical, meaningful and effective actions to prevent and reduce plastic waste.

In order to continue to strengthen the efficiency of the management, reuse, recycle and dispose of used plastics, and reduce emission of plastic waste into the environment, the Prime Minister orders:

1. Ministers, Heads of ministerial-level agencies, Governmental bodies, People's Committees of provinces and centrally-affiliated cities to issue directives or plans to reduce, sort, collect, reuse, recycle and dispose of plastic waste in industries, sectors and areas under their management (to be completed by October 30, 2020); direct and require state agencies and public service units under their direct control to perform a number of specific tasks as follows:

a) Setting good examples of, taking the active part and the initiative in  reducing plastic waste; minimizing the use of disposable plastic products (including non-biodegradable plastic bags, food plastic packaging, plastic bottles, straws, foam food containers, cups and tableware, etc.); avoiding the use of disposable plastic banners, posters, bottles, cups, straws, bowls, chopsticks.... used at workplace and in conferences, seminars, meetings, holidays, anniversaries and other events; preferring to use recycled and eco-friendly products;

b) Playing a pioneering and exemplary role in classifying waste at source right at workplace, placing trash bins to classify waste at workplace; plastic and other recyclable waste must not be kept with organic waste; encouraging the development and implementation of exemplary models for widespread use at their agencies and units in the sectors and areas under their management;

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2. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment:

a) Completing regulations on management of solid waste in the project of Law on Environmental Protection (amended) which are oriented towards considering waste and plastic waste as resources; promoting the development of models of circular economy; duly implementing the tasks of reduction, classification of waste at source, collection, reuse, recycling and disposal of waste (including plastic waste). Designing technical manuals for classification of waste at source. Researching and proposing mechanisms for restricted production and consumption of disposable plastic products and have a roadmap to ban the production and consumption of a number of disposable plastic products;

b) Examining, amending and supplementing the Prime Minister’s Decision No. 16/2015/QD-TTg dated May 22, 2015, regulating the recall and disposal of discarded products, with a view to increasing the responsibility of modern and traditional manufacturers, importers, brand owners, distributors and retailers for waste recovery and recycling; adding product packaging to the list of discarded products that must be recalled and recycled. Researching and proposing mechanisms to encourage and support enterprises and waste recycling facilities to duly observe the law on environmental protection; promoting models of public-private partnership, sharing business or economy, and promoting initiatives, participation of associations, organizations and businesses with the aim of reducing, reusing and recycling solid waste and plastic waste;

c) Researching and building environmental technical barriers to products and commodities containing microplastics, nanoplastics and plastic bags to prevent adverse impacts on human health and ecological environment; researching and proposing a roadmap to ban the use of microplastics in the production of cosmetics, garments, and fertilizers, etc. Promulgating environmental technical regulatory standards and regulations for recycled plastic products and goods to ensure environmental protection requirements. Reviewing and continuing to improve legislative regulations on eco-labels for environmentally friendly plastic bags and plastic products with a certain recycled content;

d) Taking charge of, or cooperating with the Ministry of Industry and Trade in, conducting the statistics and periodically making statistics of and classifying plastic materials used in production, consumption and plastic waste; building a database of nationwide use of plastics and plastic waste; conducting studies on the current situation, generation trends and management of plastic waste. Formulating the project for establishment of the centralized recycling industrial park and submitting it to the Prime Minister in accordance with laws with the intention of creating the recycling industry and market;

dd) Strictly complying with regulations on importation of plastic scrap in accordance with the law on environmental protection; importing plastic scrap used only as raw materials for the production of products and goods (excluding commercial recycled plastic beads), except for projects obtaining approval of investment policies and issued with investment certificates, and active production facilities obtaining permits for importation of plastic scrap for production of commercial recycled plastic beads till the end of December 31, 2024. No permit or license shall be granted to establishments that import scrap for preliminary or further processing and resale of scrap;

e) Reviewing and amending the Prime Minister's Decision No. 73/2014/QD-TTg dated December 19, 2014 on the list of scrap permitted for importation which is oriented towards only allowing the import of clean plastic scrap of a high recycling value, and prohibiting the import of disposable plastic scraps. Researching and proposing the re-export or return of imported plastic scraps that do not meet environmental protection requirements;

g) Reviewing the implementation of the Prime Minister's Decision No. 582/QD-TTg dated April 11, 2013, approving the Project on strengthening of the control of environmental pollution due to the use of non-biodegradable domestic plastic bags to be carried out by 2020, and proposing regulatory policies and regulations for management, restriction of and progress towards non-use of domestic non-degradable plastic bags;

h) Proposing solutions to the effective implementation of the Prime Minister’s Decision No. 491/QD-TTg dated May 7, 2018, approving the adjustment of the National Strategy on integrated solid waste management by 2025 with vision to 2050, and concentration on implementing the goal of using 100% of environmentally friendly plastic bags at commercial centers and supermarkets for domestic purposes as replacement for non-biodegradable plastic bags; restricting and proceeding to end the importation, production and supply of non-biodegradable plastic bags for domestic use as from 2026 at commercial centers and supermarkets;

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k) Effectively developing and implementing the propaganda and communication plan to raise public awareness of the reduction, classification, collection, recycling and disposal of plastic waste; forming people's awareness and habits of reduction and sorting of plastic waste; coming up with, disseminating and offering environmental awards for models, solutions and initiatives regarding the reduction, classification, collection, recycling and disposal of plastic waste; building the electronic portal to share information and knowledge about plastic waste; researching criteria for reduction, classification and collection of plastic waste and applying them to the assessment and ranking of results of environmental protection activities of localities;

l) Involving the private sector and improving the role of communities and businesses in plastic waste reduction, classification, collection, recycling and disposal; extending forms of incentive and support for organizations and individuals that produce, distribute, promote and consume plastic products and plastic bags with green labels; setting up, operating and completing the database of registration, declaration and management of the production and use of products containing plastic waste, plastic bags; strengthening communication, widespread use and effective application of models for reduction, classification and collection of plastic waste and plastic bags at tourist sites or attractions, especially those closely connected with water resources, etc.;

Presiding over, and cooperating with socio-political organizations, social organizations, international organizations and enterprises in, deploying movements and models to combat plastic waste, reduce plastic waste, classify and collect plastic waste; supporting and creating favorable conditions for plastic waste reduction, classification, collection, reuse, recycling, and disposal activities.

3. The Ministry of Finance:

a) Researching and seeking competent authorities’ approval of modification and supplementation of the Law on Environmental Protection Tax with a view to expanding taxable objects and increasing tax rates on plastic bags, packaging and other plastic products; researching and proposing taxes on virgin plastics; directing the inspection and prevention of environmental protection tax evasion, especially for plastic bags;

b) Presiding over, and cooperating with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment in, researching and proposing financial policies to promote and encourage waste recycling and plastic waste recycling activities; incentives and support for environmentally friendly plastic bags, recycled plastic products and environmentally friendly materials. Researching and developing priority criteria or norms for public procurement of recycled and environmentally friendly products;

c) Making statistics and consolidated reports to the Prime Minister and sending the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment data on the annual import of plastic materials and plastic scraps.

4. The Ministry of Industry and Trade:

a) Directing the implementation of the goal “Continuation in the strengthened and early implementation of the plan to accomplish the goal of ensuring that all shops, markets and supermarkets in urban areas do not use single-use plastics by 2021; the whole country will not use single-use plastics by 2025”;

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c) Conducting the assessment of the current development of the plastic industry and proposing orientations and solutions for development of the plastic industry towards the sustainable development, and reporting to the Prime Minister before December 31, 2020;

d) Conducting the review and announcement of domestically produced and imported products containing microplastics, nanoplastics for consumers’ information.

5. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development shall develop and implement the plan to reduce, collect and recycle plastic waste in the crop production, animal husbandry and fisheries sectors; implement solutions to the restricted use of foam floats in the fisheries sector (used for floating fish cages); developing and implementing solutions to take back fishing gear, such as nets and buoys, abandoned, lost, discarded at sea (ALDFG) and recover packages of pesticides and fertilizers; preparing raw materials made from agricultural products for manufacturing of replacement products for non-biodegradable plastic bags and disposable plastic products.

6. The Ministry of Health shall take control of the implementation of the plan to classify and reduce plastic waste at hospitals and medical facilities; direct the guidance on the classification of waste at hospitals and medical facilities; adopting the requirement concerning reduction of plastic waste as a criterion for assessment of green, clean and beautiful medical facilities. Promulgating quality standards and hygiene requirements for recycled plastic products used as food and bottled water packaging, etc.

7. The Ministry of Education and Training shall develop and implement the plan on classification and reduction of plastic waste at schools, educational and training institutions; integrating education about classification of waste at source into educational programs for students; accepting the requirement for classification and reduction of waste and plastic waste as a criterion for assessment of green, clean, beautiful and safe schools.

8. The Ministry of Science and Technology shall promote innovation, research and transfer of technologies for the production of environmentally friendly materials in order to replace plastics used in production and business, such as plastic materials decomposed at sea, bioplastic materials, apply technologies for use of cellulose and replacement of plastic materials by paper; promote and support scientific and technological research tasks related to plastic waste recycling and disposal; appraise national technical regulations related to plastic waste recycling and disposal.

9. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism shall research and add standards for reduction in the use of disposable plastic products and non-biodegradable plastic bags in business establishments, tourist accommodation and other tourism services at tourist sites, attractions, public fitness and sports facilities, and sports training and competition centers, especially in coastal areas, and suggest alternatives in the regulations providing instructions for the tourism and service industry.

10. The Ministry of Information and Communications, Vietnam Television, Voice of Vietnam and Vietnam News Agency shall preside over or cooperate with relevant agencies, organizations and individuals in implementing communication and propaganda programs on plastic waste reduction, sorting, collection, recycling and disposal.

11. People’s Committees of centrally-affiliated cities and provinces:

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b) Coaxing commercial centers, supermarkets, shops, people's markets, hotels, restaurants, coffee shops, tourist attractions and production, business, and tourism establishments, etc. in localities within their remit to be committed to reducing plastic waste, limit the use of single-use plastics or replace them with environmentally friendly products; not providing free plastic bags to customers or switching from use of non-biodegradable plastic bags to use of other environmentally friendly bags;

c) Researching, learning from experience in and implementing classification of waste at source; placing or directing the placing of trash bins used for garbage collection and classification, and providing training courses and instructions on waste classification at offices, schools, medical facilities and public areas, such as airports, bus or ship terminals, commercial centers, supermarkets, public markets, parks, squares, tourist sites, scenic spots, etc. Strengthening the capacity and efficiency of solid waste collection and disposal activities; carrying out separate collection and disposal of classified waste (including plastic waste). Collecting garbage collection service fees from small traders at conventional markets;

d) Organizing and implementing technical measures to collect plastic waste on rivers, canals,... to constrain plastic waste from pouring into the ocean; conducting and involving the private sector in collection and disposal of plastic waste in the sea, rivers, streams, lakes and ponds in urban areas and residential areas;

dd) Directing the strengthening of the inspection of compliance with environmental protection tax policies and environmental regulations of establishments supplying plastic bags to public markets and small shops; strengthening the inspection and strict control of craft villages and plastic recycling facilities that fail to meet the environmental protection requirements.

12. Implementation:

a) Ministers, Heads of Ministry-level agencies, Heads of Governmental bodies, and Presidents of People’s Committees of centrally-affiliated cities and provinces, and other organizations and persons involved, shall be responsible for directing the implementation of and strictly complying with this Directive.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment shall monitor, urge and review the implementation of this Directive and annually submit review reports to the Prime Minister. 

b) The Party’s organs, National Assembly, National Assembly Standing Committee, Supreme People's Court, Supreme People's Procuracy, socio-political organizations and social organizations are kindly requested to echo the Prime Minister’s anti-plastic waste movement; direct entities under their direct control to devise and actively implement plastic waste reduction, classification and collection plans to contribute to the environmental protection./.

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PRIME MINISTER




Nguyen Xuan Phuc