Good ways to contribute to creating a livable countryside

GO TO THE MARKET WITH A BASKET, WRAP GOODS WITH LEAVES

Currently, many localities have actively implemented the "Reducing plastic waste" model in traditional markets. Photo: Thanh Phuc

August 2020, the model "Civilized markets reduce plastic waste and nylon bags"The model was developed by the Women's Union of Kim Lien Commune (Nam Dan) at Cau Market. Immediately after the model was launched, the Women's Union of Kim Lien Commune established a team of volunteers to directly communicate to housewives, small traders and traders at the market about the harmful effects of using plastic bags in daily life.

At the same time, organize integrated activities, invite officers of the Provincial Department of Environmental Protection to directly discuss the harmful effects of plastic bags and plastic waste, classify recyclable and non-recyclable waste for officers, members and traders doing business at Cau market; organize the contest "Displaying safe and environmentally friendly products" at 12 branches in the commune...

In particular, the Association has mobilized women to collect plastic scraps to sell to raise funds, use the funds to buy plastic baskets for members to go to the market, and buy smart trash cans to install in residential areas. Up to now, 350 plastic baskets have been given to members and 100 trash cans have been installed in residential areas.

Trash bins were installed in residential areas of Kim Lien commune (Nam Dan) from funds mobilized by the Women's Union of the commune. Photo: Thanh Phuc

Through these positive activities, people in Kim Lien commune gradually became aware of the harmful effects of using disposable plastic bags in their daily lives, thereby changing their behavior from using plastic bags to carry groceries to using bamboo baskets, plastic baskets, sedge bags, and rattan baskets to go shopping. Many small traders in the market, instead of using plastic bags to wrap goods, have switched to using banana leaves, dong leaves, and paper to wrap vegetables, tubers, fruits, fresh and dried foods, etc.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Van, a resident of Sen village, said: “Plastic bags are really convenient, but through the media, it is known that they are toxic, have a negative impact on the living environment, and affect health, especially for future generations. Therefore, now, every time I go to the market, I bring a basket to hold vegetables and tubers; meat, fish, and shrimp are put in plastic or glass boxes. When I have goods to sell at the market, I use banana leaves available in the garden to wrap the goods, which is both safe and ensures the food is fresh and delicious.”

Giving away plastic baskets - a shopping tool instead of plastic bags. Photo: Thanh Phuc

Not only Mrs. Van but also most of the people in Kim Lien have formed the awareness of using baskets to go to the market and using leaves to wrap goods. From there, the use of plastic bags is minimized, plastic waste is reduced, creating a green, clean, beautiful and friendly living environment, contributing to building Kim Lien into a model new rural commune associated with tourism development.

FLOWER ROAD MADE FROM WASTE

Responding to the policy"Building Hung Tan new rural commune into a livable countryside",Recently, the Women's Union of Hung Tan commune (Hung Nguyen) has launched the movement "Turning waste into flower streets". Accordingly, households have organized waste classification at home, for organic waste, it is buried, composted into fertilizer for vegetables and rice, limiting chemical fertilizers; and solid waste such as: plastic bags, plastic shells, beer cans, cardboard... is collected. Every month, members gather at the branches to collect and sell to get money to buy seeds and seedlings to plant flowers and trees along the roads.

A flower road was built from the scrap collection fund in Hung Tan commune (Hung Nguyen). Photo: Thanh Phuc

Ms. Nguyen Thi Thuan - a member of the Phan Village Association, Hung Tan Commune said: “Previously, beer cans, water bottles, and plastic bags were often thrown around in the garden, at public garbage dumps, causing both waste and environmental pollution. Initiated and guided by the Commune Women's Union to classify, now the family has collected solid waste, the scraps are collected in sacks, and when due, they are donated to the association. The association sells them to buy trees and flower seeds to plant. The green, clean, and beautiful flower paths are both a place to rest and relax after a hard day of farming; and a place to strengthen the village and neighborhood relationships through common tasks such as planting trees and taking care of flowers…”.

The people's cooperation has created green, clean and beautiful village roads and alleys, creating livable countrysides. Photo: Thanh Phuc

Coming to Hung Tan commune today, the village roads and alleys are paved with flat concrete, along both sides of the fence are rows of colorful flowers: cool purple of the afternoon, multi-colored ten o'clock flowers, butterfly wings and green trees closing their canopies, providing shade for the country roads.

Those colorful flower roads were changed from scrap and waste; from the hands that take care of and protect flowers, from the common consciousness of building a new rural area of ​​each local resident. The rural space of "Beautiful garden, beautiful house, beautiful road" was formed, contributing to bringing Hung Tan commune to the standard of an advanced new rural commune in 2021; First prize in the beautiful new rural commune in 2019 and is aiming to build a model new rural commune.

Turning waste into breeding stock

From the reality in many blocks of waste disposal, families mostly put organic waste and solid waste in the same container and then throw them away, causing both waste and environmental pollution. Meanwhile, in the area, there are many difficult circumstances that need help. In July 2021, the Standing Committee of the Farmers' Association of Con Cuong town issued a plan to propagate and mobilize members to collect waste and turn waste into useful things.

Farmers in Con Cuong town collect scrap and sell it to raise funds to help poor households in the area. Photo: Thanh Phuc

With the motto that each member is a volunteer to protect the environment, each branch builds an environmental protection model. Every month, the branches organize the collection of scrap from members, then sell it to scrap dealers, collect funds; every quarter, the scrap sale fund is taken to organize activities such as giving gifts to poor students, giving breeding animals to poor households.

In 2021, when the Covid-19 epidemic broke out complicatedly, the branches mobilized members to "Turn scrap into medical supplies and necessities" to support the frontline forces against the epidemic and support people affected by Covid-19. Hundreds of gifts were given away with a total amount of 70 million VND from scrap collection sources. In 2022, the Association continued to mobilize members to implement the plan to turn scrap into breeding animals to support poor members in economic development and support poor students in means of transportation and study. In the first 3 months of the year alone, the Association donated 2 bicycles to 2 poor students of Lang Khe Primary School, gave Tet gifts to 2 poor households, and gave 30 kg of chickens to 3 poor members. In the near future, the Association will give 4 breeding pigs to 4 members on the occasion of May 19. All gifts are taken from the scrap collection fund.

This is a meaningful activity as it reduces waste, protects the environment, does useful work, and demonstrates the spirit of mutual love and support. Photo: Thanh Phuc

To date, the model “Turning scrap into breeding stock”has received the participation of 8/8 branches, with over 90% of members responding; typically Branch 1 has 100% of members participating. Ms. Doan Thi Xuan Quy - President of the Farmers' Association of Con Cuong town said: "The model was launched with 2 purposes: Protecting the environment through collecting plastic waste and helping members in difficult circumstances. The most remarkable thing is that currently, most households have classified waste at source, minimizing littering, almost every resident has the habit of picking up and collecting scrap when encountering it to support the fund. Thanks to that, the block is free of waste, home gardens are clean, and the alleys are more civilized...".

With good, creative and practical ways of doing things through suitable models, organizations such as the Farmers' Association, Women's Union, and Youth Union have created positive changes in awareness, actions and raised the responsibility of cadres and members in environmental protection, contributing to creating livable countrysides./.