Environmental Cooperatives: A model that needs to be replicated.

(Baonghean)Currently in our province, although the number of cooperatives operating in this field is still small, the environmental service cooperatives in Do Luong Town, Hung Nguyen Town, and Thanh Chuong Town have been operating effectively, creating a positive impact on society regarding environmental protection.

The Do Luong Town Environmental and Service Cooperative was established in 2006, inheriting the old environmental sanitation team. From its inception, the Cooperative's management focused on consolidating and organizing its workforce, innovating its thinking and working methods, and gradually stabilizing its operations. Currently, the Cooperative has 5 members and 21 employees. Revenue in 2012 reached 450 million VND. The average income of employees ranges from 1.8 to 2.5 million VND per person per month.

In 2012, despite numerous difficulties, the cooperative planned the construction of transfer stations for transporting waste to the landfill, upgraded and improved equipment and vehicles for waste collection and treatment, cleared and dredged drainage ditches, and planted nearly 200 trees around the town to create a healthier living environment for the residents. As a result, the town's environmental sanitation improved significantly, waste accumulation was eliminated, flooding gradually decreased, and the cooperative's activities received strong support and approval from the town's residents.

In Hung Nguyen Town, the Hung Nguyen Town Agricultural Cooperative added waste collection and environmental treatment services to its responsibilities in 2009 due to practical needs. Thanks to this flexibility and dynamism, the cooperative provides regular employment for 22 people and many part-time workers. In 2012, the cooperative generated revenue of 1.2 billion VND, with an average monthly income of 1.8-2 million VND per worker.

Over the past period, the cooperative has effectively implemented waste collection and environmental treatment services, such as: purchasing additional handcarts to collect waste from main roads and small alleys in residential areas, administrative offices, and schools; purchasing larger vehicles to transport waste to the landfill; upgrading and expanding general waste collection and environmental treatment services; planting trees to create a green environment for the town; upgrading the road to the landfill; expanding the drying area and waste sorting area; and expanding the landfill pits for solid waste not intended for recycling… As a result, the pollution problem in the town has been fundamentally resolved, ensuring urban environmental hygiene.

Similar to the cooperatives in Do Luong and Hung Nguyen, since its operation began (October 2010), the Thanh Chuong Town Environmental Service Cooperative has always focused on the effectiveness of its environmental sanitation services, purchasing handcarts, installing additional public garbage bins, and promptly collecting garbage… as a result, Thanh Chuong Town is becoming increasingly green, clean, and beautiful.

Although cooperatives still face some difficulties and shortcomings in their operation, it can be seen that the model of environmental service cooperatives contributes to raising awareness and a sense of responsibility among the people regarding urban environmental sanitation, meeting the demands and aspirations of the people, creating a clean and healthy environment, and contributing to building cultural life and fulfilling environmental criteria in the construction of new rural areas. This is a community-based model that effectively serves the community and is supported by the people; therefore, the environmental service cooperative model needs to be replicated in localities throughout the province.

Van Anh (Provincial Cooperative Union)