Field trash bins contribute to environmental protection

(Baonghean) - The application of scientific and technological advances has helped agricultural production achieve more and more achievements. However, the downside of this problem is the situation of waste from packaging, bottles, and pesticide containers that pollute the environment, directly affecting people's health. The model of field trash bins being deployed in many localities is considered an important solution to overcome the above situation.

Coming to Phuc Thanh commune (Yen Thanh) these days, the fields are green with newly planted young rice, and the roads inside the fields are no longer littered with bottles and packages containing pesticides like before.

Talking to us, Mr. Le Dinh Quang - Head of the Commune's Agriculture Department said: "Previously, after mixing pesticides, people often carelessly threw the packaging in the fields, not only causing unsightliness but also causing environmental pollution, especially greatly affecting water resources. Then there were glass bottles of pesticides thrown everywhere on the banks of fields and canals, making it easy for people to step on them. However, in the past year, with the support of superiors in providing trash bins placed in the fields and instructing people on how to use pesticides properly, this situation has gradually been improved."

The cylindrical trash bins are made of cement, 90-100 cm in diameter, and are placed at places where people often mix pesticides to facilitate the disposal of packaging and bottle waste.

After surveying the local situation, the Provincial Plant Protection Department and the Plant Protection Station of Yen Thanh district chose Dong Vinh, located in Hamlet 10A (Lien Son), Phuc Thanh commune to pilot the installation of 3 agricultural waste bins. Seeing the obvious effectiveness of this model in protecting the environment, Phuc Thanh commune is planning to quickly expand it to the entire commune. When the bins are full, the waste will be transferred to a centralized treatment area.

Since early 2014, Nghe An Plant Protection Department has built a model of "Community for sustainable management of rice pests and minimizing the risk of pesticide contamination", focusing on raising awareness and responsibility for farmers, reducing risks caused by pesticides, protecting the environment and public health. In the first year of implementing this model, the Department has supported part of the funding for communes to build field waste bins, piloting in 8 communes in 5 key rice production districts of the province (2 models in Yen Thanh district, 2 models in Hung Nguyen district, 1 model in Dien Chau, Do Luong, Thanh Chuong and Nam Dan districts). In each model, for every 5 hectares of rice fields, the Plant Protection Department supports the provision of 1 agricultural waste bin.

Realizing the positive effects of this work, the districts have invested in placing more field trash bins; at the same time, they have widely disseminated information so that people are aware and practice disposing of waste in the right place. Typically, in Thanh Lien commune (Thanh Chuong district), there are currently nearly 60 agricultural waste bins distributed evenly across the entire field area of ​​the commune. Ms. Le Thi Tuyet (Hamlet 7, Thanh Lien commune) said: "In the past, many pesticide bottles were thrown haphazardly in the fields and ditches, we were always afraid of stepping on them when we went to work. Since there are trash bins placed on the field banks, we no longer have to worry, and the environment is less polluted." According to Mr. Phan Ba ​​Ngoc, Chairman of Thanh Lien Commune People's Committee, this model has been enthusiastically supported by the people, so in the near future, the commune will place more trash bins to meet the needs of handling field waste...

However, in reality, there are still some people who are not fully aware of the harmful effects of pesticide packaging and bottles, so they still maintain the habit of "throwing away wherever is convenient", causing the field trash bins to not fully play their role and effectiveness.

In addition, there are trash bins located near residential areas, so people collect household waste, making it difficult to classify and dispose of. According to regulations, the waste treatment point must be at least 3 km away from residential areas.

However, currently, some localities have not handled the process properly. Some places use incineration or burial on site, while there are bottles and solid waste that are not easily decomposed, over time will negatively impact the soil environment, water environment and directly affect people's health.

When asked about how to overcome these limitations, Mr. Pham Thanh Long - Deputy Head of the Department of Agricultural Plant Protection, Nghe An Plant Protection Department said: "In the process of implementing this model, we have established "self-managed farmer" groups, each group of 3 people, including reputable farmers who are capable of grasping the problem to coordinate in checking the implementation of the regulations, at the same time directing, investigating and resolving problems during the implementation process. Regarding the collection and treatment of pesticide packaging after use, we are trying to mobilize people to promote the spirit of self-awareness, dispose of field waste in the right place, then collect pesticide packaging from containers once a year and gather them at one location for treatment".

To develop green, clean agricultural production that meets VietGAP standards, we must first start with the awareness of each person in preserving the farming environment. Local authorities need to promote and educate people to raise awareness of environmental protection, creating a habit of collecting pesticide packaging after use. It is even possible to add it to the regulations and village covenants to control people's behavior. In addition, all levels and sectors also need to have appropriate solutions for collecting and treating field waste, promoting the positive and comprehensive effectiveness of this progressive model to replicate it on a provincial scale.

Phuong Thao