Background
Plastic pollution
Vietnam is one of the largest plastic polluters globally, with ~1.8 million tons of plastic waste discharged into the environment annually. This is equivalent to the weight of 12,000 blue whales. DaLat landfill receives more than 200 tons of unclassified waste every day. The landfill poses a threat to the 13,938 residents living nearby. These plastic wastes are a fire hazard and cause water and soil pollution, undermining human well-being.
Increasing plastic collection and recycling rates can reduce the threat plastic pollution poses to human health.
Deforestation
Vietnam loses ~2,430 hectares of forest annually, equivalent to the area of 6,000 football fields. DaLat loses 10 Ha of forest annually. Deforestation led to various natural disasters in DaLat over the past decade, affecting 433 households, destroying 638 Ha of farmland, and causing 8.5 billion VND in damage.
Planting trees on farmlands and around Nature Reserves and National Parks can mitigate these problems while strengthening local capacity and generating economic benefits.
Restoration
For our reforestation project, we wish to focus on the Bidoup – Nui Ba National Park. Bidoup – Nui Ba National Park (about 30km from Da Lat), known as “the roof of the Central Highlands,” is a prominent part of Vietnam’s national park system. Its strategic position on the Lam Vien plateau underscores why the project has chosen to concentrate its efforts here. The park is a crucial starting point for rivers that flow through the Central Highlands, Central, and Southeast regions of Vietnam. It is home to the Dong Nai River, one of the largest river basins in Vietnam that encompass 11 provinces and cities. Notably, seven of these provinces and cities are situated within the Southern Key Economic Zone. Ho Chi Minh City alone relies on more than 1.8 million cubic meters of water from the Dong Nai River each day.
These forests are crucial for the economic, water and environmental security for tens of millions of people residing along the Dong Nai river. Through this initiative, we seek to foster a harmonious balance between the needs of the population and the preservation of our natural resources. By safeguarding the water supply and promoting responsible economic growth, we can create a prosperous and sustainable future for all.
Youth
Recycle Dalat wishes to work closely with 2 groups of stakeholders in particular – youths and vulnerable communities. Youths make up ~25% of Vietnam’s population and are disproportionately vulnerable to environmental pollution and disasters. As victims of environmental problems and key agents of change, youth engagement is critical to incubate leaders passionate about tackling environmental challenges.
We are aiming to engage youths through games, campaigns and workshops.
Vulnerable communities
Background and Justification
- Informal sector
- Have low & inconsistent earnings
- Don’t receive any assistance from the government or the community
Ve Chai are individuals who gather discarded items and trade them for a living.
Through our engagement with several Ve Chai in 2023, we leveraged on their existing work to help us collect plastic waste, also increase their income. Since then, our partnering Ve Chai have developed a heightened concern for plastic waste and actively participate in waste classification efforts for the city. The quantity of plastic they collect continues to grow steadily each day.
At the forefront of these environmental problems, they also have unique indigenous knowledge on how to engage these problems. Doing so can also help us tackle the environmental problems that plague them.
More than 30% of waste in Vietnam is gathered through these informal channels, according to the estimates provided by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).
More than 30% of waste in Vietnam is gathered through these informal channels, according to the estimates provided by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).
Goals and objectives
1. Increase plastics collection and recycling rates in Da Lat, Vietnam, through our partnership with local recycling spots, Plastics People/ Limart.
Support more than
Ve Chai, or rag-bone-bone men to classify trash in the communities
Hold
flea market
at school each month
Treat more than
kg of plastic & recyclable waste each month
Inspire
youths/children to adopt the habit of recycling plastics
2. Plant more trees in Vietnam through our partnership with Joy Foundation, Bidoup-Nui Ba National Park.
Plant more than
trees over 22 Ha of land in Bidoup – Nui Ba National Park
Engage
youths to participate in tree planting
Develop and implement
education program aimed at protecting wild animals and plants on social media.
3. Develop Vietnamese youths into future leaders and forge connections between youths from Dalat, Vietnam.
Conduct
workshops (combine with playing R3cycle cardgame) with 1,000 youths/children in Dalat and 2 more medium tourist size cities
Conduct
competition where participants raise awareness of environmental problems
Influence a total of
people through our activities, workshops and challenge/campaign on plastic pollution