On the morning of April 25, 2023, the Centre for Marinelife Conservation and Community Development (MCD) cooperated with the Department of Natural Resources and Environment (DONRE) of Nam Dinh province, the People’s Committee of Giao Huong commune, and other local partners to organize the event “Launching river trash capture tool” at Thanh Hong village, Giao Huong commune, Giao Thuy district, Nam Dinh province.

This river trash capture tool is an initiative under “Strategic Plastic Litter Abatement in the Song Hong” project, financially supported and technically advised by U.S.-based NGO Ocean Conservancy. The project is managed and implemented by MCD in collaboration with the Nam Dinh Provincial DONRE and other local and national partners.

The event was attended by national-level government representatives from Vietnam Administration of Sea and Islands; Vietnam Institute of Sea and Islands; Vietnam Inland Waterways Administration and its Northern Branch; Vietnam Academy for Water Resources; Department of Environmental Pollution Control; Department of Fisheries; Institute of Environmental Technology; Institute of Ecology and Environment; DOW Vietnam Company; For Vietnamese Stature Foundation; Representatives from projects on plastic waste management; and MCD; with the presence of various delegates from Nam Dinh province including: leaders and officers of the Provincial DONRE; representatives of the Department of Transport, Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Department of Science and Technology, Department of Traffic Police, Riverway Management Company No. 5; leaders of People’s Committee and officers from Giao Thuy district DONRE, Giao Thuy district’s Youth Union; Leaders of the Party Committee, People’s Committee, People’s Council, representatives of agencies, enterprises, mass organizations and local communities in Giao Huong commune; Representatives of the My Loc district DONRE and the People’s Committee of My Tan commune; Representatives of the Nam Dinh city DONRE and the People’s Committee of Tran Te Xuong ward; Representatives of the Nam Truc district DONRE, People’s Committees of Dien Xa and Nam Thang communes; Representatives of the Xuan Truong district DONRE and the People’s Committee of Xuan Thanh commune; Representative of Xuan Thuy National Park Management Board; Local businesses; Representatives of community groups operating the 6 trash trappers in the network; and over 120 local people representing the local community where the new trash trapper is placed. This activity was witnessed by representatives of central and local press and television units.

At the event, Ms. Ho Thi Yen Thu – Standing Deputy Director of MCD said: “In the project “Strategic Plastic Litter Abatement in the Song Hong”, an important component is to improve the previously developed river trash capture tool (trash trapper) and replicate it over the Red River and its tributaries in Nam Dinh. There have been 05 trash trappers installed, launched and operated of which 04 trash trappers located on the Red River in My Tan commune of My Loc district; Dien Xa and Nam Thang communes of Nam Truc district; Xuan Thanh commune of Xuan Truong district, and 01 trash trapper placed on Dao river in Tran Te Xuong ward of Nam Dinh city. The trash trapper in Giao Huong commune is the sixth and also the one at the endpoint in the Red River of the current network of pilot trash trappers that MCD and experts, authorities, communities and stakeholders jointly implement in Nam Dinh province. Together with the previous 05 trash trappers, the trash trapper in Giao Huong commune will contribute to enhancing the collection of debris in the rivers, reducing the debris floating through river to sea and raising the awareness of the local communities in solid waste and plastic waste management in Nam Dinh. The performance of these trash trappers also provides important data and experience to contribute to the global system of river trash capture tools. Today, we are very pleased to announce the launch this 6th trash trapper in Thanh Hong village, Giao Huong commune, Giao Thuy district, Nam Dinh province. We believe that this trash trapper will be successfully received, managed and operated by the local authorities and people, and become an important part of the trash trapper network on the Red River.”

Ms. Ho Thi Yen Thu – Standing Deputy Director of MCD

The design, manufacture and installation of the river trash capture tools was led by MCD and Nam Dinh provincial DONRE, with the participation of domestic and foreign experts, local officials, local communities and relevant stakeholders. It has obtained professional appraisal and permission for operation by the Vietnam Inland Waterways Administration. The trash trappers are located at river shorelines, contributing to strengthen the waste management in riverine and estuary areas in Nam Dinh province.

Trash trapper in Giao Huong commune

Mr. Do Quang Trung – Deputy Director of the DONRE of Nam Dinh province commented: “The management of solid waste and plastic waste in the coastal and riverine areas in Nam Dinh has been significantly enhanced with the operation of the trash trappers in the rivers. This trash trapper in Giao Huong commune, while being located downstream, will continue the success of the upper trash trappers and contribute to enriching the network of trash trappers on waterways from river to sea in Nam Dinh province. We highly appreciate the effectiveness of the trash trapper network not only in technical and technological factors, but also in its impact on improvement of the local community awareness and behavior on waste collection and treatment. On behalf of the DONRE of Nam Dinh province, I would like to express our gratitude to the donors and MCD for their meaningful support and assistance. I hope that the trash trapper model will continue to be maintained and replicated in Nam Dinh province with the support of MCD in environmental protection project.”

Mr. Do Quang Trung – Deputy Director of the DONRE of Nam Dinh province

As the next steps, through the project “Strategic Plastic Litter Abatement in the Song Hong”, MCD will continue to work with experts to support Nam Dinh in monitoring the operation of the trash trapper network to ensure the technical requirements and relevant regulations, contributing to reducing plastic waste into the sea in Nam Dinh in particular and in Vietnam in general, and contributing data and experience to the global trash trapper network.