World Environment Day June 5, 2023, was launched by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) with the theme “Solutions to plastic pollution”. In Vietnam, one of the activities suggested by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to focus on this year’s World Environment Day is to popularize and replicate effective models in the collection, classification, and treatment of domestic waste and plastic waste at source.

MCD together with partners are pleased to introduce a model of river  trash capture tool (referred to as trash trapper) implemented in Nam Dinh, a coastal province in the Red River Delta region with a coastline of 72 km long, and a river system including 4 large rivers: Red, Dao, Day, and Ninh Co.

What is a the trash trapper?

The trash trapper is an initiative of integrated technological and social evironmental solutions to contribute to solving the gaps in waste collection in the waterways in order to increase the rate of waste collection and reduce the amount of waste transmitted to the sea. The trash trapper was initiated by the project “Comparative pilot waterway municipal plastic waste management practices for reducing marine plastic pollution in Nam Dinh of the Red River Delta World Biosphere Reserve, Vietnam” funded by USAID and project “Strategic Plastic Litter Abatement in the Song Hong (SPLASH)” funded by Ocean Conservancy. These projects are managed and implemented by MCD in collaboration with the Nam Dinh DONRE and other local partners in Nam Dinh province.

The trash trapper is designed with the following criteria: being locally suitable, compact, and flexible; non-motorized; operated semi-automatically or with man-power; using locally environmentally friendly, long-lasting, and low-cost materials; ensuring compliance with regulations on waterway traffic safety, dyke management and relevant legal regulations; fully consulted with relevant management agencies and local communities.

How does the trash trapper work?

The trash trapper will collect floating waste on the river under normal flow conditions, not in case of flooding, with the following working mechanism: Waste follows the water currents to get into the space between two waste collection arms, then will be trapped in the waste container. The waste will then be removed from the trash trapper, and transferred ashore, to be separated according to proper procedures: the organic and non-recyclable waste is transported to the local waste treatment facility, and the recyclable waste is sold to local scrap collectors.

The trash trapper is operated by a local core operation group with members from the Veterans Association, Women’s Union, etc., agreed upon by the local communities and authorities.

How many trash trappers have been installed?

Until now, there have been 06 trash trappers installed, launched, and operated in Nam Dinh province of which 05 trash trappers located on the Red River in the communes of My Tan, Dien Xa, Nam Thang, Xuan Thanh, Giao Huong, and 01 trash trapper placed on Dao river in Tran Te Xuong ward, forming a river trash trapper network.

How effective the trash trappers have been?

A large amount of floating waste has been collected by trash trappers since being launched and operated until the end of May, 2023, totaling about 45 tons, of which plastic waste accounted for 28.4%.

Ms. Tran Thi Tam from Pho Ben village, My Tan commune expressed “Before having the trash trapper, local people brought waste and dumped it in this area, so the surrounding environment was extremely filthy. Since the day the trash trapper is installed and operated here in my home village at My Tan commune, this place becomes so much cleaner, and people are more conscious about addressing plastic waste pollution”.

It can be said that the trash trapper network is a rather unique local initiative and a practical response to the “Anti-plastic waste” movement launched by the Government, and meaningfully contributes to the implementation of the Action Plan of Vietnam and Nam Dinh province on marine plastic waste management until 2030.