Starting the school without rubbish school project at University of Economics, Ho Chi Minh City

University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (UEH) in collaboration with the Vietnam Zero Waste Alliance (VZWA) has officially launched the Zero Waste Campus Project.

UEH students gather and classify garbage before carrying it to destruction. The main goal of the project is to build a model of school without rubbish, apply a zero-garbage solution in school waste management, and prioritize the refusal – minimizing – reuse of single-use plastic products. The product is not required, or cannot be composted. The program will be implemented in the first phase from April to the end of October 2021 at UEH Campus – Nguyen Van Linh. With the concept “just recycling is not enough”, while recycling plastic is also causing many consequences for human health and the environment, the Vietnam Zero Waste Alliance (VZWA) * for that “Practice without rubbish” is the most sustainable solution and create a circular economy for society. In particular, schools play an important role in raising awareness of young people about environmental protection. This is the premise for the idea of ​​implementing UEH – Zero Waste Campus project. The project is part of a strategy to build a No Spam model in the community, as a pilot at the University of Economics, HCMC. Ho Chi Minh City – Nguyen Van Linh campus with cooperation, consultancy and technical support from the Vietnam Spam Free Alliance. The specific objective of the project is that at least 70% of the total post-project surveyed people understand what it means to be No Spam; the amount of general waste going to landfills decreased by about 40%; persistent waste (including disposable plastic, unnecessary products, organic composting) reduced by about 30%; Organic waste is processed to become compost, recycled waste is collected and taken to the recycling facility; Reducing the use of unnecessary, disposable or non-compostable plastic products. In order to realize action goals, City University of Economics. Ho Chi Minh City (UEH) and the Vietnam Spam Free Alliance signed a cooperation agreement (MOU). The signed content of the two parties aims to jointly design, consult and plan the UEH – Zero Waste Campus project, including the development of measures to manage and reduce waste in the school and campaigns. improve waste awareness, adopt a No-Garbage lifestyle and turn waste into a resource. UEH students in class Mr. Bui Quang Hung – UEH Vice Rector shared: “Towards the model of“ Green University ”, HCMC University of Economics. Ho Chi Minh is actively cooperating with the Vietnam No Trash Alliance in activities of managing, minimizing and turning waste into resources; communicating and implementing a roadmap to build the No-Garbage School. The project expects all staff, students and stakeholders at the University to increase awareness of waste issues, and understand and practice the “No Spam” lifestyle. Accordingly, the Vietnam Non-Garbage Alliance initially surveyed students’ perceptions, assessed the current situation of waste at UEH campus – Nguyen Van Linh and will continue to coordinate with the school to implement specific activities. project roadmap. Ms. Quach Thi Xuan, Coordinator of the Vietnam Spam Free Alliance said: “The Zero Waste Campus project marks a new turning point in the partnership between UEH and the Vietnam Spam Free Alliance. This is a “long-term” program with special meaning to raise awareness of environmental protection with practical actions “. The project helps to limit plastic waste, protects the health of students and staff from the harmful effects of plastic waste, and at the same time contributes to building UEH – Nguyen Van Linh Campus in the direction of “Green University” – Green School , Environmental friendliness.