A project to boost recycling of plastic waste gathered by private garbage collectors has received approval from the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee, VietnamNet reports. Currently, the city has some 4,000 private garbage collectors who take care of about 582 tons of domestic waste per day. The project hopes to impact at least 70% of the plastic collected recycled.
Sponsored by the nonprofit group Environmental Development Action in the Third World (ENDA), the VND3 billion project aims to establish markets for plastic waste, encourage private garbage collectors to pick up items for recycling and improve their working conditions.
While private collectors play an important role in maintaining Saigon’s hygiene, most don’t enjoy access to health and occupational hazard insurance like their government counterparts. Injuries on the job are common and collectors are also prone to dermatitis, arthritis and fever. With an average monthly salary of VND4.5 million, getting treatment is a challenge to many.
[Photo via VCCI]
