Can Tho City leaders work online with representatives of the Embassy of the Netherlands in Vietnam and Clear Rivers Organization on implementing the pilot project of garbage collection on the Hau River. Photo: Hong Phuong/VOV

Ramon Knoester, Founding Director of Clear Rivers, said the waste collection model on the Hau River includes a Litter Trap machine that operates automatically without consuming fuel to collect plastic waste floating on the river into a bag.

Litter Trap is 5.6m long, 2.3m wide and 2.4m high, of which 1.5m is submerged in water. Clear Rivers staff will clean the traps twice a week, resulting in an estimated eight blocks of plastic waste. This amount of plastic waste will be reused sustainably in the circular economy model. In addition, the project also connects with educational institutions like Can Tho University in designing lectures and participating in communications, raising community awareness about plastic waste reduction.

Deputy Head of Mission at the Dutch Embassy in Vietnam Christoph Prommersberger said that the Netherlands has many businesses with strengths and experiences in the field of collection and treatment of floating waste in rivers and seas. He said the Netherlands hopes that through these projects, it will join hands with Vietnam to reduce environmental pollution caused by plastic waste.