We are pleased to announce that the WFD has been applied at a regional scale for the first time in Phu Yen Province, Viet Nam. The project team, comprising researchers from Eawag (Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology), Hanoi University of Science and Technology, and Phenikaa University adapted the tool to capture the dynamics of plastic leakage at a broader spatial scale to account for all significant sources contributing to marine plastic pollution.
Here are their main findings:
- Phu Yen province leaks 9.4 kg/capita/year of plastic waste into aquatic environment.
- Plastic leakage varies widely per district, ranging from 1.0 to 55.7 kg/capita/year
- Uncollected waste accounts for 88.6% of plastic leakage into aquatic environment.
- Local evidence is crucial for informed decision-making to limit plastic pollution.
These results provide insights for targeted interventions and policies to improve waste collection coverage and reduce regional marine plastic pollution in Phu Yen.
Access the full study here: Regional land-based plastic leakage into the aquatic environment – Waste Flow Diagram applied to the Phu Yen province, Vietnam – ScienceDirect
