VietCycle organised a training course with support from the Global Plastic Action Partnership (GPAP) on December 3 to enhance understanding about health, occupational safety, fire prevention, and gender equality for informal waste collectors, dubbed the ‘green warriors’.
The course was part of the “Empowering Green Warriors” project, aiming to improve skills and livelihoods for informal waste workers.
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The event featured GPAP representative Dang Nguyet Anh, who is also programme manager for the National Plastic Action Partnership (NPAP), along with representatives from gender equality and inclusive development advocacy groups such as Zero Waste, GreenHub, and IUCN, as well as about 100 informal waste collectors.
According to the World Bank, around 70 per cent of recyclable waste in Vietnam is processed by informal workers.
In Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City alone, this workforce is estimated at 80,000 to 100,000 individuals, most of whom are women, accounting for 60–70 per cent of those involved in plastic waste collection and recycling.
Despite their significant contributions to the circular economy, these workers often face unsafe working conditions, low incomes, and gender inequality.
Recognising the importance of this workforce, GPAP, a global initiative under the World Economic Forum, has launched support projects to improve the living and working conditions of informal waste collectors.
With a proven track record and practical projects over the years, Hanoi-based VietCycle was given funding by GPAP for this initiative.
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| The symbolic act marking the “Empowering Green Warriors” project launch. |
In recent years, VietCycle has pioneered the creation of the XanhNet Circular Ecosystem, a closed-loop system for collecting, sorting, and recycling plastic waste.
To date, XanhNet has established a network encompassing more than 3,000 informal waste collectors, or the ‘Green Warriors’.
With GPAP’s support, the “Empowering Green Warriors” project aims to enhance skills, resources, and livelihoods for informal waste collectors. This initiative also reflects the commitment of VietCycle and GPAP to fostering sustainability and social equity within the informal workforce, while raising public awareness about the critical role this group plays in the circular economy.
The “Empowering Green Warriors” project comprised of two specialised training sessions:
Session 1, held in Hanoi, focused on raising awareness about occupational safety, fire prevention, and gender equality. Session 2, scheduled to take place in Ho Chi Minh City, will cover financial skills and technical knowledge of plastic recycling.
The project also features an Innovative Exhibition, a special event showcasing the work of the green warriors, raising the youth’s awareness about waste issues, and inspiring communities about the importance of the circular economy.
During the first training session, representatives shared their thoughts and vision towards a common goal.
According to Dang Nguyet Anh, the informal waste collection workforce plays an indispensable role in the current solid waste management system because they are the first to handle and process plastic and other solid waste, contributing to recycling efforts and reducing environmental pollution.
“GPAP and NPAP in Vietnam are committed to supporting VietCycle on this project. This is not only because VietCycle is an active member of our gender equality and inclusive development technical group, but also because we believe that informal waste collectors deserve safe working conditions, training opportunities, and income that reflects the value of their efforts,” Anh shared.
Hoang Duc Vuong, chairman of VietCycle, also expressed his thoughts and reaffirmed the vision of VietCycle and XanhNet.
“Today’s training session is not only the starting point of the project, but also our pledge to promote sustainability and social equity for the informal waste collection workforce. With everyone’s collaboration, I believe we can create meaningful and lasting change, making Vietnam a country that treats waste responsibly.,” he said.
The representatives of GPAP, VietCycle, and the informal waste collectors together performed a symbolic act marking the project’s official launch, highlighting the deep collaboration among the parties, and emphasising a strong determination to build a circular economy with responsible waste treatment in Vietnam and globally.
