On June 27, hundreds of residents from the villages of Tân Phú, Phú Thứ, Phú Hà and Phú Hòa in North Phù Mỹ Commune gathered at the Tân Phú Village Cultural House to participate in the “Exchange Waste for Green Gifts” program.
Despite hot weather, participants brought plastic bottles, aluminum cans, scrap paper and used batteries to designated collection points in exchange for environmentally friendly OCOP products, including Hoài Mỹ pure coconut oil, Ông Hoàng herbal essential oil, Lệ Chi Organic Pepper and Phương Di honey.
Organizers collected nearly 150 kilograms of recyclable waste and about 190 used batteries during the event. The materials were transferred to specialized units for treatment and disposal in accordance with regulations.
Trần Phúc Huy, Vice Chairman of the North Phù Mỹ Commune People's Committee, said the initiative was designed not only to collect waste but also to encourage long-term behavioral change by promoting waste sorting at the household level.
He said the program helps residents understand that different types of waste require different treatment methods. Organic waste can be composted into fertilizer, recyclable materials such as paper, plastic and metal can be recovered for reuse, while hazardous items including batteries, light bulbs and damaged electronic devices should be collected separately for proper disposal.
Residents said the campaign had already begun changing daily habits. Trần Thị Lý, a resident of Phú Hà Village, said her family previously paid little attention to separating household waste but now sorts organic waste, recyclables and hazardous waste into different containers.
She said the practice may appear small but could significantly improve the environment if adopted by every household.
Similar environmental efforts were also held elsewhere in the province. On the same day, the "Collect Used Batteries – Receive Gifts" program at the Provincial Center for Vocational Education and Continuing Education in Quy Nhơn Nam Ward attracted youth union members, students and local residents.
The event collected nearly 40 kilograms of used batteries, which organizers said would be handled in accordance with environmental regulations.
Organizers also provided guidance on separating recyclable waste and highlighted both the environmental risks posed by hazardous waste and the benefits of sorting waste at the source.
The program drew many families, with parents bringing children to exchange collected waste for environmentally friendly gifts while learning practical lessons about environmental protection.
Nguyễn Thị Hạnh, a resident of South Quy Nhơn Ward, said her family previously disposed of used batteries and plastic bottles together with household waste but had begun separating them after learning about proper waste management.
She said simple actions such as setting up separate bins at home can help keep the environment clean while making recycling and proper waste treatment more effective.
Nguyễn Việt Cường, Head of the Environmental Protection Sub-Department under the Department of Agriculture and Environment, said waste-for-gift initiatives not only recover recyclable materials and hazardous waste but also create positive community-wide impacts.
He said sorting waste at the source reduces the amount of waste sent to landfills, improves resource recovery and helps minimize environmental pollution.
Cường said protecting the environment begins with everyday actions, from properly disposing of a used battery to saving a plastic bottle for recycling or sorting household waste before disposal. When these practices become routine across communities, he said, they lay the foundation for a cleaner, greener and more sustainable living environment.