Vientiane (VNA) – Along with improving publicawareness of environmental protection, Laos has included waste treatment to itsnational socio-economic development plan in the 2021-2025 period, aiming toturn itself into a green, clean and beautiful country.

According to Laos’s Ministry of Natural Resources andEnvironment, natural problems in the country such as wildfire, waste andplastic waste have directly effecting the environment and people’s health.

Since the beginning of the year, the Southeast Asian countryhas been severely affected by environmental pollution, especially fine dustpollution (PM 2.5) caused by forest fires.

Alongside, emissions from factories, vehicles andindiscriminate burning of garbage, especially plastic waste, have directly impactedthe health and life of locals.

Lao Minister of Natural Resources and Environment BounkhamVorachith emphasised that plastic waste is becoming one of the major challengesfor Laos. The misuse of plastic products that are difficult to decompose and litteringhave left serious consequences for the environment and human health.

Statistics showed that Laos spent about 200 million USD onimporting plastic products last year. Each day, its capital city of Vientianereleases 500-600 tonnes of domestic waste to the environment, of which only50-60% is treated./.