Waste-for-gifts event inspires Hanoi youth to recycle

THE HANOI TIMES – Hundreds of Hanoi youth exchanged bottles, paper, and cans for plants, reusable bottles, and eco-friendly cleaning supplies on August 12 as part of a citywide environmental campaign led by the Youth Union of the Hanoi People’s Committee.

Simple, transparent exchange rules once again proved to be a strong motivator: four kilograms of cardboard or two kilograms of plastic bottles for a bottle of produce wash, and two kilograms of paper for a reusable water bottle. The system turned stacks of discarded items into tangible rewards while reinforcing the habit of recycling.

Under the morning sun, rows of tables displayed neat piles of potted plants, umbrellas, and water bottles. Participants queued to have their recyclables weighed before collecting their prizes, with each transaction creating a small but visible shift from waste to sustainability.

The ritual was straightforward, yet for many, the sense of reward extended beyond the gift, it was in knowing their actions contributed to a cleaner city.

At the launch, Deputy Secretary Nguyen Thi Ha of the Youth Union of the Hanoi People’s Committee reflected on how far the city had come in cleaning up its environment, yet acknowledged the challenge of littering that still mars urban life.

She urged young people to take the lead, not only by planting trees and collecting trash, but by weaving green habits such as energy saving and waste separation into their daily routines.

The courtyard buzzed with the sounds of chatter, laughter, and the clinking of bottles in large collection bags. Volunteers in blue shirts guided newcomers to sorting tables, carefully recording weights and types of recyclables before handing out the rewards.

Some participants proudly posed for photos with their newly earned potted plants, while others compared the items they had chosen. The atmosphere mixed the energy of a community fair with the quiet satisfaction of contributing to a cleaner city.

Some groups arrived in teams with dozens of bags. At one table, Youth Union Secretary Le Minh Cuong from the Hanoi Agricultural Extension Center helped unload more than 50 kilograms of scrap paper and cans gathered by his colleagues.

He said the gifts were less important than the habit-forming around the effort. In his office, weekly collection drives have now become part of the calendar, and the sorting continues at home.

When asked about the event, Youth Union Secretary Thuy Tien of Kinh te & Do thi Newspaper said it doubled as a clean-up day for both home and workplace while giving unused materials a second life. For her, it was “a true win-win” that balanced environmental care with practical benefit.

For Hoang Nam, a Youth Union member at the People’s Committee of Hanoi, the morning brought back childhood memories of running through his neighborhood to collect old paper and bottles for school drives. Back then, the greatest reward was the pride of being recognized at the school assembly.

“Seeing the same spirit today, along with the added fun of exchanging for practical gifts, feels just perfect,” he said, adding that although the items may be modest in value, their usefulness and the shared sense of purpose make them invaluable.

Others found the shift more recent. Nguyen Duc Trong from the Hanoi Institute of Planning admitted that before joining, all his waste went into the same bin. Walking away with a potted plant in hand, he said the event had changed that, and every small action can help protect the environment.

As the morning wound down, bags of recyclables had been replaced by green gifts in the arms of participants. Deputy Secretary Nguyen Thi Ha reminded the crowd that this was only the first step toward a cleaner, more sustainable Hanoi, built not on slogans but on the quiet accumulation of everyday acts.