"DuyTan Plastic Recycling Company has 36 years of experience in the plastics industry. To facilitate our plastic recycling activities, we have invested in a high-tech factory, the first of its kind in Vietnam, to successfully apply the 'Bottle to Bottle' recycling model," said Anh.

The company inaugurated phase 1 of a new recycling plant in Duc Hoa district, Long An province in April. The site has the capacity to recycle up to 30,000 tonnes a year.

Plastic bottles previously only had one product life cycle. With recycling, that can be potentially increased by 50 times. DuyTan Plastic Recycling has obtained more than 20 certificates for its products, such as the US Food and Drug Administration and international certification from the European Food Safety Authority. As a result, the company has been able to export recycled plastic products to the US and EU.

A major challenge for Vietnam and other Southeast Asian countries is the lack of waste classification at source, often meaning just half of what is collected can be recycled into packaging. The rest must be recycled into other products, such as plastic fibre.

"By 2025, waste classification at source will be applied more widely. However, many consumers are still wary of recycled products. I hope there will be many programmes to raise awareness and promote recycling products," Anh said.

There are several organisations in Vietnam that now recycle different materials such as packaging, metal, and plastics, a relatively recent development for the country, promising brighter prospects for a cleaner and greener environment.

While many people still see recycling as a burden, in reality, it is a potential new market with abundant opportunities. In other parts of the world, waste has become an exploitable resource, it just depends on how one takes advantage of this resource.