The Cooperative Group for scrap collection and technology currently operates across several wards in Hue, including Vy Da, Thuan Hoa, Phu Xuan and Thuy Xuan, and is gradually expanding its network to serve residents citywide. With the goal of having at least one waste picker per ward or commune, this model promotes decentralised, community-based recycling efforts.
What sets the cooperative apart is its integration of digital technology in the collection process. Locals are encouraged to install and use the mGreen app to schedule the collection of recyclables and household scrap.
Through the mGreen Collector platform, cooperative members receive job requests with full customer details and addresses. This enables them to plan routes efficiently, manage orders, track transaction history and monitor cash flow more effectively.
In addition to cash payments, the system introduces mGreen points (1 point = 1 VND), enabling flexible, transparent and convenient transactions within a digital ecosystem.
According to the Hue Women’s Union, over 500 of its members are engaged in scrap collection, many of whom face economic hardship. Yet through their work, they play a silent but vital role in environmental protection by sorting waste and reducing plastic pollution.
To support these women, the Union has helped establish cooperatives and partnered with environmental organisations such as WWF-Viet Nam to provide protective gear and daily transport tools.
Hoang Ngoc Tuong Van of the TVA Project Management Board noted that the Hue City People’s Committee and the TVA project (funded by WWF-Norway via WWF-Viet Nam) have implemented a wide range of activities to reduce plastic waste and promote waste segregation at source.
To date, awareness campaigns have reached more than 15,000 households and nearly 500 businesses, resulting in the collection of over 18 tonnes of plastic waste and reducing the release of plastic and nylon bags into the environment by 30%. Earlier cooperatives formed in An Cuu and Huong An wards have also proven effective, serving as both community hubs and economic lifelines for female waste collectors.
Notably, nearly 600 committed community volunteers have contributed significantly to these early successes.
The formation of the Cooperative Group for scrap collection and technology No. 3 marks an important milestone in expanding the tech-enabled recycling network across Hue.
In the near future, all 40 new wards and communes in Hue are expected to be integrated into the digital scrap collection platform — helping advance the city’s goal of becoming a green, clean, and circular urban centre.
