A mobile application was launched by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources of Ho Chi Minh City on June 21 to teach people how to classify solid waste at home.

The app can be downloaded to smartphones from the Play Store for Android users and the App Store for iOS users.

It instructs people to dump all biodegradable organic waste like leftover tea, coffee, leftover and expired foods and more into a labelled blue bag before it is collected. This waste will be processed into compost.

Waste like old magazines, books, paper, plastic or rubber products, metalware and glassware should be classified to be reused or recycled. Others should be put into a grey bag to be sent to waste treatment areas where they can be buried or burnt.

The app also provides videos as visual guidelines for solid waste classification and allows users to send feedback to the city’s Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

Speaking at the app’s launching event, the department’s director Nguyen Toan Thang said the app is part of the city’s efforts to provide people with convenient access to instructions on solid waste classification.

He noted that the department wants to get feedback from users to improve the app. It will develop other software and applications for people to monitor the collection, transport and treatment of household waste and to better raise public awareness of environmental protection.