How we can increase the recycling rates in Singapore.
-
I am an avid recycler and faithfully put recyclable items such as unwanted books and plastic bottles ie into bags provided by Semcorp.
However i think it will be better if we have recycling pts run by volunteers such as students and retirees in housing estates.Items collected would be sold in bulk to semcorp.The advantages being :
1 Having such pts near their homes making recycling more accessible and convenient at different days of the week will encourage more ppl to recycle.
2 More types of waste can be recycle eg electronic waste and batteries.
3 Proper management of items at point of collection.
5 Raise community awareness of recycling and enviroment.
6 Raise funds from sale of these items to fund other enviromental projects.
Any suggestions and comments ? -
Simple, make it a law. Even better, implement incentives.
-
first of all, u have to educate the public about recycling
wat we lack is the intuition and the urgency of loving our earth...... -
recycling is such a normal part of life in the western world.
e.g. in the US, the recycling companies tie up with supermarkets to install machines outside the supermarkets that resemble vending machines, except that these accept used cans, and plastic bottles for recycling. and a small token amount will be given for each can / bottle recycled. this amount can then be used for shopping at the supermarket.
its alot in the culture i would say. -
By using more papers and materials that can be recycled. Use more then get to recycle more
-
dun give plastic bags in supermarkets.....ask ppl to bring shopping bags.
if they want to get plastic bags...pay for it.
this is wat i encounter when i bought a tower of chocs and make payment in Holland...and the cashier after collecting and returning me the change stare at me and i stare at her...expecting a plastic bag for those -
If its Singapore, then don't shop there liao loh.Originally posted by NeonTetra:dun give plastic bags in supermarkets.....ask ppl to bring shopping bags.
if they want to get plastic bags...pay for it.
this is wat i encounter when i bought a tower of chocs and make payment in Holland...and the cashier after collecting and returning me the change stare at me and i stare at her...expecting a plastic bag for those -
For me, whether I recycle or not is really a matter of convinence. I like to help with recycling. But the usual problem is that it is not readily available. You actually have to go the extra mile to find a recycle bin. In Japan, almost all rubbish bins comes in multiples - flamable, non-flamable, plastics, cans etc.....
So, first step I think is to set up the rubbish bin that way. At least, don't give people like me a reason not to recycle
-
NTUC gives out its plastic bag freely sometimes like one item one bag for edible and non-edible items.I will tell the cashier I dun mind put them together.Originally posted by NeonTetra:dun give plastic bags in supermarkets.....ask ppl to bring shopping bags.
if they want to get plastic bags...pay for it.
this is wat i encounter when i bought a tower of chocs and make payment in Holland...and the cashier after collecting and returning me the change stare at me and i stare at her...expecting a plastic bag for those
Sometimes I bring back the bags when I buy things there because they are still clean and new, at first the cashier find it very strange later they got use to it liao.
We have to change the mindset and thinking of Singaporeans -
Which leads us back to the question. How?Originally posted by tspg:NTUC gives out its plastic bag freely sometimes like one item one bag for edible and non-edible items.I will tell the cashier I dun mind put them together.
Sometimes I bring back the bags when I buy things there because they are still clean and new, at first the cashier find it very strange later they got use to it liao.
We have to change the mindset and thinking of Singaporeans -
Public education and through schools the younger ppl are more aware of enviromental conservation today.Originally posted by ditzy:Which leads us back to the question. How?
Anyway the main point I am trying to raise in the original topic is how to improve the process of collection.
I find the method used by Semcorp extremely inefficient. When residents leave the bags at their door step the workers have to search every floor for them resulting in high labour costs and they only collect once every two weeks.
Having recycle bins at ground is not feasible as it is a fire hazard.
Hence I suggest having recycling centres.
Other comments and suggestions welcome
-
read this thread i posted about recycling bins
http://www.sgforums.com/?action=thread_display&thread_id=77307 -
I agree dun think they work very well. Ppl throw rubbish into them and when they overflow, nobody know would know.Originally posted by FireIce:read this thread i posted about recycling bins
http://www.sgforums.com/?action=thread_display&thread_id=77307
Having a recycling centre taken care of by volunteers would solved the problem.
Can also have incentives like pen and paper or sample products of BodyShop given to residents who bring their things for recycling. -
Think most companies use alot of paper....
I have been using alot of paper lately....no choice....but some paper just cannot be thrown into the recycle bin as they contain confidential items....another thing is... there is no recycle bin lying around.... -
In the organisation I used to work in we handle a lot of confidential also. The paper is shredded and recycled.Originally posted by Whistar:Think most companies use alot of paper....
I have been using alot of paper lately....no choice....but some paper just cannot be thrown into the recycle bin as they contain confidential items....another thing is... there is no recycle bin lying around.... -
There's no shedder in the office....even if there is a shedder...there is no recycling bin....haiz....surely I cant be carrying tons of paper....walking around to the nearest shopping centre with recycling bins rightOriginally posted by tspg:In the organisation I used to work in we handle a lot of confidential also. The paper is shredded and recycled. 
After I get mistaken for a karung guni woman
Maybe all companies should start recycling programs if pple are serious about doing their part for the environment....... -
put more recycling bins(mayb bus stops,...) + educate the ppl abt recycling...
-
Change our house dust bin. Differentiate dust bin into 5 types, paper, plastic, glass, cans n others... Den we can throw our rubbish accordingly
-
We shld have bins to reject the wrong type of rubbish thrown in
-
In Japan, they separate their rubbish. I also practice recycling but the problem is the collection is every 2 weeks. Sometimes we leave outside the hse., they get stolen. Also they take so long to collect, we have to clean the containers before putting into plastic bag so as not to attract pests.
Recycling will only work if people are more considerate. I've seen people who cut down trees & leave the heap of leaves outside their homes for days. They can't be bothered to put them in bags & they expect the refuse collector to pick up. -
For our case the recycling company comes over to collect the waste paper regularly. If i am not right the price of paper used in office better than newspaper collect by gurang guni because there are of better quality.Originally posted by Whistar:There's no shedder in the office....even if there is a shedder...there is no recycling bin....haiz....surely I cant be carrying tons of paper....walking around to the nearest shopping centre with recycling bins right
After I get mistaken for a karung guni woman
Maybe all companies should start recycling programs if pple are serious about doing their part for the environment....... -
I do see those recycle bins (paper or plastic or can) in public places. I think it's very good coz it encourages people to recycle.
The Body Shop also gives away a free bag if you purchase above a certain amount (instead of a plastic bag) to encourage people to recycle.