Recycling programme is underway
READ with interest the views of Mr Kenneth Tan Kok Chye in his letter, "Recipe for real ‘green’ nation" (ST, June 16), on his experience in Germany and his ideas on placing more recycling bins in Singapore.
Transnational Recycling Industries is aware that the use of recycling bins are still being tried out in some places in Singapore.
Unfortunately, vandals have set some of these bins on fire.
Also, this passive method of collecting recycling materials has not been well received by people.
This makes it an economically non-viable method for recycling companies, given the low level of support.
Transnational Recycling has introduced an easier and more convenient method to encourage Singaporeans to make recycling a part of their lives.
This method involves the provision of a plastic bag to each household and for the residents to place their recyclable materials such as paper, old clothes, soft toys, drink cans and metal cans into the bag for door-to-door collection every fortnight.
This was first introduced in Tanjong Pagar CDC in July1999 by the Society for the Physically Disabled, under its Green Earth Programme.
The programme was managed by our company and supported by the Tanjong Pagar CDC and Tanjong Pagar-West Coast Town Council.
Not only does the method encourage the residents to recycle, it also generates a regular source of funding for the society.
The method was extended last May, und the Care and Recycle programme, to cover households in the North-East CDC district.
In November last year, the scheme was also extended to households under the Marine Parac CDC district; and in April, to households in Hong Kah under the SembawangHong Kah CDC district.
Arrangements are be finalised to extend~ method to households in the rest of the Sembawang Hong Kah CDC and Ang Mo Kio-Cheng San CDC districts and the other remaining Housing Board estates to promote recycling as a way of life.
The Care and Recycle programme will cover some 660,000 household by August.
This will represent the completion of the first phase of the programme which will eventually extend to Singaporeans both at work and at play.
Once we have implemented the full programme, it is hoped that recycling will become routine and part of the lifestyle of Singaporeans.
-By Cheah Pin Thong
Source : The Straits Times, Jun 23, 2001
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