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Can Recycle?


We have been receiving frequent enquiries from our readers on whether certain waste items can be recycled under the National Recycling Programme (NRP) or through the public recycling bins.

To be honest, we don’t have all the answers. So we started this new initiative called “Can Recycle?“. We compiled a list of 70 common waste items and checked with the National Environment Agency (NEA) on whether the items are acceptable for recycling through the NRP or recycling bins.

These are the recyclables that can or cannot be recycled through the NRP or recycling bins. Point your cursor at the image and you can see the description of the item with comments from NEA.

Paper – YES

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Plastics – YES

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Plastics – NO

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Metal – YES

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Glass – YES

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Glass – NO

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Others – YES

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Others – NO

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Comments

30 Comments on "Can Recycle?"

  1. xixi on Mon, 7th Jun 2010 9:05 am 

    Can I know why the styrofoam cups and food containers are not recyclable? How about other things made of EPS, like the packaging stuff?
    Thanks in advance!

  2. Eugene on Mon, 7th Jun 2010 9:11 am 

    Maybe because it’s usually contaminated with food waste

  3. He tingting on Tue, 8th Jun 2010 3:46 pm 

    May I know old urinal can be recycled? If a company want to replace the urinal, how will the old ones be treated if cannot be recycled?

  4. Witty on Fri, 11th Jun 2010 9:17 pm 

    I also want to know where to recycle clean styrofoam, those from holding new computers in carton boxes.

  5. megabigBLUR on Tue, 29th Jun 2010 5:19 pm 

    Electronics are not recyclable under NRP but the NEA website has some contacts for private companies that do handle electronics. E.g. Nokia and Motorola take back their old handphones. http://app2.nea.gov.sg/topics_collectioncentres.aspx

    My friend who’s a primary teacher says her school collects batteries for recycling but I don’t know what company handles them. Maybe someone with schoolkids can inquire?

    Very sad there’s no place to recycle fluorescent lights though. I am concerned about the mercury.

  6. Jonathan on Tue, 29th Jun 2010 10:55 pm 

    Are you sure that CD jewel cases can be recycled? I recently reorganized my entire CD collection either by digitizing or filing the CD’s in folders, and was researching what to do with all the empty jewel cases. According to most sources, such as this:
    “Jewel cases are made out of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), a petrochemical-based plastic that is notoriously difficult to recycle and has been linked to elevated cancer rates among workers and neighbors where it is manufactured. Also, the lead often added to strengthen PVC can contaminate water, soil and air around PVC manufacturing sites.

    Worse yet, because it contains a variety of additives and lacks a uniform composition, PVC is far less recyclable than other plastics. Its quality degrades after only two or three “cycles.” Greenpeace has identified PVC as the least recycled of the six major common plastics. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that less than one percent of total post-consumer PVC is recovered or reprocessed.

    As a result, most municipal recycling centers do not accept PVC products, meaning that millions of CD jewel cases either take up room indefinitely in landfills, where they won’t biodegrade, or are incinerated. And unfortunately, the burning of PVC creates airborne dioxins.” — E: The Environmental Magazine, Nov-Dec, 2005 by John O’Dwyer, Bianca Hoffman

    In fact, even the plastic containers that some veggies and fruits come in are not recyclable, no? To be recyclable, shouldn’t the packaging come with a recyclable icon/stamp?

    Thanks!

  7. Eugene on Thu, 1st Jul 2010 2:32 pm 

    really have no idea on that, most likely disposed of at the landfill

  8. Eugene on Thu, 1st Jul 2010 2:33 pm 

    you can deposit them in the recycling bins or if you have large quantities, contact the collectors at http://app2.nea.gov.sg/topics_collectrade.aspx.

  9. Ram on Tue, 6th Jul 2010 7:54 pm 

    Hi. I would like to know if waste wood and saw dust can be recycled as I have them In large quantities.

  10. kate on Wed, 7th Jul 2010 9:14 am 

    What about toothbrushes? Dental health advice says to change toothbrushes frequently, about once every 2- 3 months or when bristles are no longer in good condition. I’ve accumulated quite a number of old brushes but we can only re-use so few for other cleaning purposes around the house.

  11. Eugene on Thu, 8th Jul 2010 6:50 pm 

    @Ram – Yes for bulk quantities, check with the wood or horticultural waste collectors at http://app2.nea.gov.sg/topics_collectrade.aspx.

  12. Eugene on Thu, 8th Jul 2010 6:52 pm 

    Hi kate, no idea about that, will include that in the next list of things to check whether can recycle.

  13. Jasmine on Sun, 11th Jul 2010 6:02 pm 

    Hi,

    can paper that has been stained still be recycled?

  14. Stephanie on Mon, 12th Jul 2010 11:41 am 

    hi. we are organising an outdoor event and expect quite a bit of discarded drink cans. wish to know if there’s any org that can collect these drink cans on-site for recycling.

  15. Eugene on Mon, 12th Jul 2010 6:25 pm 

    Hi Jasmine, ok if it’s not too dirty, try not to place paper stained with food waste into the recycling bins

  16. Eugene on Mon, 12th Jul 2010 6:26 pm 

    Hi Stephanie, you can contact the metal collectors at http://app2.nea.gov.sg/topics_collectrade.aspx

  17. CS on Thu, 15th Jul 2010 7:30 pm 

    Hi. I would like to ask if there are companies in Singapore recycling bottle caps? From what i know, bottle caps are usually not recycled as it is made of a different material from the bottle itself so most of the bottle caps are send to the landfill instead.
    thanks in advance

  18. Eugene on Mon, 19th Jul 2010 10:33 am 

    Hi CS, not sure whether bottle caps are recycled separately or whether they are sent to the landfill. If you’re talking about plastic bottles, the caps are also made of plastic, although a different kind from the bottle itself. Technically, it is possible to separate the 2 types of plastics after crushing and recycle them.

  19. amber on Tue, 20th Jul 2010 3:34 pm 

    i really want to recycle but have no idea where to drop off my recycling or how to get one of those little yellow bags that used to be delivered at my previous residence…am on cambridge road now, near KK hospital. know of anything nearby or how to get the bags and pickup?

    thank u

  20. Eugene on Wed, 21st Jul 2010 12:04 pm 

    Hi amber, you should be getting the recycling bags or bins under the National Recycling Programme (NRP) if you’re staying at HDB estates or landed properties. Contact NEA if you have not received them. If you’re staying at condominiums or private apartments (not under the NRP), contact your MC/MA to put in place recycling bins.

  21. Praveen on Sat, 31st Jul 2010 1:58 pm 

    Hi,

    I have some pen and whiteboard markers with no ink and not refillable.

    Also, i have a stapler with cannot be used due to some spring jam

    I would like to know if these can be recycled.

    Thanks :)

  22. Eugene on Thu, 5th Aug 2010 12:27 pm 

    Hi Praveen, we are not aware of local companies that would recycle them.

  23. ginA on Sat, 7th Aug 2010 2:25 pm 

    Hi, am wondering how can I dispose of unused shampoos or bottled liquid lotions of any sorts in a responsible manner? Most of them were bought years ago and I don’t think it is very nice to sell them or use them on my dog.
    Thanks! :)

  24. Jes on Mon, 16th Aug 2010 3:02 am 

    Thanks for this!! I was clearing out my messy room and thought of recycling my mail that I had kept for 2 years (lol) and was wondering about recycling envelops with the clear plastic if it would be more cumbersome than helpful to the recycling plant and Viola!! This blog actually cleared all of my answers cos I also had angpow and other boxes lol!!
    Great work! I hope more people start to think green and perhaps 1 day we may be able to save the Earth~

  25. Eugene on Mon, 16th Aug 2010 12:47 pm 

    Hi ginA, yes you can recycle those bottles

  26. Mana on Tue, 24th Aug 2010 8:14 pm 

    Hi! May I know where I can recycle old clothes? The recycling boxes in my condo is only for paper, plastic, and metal (although some place the glass in the metal box too). Any suggestions or ideas will be appreciated. Thanks!

  27. Eugene on Wed, 25th Aug 2010 11:37 am 

    Hi Mana, you can recycle your old clothing through Freecycle, Salavation Army, etc. See http://www.zerowastesg.com/2008/12/08/give-it-away/

  28. Mana on Thu, 26th Aug 2010 7:06 am 

    Hi Eugene! Some clothes are actually too old to donate, but I checked your given link about contacting the collector, so I’ll be doing that. Thank you! :)

  29. Wei Guo on Thu, 2nd Sep 2010 10:59 am 

    I am currently working on a project that serves to achieve a few targets and being environmentally friendly and cost efficient are just two of the many targets.

    I acknowledge that shredded paper are recvclable but I would like to know who actually collects them?

    On the same note, i am pretty curious to know how much the recycling company will pay for the soft drinks’ metal cans? This is to actually answer some of the queries that I have for my project.

    Thank you and do help me clarify my doubts! :) Thanks all.

  30. Eugene on Thu, 2nd Sep 2010 11:03 am 

    Hi Wei Guo, you can refer to the list of paper collectors at http://app2.nea.gov.sg/topics_collectrade.aspx. For metal, it depends on your quantity, you can also check with the metal collectors in the list.

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