LET’S RECYCLE TOGETHER

Driving habits toward recycling more and recycling right

2023 update

ZWSG X Asia Pacific Breweries Singapore X Lions Befrienders:

Let’s Recycle Together!

2022

MSE Transparent Recycling Bins Pilots

Zero Waste SG partnered with MSE to test if changing the design of our blue bins would help to reduce the recycling contamination rate, which stands at 40%. In particular, the pilots tested if adding a transparent feature or introducing segregation could encourage better recycling behaviour and reduce recycling bin contamination rates.

The findings over the effectiveness of design change were inconclusive. Nevertheless, through our door-to-door survey with residents in the pilot areas, we found that it would be worthwhile to look at better and more accessible public education on recycling right. Some misconceptions that were still prevalent include:

• Placing textiles, bulky items and Styrofoam into the blue bins. Good-to-use items like clothing or toys should be donated where possible.

• Treating blue bins like general waste bins and depositing items contaminated by food or other liquids

• Tissue paper, regardless clean or dirty, should not be put into the blue bins as they are not recycled.

 

When it comes to modality, consider displaying actual, physical samples of items that can / cannot be accepted as these seem to work better than 2D pictures or posters.

Snapshots of our findings are below. Read our full report here!

How do we Recycle Right?

Resources from NEA / Clean & Green Singapore

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAeqGbJIfJE

 

Archives (before 2021)

^{_{Let’s Recycle Together is a campaign by Zero Waste SG. We aim to encourage more HDB residents to recycle using the existing blue recycling bins in their estates, and to educate them on recycling correctly.}}

Background on our ‘Let’s Recycle Together’ Campaign

_{This ground-up campaign complements the National Recycling Programme by the National Environment Agency (NEA), where the Public Waste Collectors licensed by NEA are required to provide the blue recycling bins and recycling collection for all HDB estates and landed properties in Singapore.}

^{_{Your neighbours and other families are recycling, join them today and let’s recycle together!}}

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XD0tVIGMdas&feature=youtu.be

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_{Step 1: Understand Why We Need To Recycle}

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNAyEa5Q7rM&feature=youtu.be

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_{Step 2: Learn How To Recycle At Home}

_{Some residents place a recycling bin in their house, while others use a plastic bag or reusable bag for storing their recyclables, it’s up to you!}

_{The National Recycling Programme uses a commingled collection system where all the recyclables go into a single blue recycling bin. According to NEA, the commingled system is convenient for residents as they do not need to sort or make space in their homes to store different recyclables. It also allows for a single-stream collection of recyclables, which is a cost-effective method.}

_{The collection from the recycling bins is done daily or 3 times a week, depending on the sector. You can check the locations of the blue recycling bins at the housing estates in Singapore from the SLA OneMap, and find out more about the Public Waste Collectors and their collection days from NEA.}

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_{Step 3: Find Out What Items Can Or Cannot Be Recycled}

https://youtu.be/MT0rLhjVEPQ

_{Check out the list below to learn what items can or cannot be placed into the blue recycling bins at HDB estates! Check this list against NEA’s to ensure it’s the most up to date.}

_{Paper – Can or Cannot Recycle}

 

_{Plastics – Can or Cannot Recycle}

Plastics – Can Recycle	Remarks	Plastics – Cannot Recycle	Remarks
1. Beverage bottle	Should be emptied. Please rinse if necessary.	1. Takeaway food containers (styrofoam or PS plastics)	Check the triangle plastic code usually printed on the container – 6 for PS.
2. Bodywash and shampoo bottles	Should be emptied. Please rinse if necessary.	2. Disposable cups (only for styrofoam or PS plastics)	Check the triangle plastic code usually printed on the cup – 6 for PS.
3. Bottle for food	Should be emptied. Please rinse if necessary.	3. Disposable plates and bowls	–
4. Bread wrapper packaging	Should be clean and emptied.	4. Disposable cutlery and utensils	–
5. CD and casing	–	5. Straws	–
6. Detergent bottle	Should be emptied. Please rinse if necessary.	6. Cassette and video tapes	–
7. Disposable cups (only for PET and PP plastics)	Should be emptied. Please rinse if necessary. Check the triangle plastic code usually printed on the cup – 1 for PET and 5 for PP.	7. Plastic film packaging for food	–
8. Magazine wrapper	–
9. Plastic bag	Should be clean and emptied.
10. Plastic containers, trays and tubs for food (non-polystyrene)	Should be emptied. Please rinse if necessary.
11. Toiletries containers	Should be emptied. Please rinse if necessary.

 

_{Metal – Can or Cannot Recycle}

Metal – Can Recycle	Remarks	Metal – Cannot Recycle	Remarks
1. Aerosol cans	Should be emptied.	–	–
2. Aluminium trays and foil	Should be clean.
3. Biscuit, milk and food tins	Should be emptied. Please rinse if necessary.
4. Drink cans	Should be emptied. Please rinse if necessary.
5. Food cans	Should be emptied. Please rinse if necessary.
6. Paint cans	Should be empty and dry.

 

_{Glass – Can or Cannot Recycle}

Glass – Can Recycle	Remarks	Glass – Cannot Recycle	Remarks
1. Beverage bottles	Should be emptied. Please rinse if necessary.	1. Ceramics	–
2. Cosmetic bottles	Should be emptied. Please rinse if necessary.	2. Light bulbs	Recycle fluorescent lamps and light bulbs via lamp recycling bins.
3. Glass cups and plates	–	3. Mirror	–
4. Jam and spread bottles	Should be emptied. Please rinse if necessary.	4. Windows	–
5. Medicine and supplement bottles	Should be emptied. Please rinse if necessary.
6. Sauce and condiment bottles	Should be emptied. Please rinse if necessary.

 

_{Others – Can or Cannot Recycle}

Others – Can Recycle	Remarks	Others – Cannot Recycle	Remarks
		1. Bags	Donate to charity or give it away.
		2. Diapers and sanitary pads	–
		3. Electrical and electronic items	Recycle using e-waste recycling bins.
		4. Food waste	–
		5. Furniture	Donate to charity or ask town council cleaners to remove.
		6. Household batteries	Singapore has imposed restrictions on the mercury content in mercury oxide, zinc carbon and alkaline batteries, so used household batteries can be safely discarded with normal waste – NEA.
		7. Leftover medicine	–
		8. Old clothes (in good condition)	Donate to charity or give it away.
		9. Pens and pencils	–
		10. Plants and horticultural waste	Garden waste is only collected from landed properties and not HDB estates under the National Recycling Programme.
		11. Rechargeable batteries	Recycle using e-waste recycling bins.
		12. Shoes	–
		13. Soft toy	Donate to charity or give it away.
		14. Spectacles	Donate to charity.
		15. Wood items	–

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_{Step 4: Learn What Happens To The Recyclables After Collection}

_{The recycling trucks only collect recyclables from the blue recycling bins and do not collect waste from the rubbish bin centres. The type of trucks used for collecting recyclables and waste might look similar but they are actually separate trucks with different collection schedules. The recycling trucks would usually have a recycling logo on the side of the truck.}

_{Here’s some photos of a Material Recovery Facility operated by one of the Public Waste Collectors. The recyclables are collected by the trucks and sent to the facility, where the recyclables are placed on a conveyor belt and the workers sort them according to material types.}

_{The sorted materials are either exported overseas for recycling or sent to local recycling facilities. Some of the local recycling facilities are listed in the NEA website.}

_{You can also learn more about the recycling process of these materials: Paper; Plastics; Metal; Glass; Food Waste; Wood and Horticultural Waste; Electrical and Electronic Waste; Tyres; and Construction and Demolition Waste.}

– – –

Images credit and source:

• Understand Why We Need To Recycle (incineration plant and landfill) – Senoko Waste-to-Energy Plant, Keppel Seghers Pte Ltd, http://www.keppelseghers.com/en/content.aspx?sid=3028#A6-SWTEP

• Understand Why We Need To Recycle (incineration plant and landfill) – Semakau Landfill, National Environment Agency, http://www.nea.gov.sg/energy-waste/waste-management/semakau-landfill

• Learn How To Recycle At Home – 3R Poster, National Environment Agency, http://www.nea.gov.sg/docs/default-source/energy-waste/recycling/3r-poster.pdf?sfvrsn=2

• Learn What Happens To The Recyclables After Collection – 3R Poster, National Environment Agency, http://www.nea.gov.sg/docs/default-source/energy-waste/recycling/3r-poster.pdf?sfvrsn=2

• Recycle Right Resources, https://www.cgs.gov.sg/recycleright/resources

• Have you seen Bloobin? (Clean and Green Singapore), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAeqGbJIfJE