LET’S RECYCLE TOGETHER

Welcome to the Let’s Recycle Together campaign page

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.

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!

– – –

Step 1: Understand Why We Need To Recycle

– – –

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.

– – –

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

Check out the list below to learn what items can or cannot be placed into the blue recycling bins at HDB estates! We have checked this list with NEA to ensure it’s correct.

Paper – Can or Cannot Recycle

Paper – Can RecycleRemarksPaper – Cannot RecycleRemarks
1. BooksDonate to charity or give it away if possible.1. Disposable chopsticks
2. BrochureGlossy and non-glossy included.2. Disposable paper cups and plates
3. Calendar3. Paper towel
4. Cardboard box packagingPlease flatten if possible.4. Paper wrapper for food
5. Carton boxPlease flatten if possible.5. Tissue paper
6. Drink packetShould be emptied. Please rinse if necessary and flatten if possible.6. Toilet paper
7. Egg tray7. Wax paper
8. EnvelopeWith or without plastic window included.
9. FlyerGlossy and non-glossy included.
10. Gift wrapping paper
11. Greeting card
12. Juice cartonShould be emptied. Please rinse if necessary and flatten if possible.
13. MagazineGlossy and non-glossy included.
14. Milk cartonShould be emptied. Please rinse if necessary and flatten if possible.
15. Namecards
16. Newspaper
17. Paper receipts
18. Paper towel tubes and toilet roll tubes
19. Printed paper
20. Red packet
21. Shredded paper
22. Telephone directory
23. Tissue boxPlease flatten if possible.
24. Writing paper

Plastics – Can or Cannot Recycle

Plastics – Can RecycleRemarksPlastics – Cannot RecycleRemarks
1. Beverage bottleShould 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 bottlesShould 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 foodShould be emptied. Please rinse if necessary.3. Disposable plates and bowls
4. Bread wrapper packagingShould be clean and emptied.4. Disposable cutlery and utensils
5. CD and casing5. Straws
6. Detergent bottleShould 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 bagShould be clean and emptied.
10. Plastic containers, trays and tubs for food (non-polystyrene)Should be emptied. Please rinse if necessary.
11. Toiletries containersShould be emptied. Please rinse if necessary.

Metal – Can or Cannot Recycle

Metal – Can RecycleRemarksMetal – Cannot RecycleRemarks
1. Aerosol cansShould be emptied.
2. Aluminium trays and foilShould be clean.
3. Biscuit, milk and food tinsShould be emptied. Please rinse if necessary.
4. Drink cansShould be emptied. Please rinse if necessary.
5. Food cansShould be emptied. Please rinse if necessary.
6. Paint cansShould be empty and dry.

Glass – Can or Cannot Recycle

Glass – Can RecycleRemarksGlass – Cannot RecycleRemarks
1. Beverage bottlesShould be emptied. Please rinse if necessary.1. Ceramics
2. Cosmetic bottlesShould be emptied. Please rinse if necessary.2. Light bulbsRecycle fluorescent lamps and light bulbs via lamp recycling bins.
3. Glass cups and plates3. Mirror
4. Jam and spread bottlesShould be emptied. Please rinse if necessary.4. Windows
5. Medicine and supplement bottlesShould be emptied. Please rinse if necessary.
6. Sauce and condiment bottlesShould be emptied. Please rinse if necessary.

Others – Can or Cannot Recycle

Others – Can RecycleRemarksOthers – Cannot RecycleRemarks
1. BagsDonate to charity or give it away.
2. Diapers and sanitary pads
3. Electrical and electronic itemsRecycle using e-waste recycling bins.
4. Food waste
5. FurnitureDonate to charity or ask town council cleaners to remove.
6. Household batteriesSingapore 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 wasteGarden waste is only collected from landed properties and not HDB estates under the National Recycling Programme.
11. Rechargeable batteriesRecycle using e-waste recycling bins.
12. Shoes
13. Soft toyDonate to charity or give it away.
14. SpectaclesDonate to charity.
15. Wood items

– – –

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: PaperPlasticsMetalGlassFood WasteWood and Horticultural WasteElectrical and Electronic WasteTyres; and Construction and Demolition Waste.

– – –

Images credit and source: