14-9-2023 (SINGAPORE) According to a survey conducted by the National Environment Agency (NEA) in Singapore this year, approximately 72 percent of households in the city-state engage in recycling. This marks an increase from the 64 percent recorded in a similar survey conducted in 2021. The survey, which took place from April to June 2023, involved 2,180 respondents.
NEA released figures on Thursday (Sep 14) revealing that a higher percentage of respondents were now aware of common items that can be recycled in designated bins and chutes. For instance, 89 percent of respondents knew that rinsed shampoo or detergent bottles can be recycled, compared to 71 percent in 2021.
Similarly, more respondents were aware of items that should not be placed in recycling bins or chutes, such as tissue paper, styrofoam boxes, and soft toys.
However, NEA noted a decline in awareness regarding items like unwanted fruit or vegetable parts, soiled plastic food containers, and small electronic appliances that should not be deposited in recycling bins or chutes.
NEA expressed concern over contamination, stating, “Contamination arises when items that cannot be recycled, or food and liquid waste, are thrown into the blue recycling bins or chutes. When recyclables are contaminated, they become no different from general waste. They will then have to be disposed of, incinerated, and landfilled.”
As part of Singapore’s Zero Waste Masterplan and the Singapore Green Plan, the country aims to increase its overall recycling rate to 70 percent by 2030. The recycling rate increased to 57 percent in 2022, up from 55 percent in 2021 and 52 percent in 2020.
The current Recycle Right campaign in Singapore includes an online game and educational videos that demonstrate how recycling can be easily incorporated into daily life, such as when ordering takeaways or making online purchases.
To reduce contamination rates, town councils in areas with dual-chute estates are installing chute stickers to remind residents of what can be recycled, according to NEA.
Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Sustainability and the Environment Baey Yam Keng launched the latest Recycle Right campaign at Anchor Green Primary School on Thursday.
“NEA continues to work with various partners and stakeholders, including schools, the community, non-governmental organizations, corporate, and industry partners to encourage households to recycle more and recycle right. This is done by making recycling and recycling information more accessible in neighborhoods and homes,” NEA stated.
To encourage recycling, every household received a reusable home recycling box called Bloobox from March to April of this year.
Each Housing Board block, landed house, and condominium or private apartment block in Singapore has its own recycling bin or chute, distinguished by its blue color, separate from general waste bins.
