One in five Singapore homes recycles waste

Rate could rise to 50% within two years, and more can be done to help maintain environment: Lim Swee Say

By Sharmilpal Kaur

ONE in five households here is already recycling its garbage, even though the National Recycling Programme was just launched in April.

Describing it as a very promising start, Acting Environment Minister Lim Swee Say said that the 22-per-cent recycling rate could more than double within two years.

He told reporters: 'If we can find the support from the public, then I am quite hopeful that we can see the 50-per-cent rate within one to two years.'

The acting minister was speaking at the closing ceremony of Clean and Green Week in Upper Serangoon yesterday.

He said: 'There is still so much we need to do to make recycling our way of life.

'Soon, we will see recycling bins at MRT stations, Changi Airport, bus interchanges, industrial estates and coffeeshops all over Singapore.'

He said that efforts to speed up recycling in the commercial sector will be stepped up soon. He added that by recycling solid waste and incinerator bottom ash, the lifespan of Pulau Semakau can be extended.

The southern island some 23 km off the mainland is used as a landfill for incinerated rubbish.

Currently, its lifespan is between 25 to 30 years.

Mr Lim also announced the results of a survey conducted by his ministry to see if Singaporeans were willing to do more for the environment.

Almost all of the 1,000 respondents agreed that there was a need to take care of the environment for the next generation to enjoy.

Around half said they would like to take an active role in protecting the environment, and seven in 10 said they got upset when not enough was done to recycle cans and paper.

Over half also saw reducing waste as the activity that society as a whole could make the most difference in.

Said Mr Lim: 'The survey shows that many Singaporeans are prepared to take action to protect our environment.'

This year's Clean and Green Week was the most popular since its launch in 1990. The number of activities nearly doubled from 450 last year to 820 this year, while participants also more than doubled from 110,000 last year to about 240,000 this year.

Schools showed record participation this year, with more than 148,500 students from 151 schools taking part in a total of 570 activities.

The main activity centred on this year's theme of recycling. Nearly 130 schools held 350 recycling-related activities during the week.

On Friday, four container-loads of old clothes, stationery, toys and books were sent off to charities in India, Sri Lanka and Cambodia.

The items were collected by 77 schools - from primary to junior college - in three days.

At yesterday's closing ceremony, Green Leaf awards were given to eight organisations and individuals, including wafer-fab company Wacker Siltronic Singapore, for efforts to conserve the environment.

Mr Lim announced that a new award category - the 3P Partnership category - will be created for next year's Green Leaf Award.

It will recognise the joint efforts of the public, private and people sectors in projects that benefit the environment and the community.