Is Singapore truly committed to environmental issues?

oxford mushroom SG

If we are serious about pollution and green house gases, the government should drastically cut or remove taxes for more environmentally friendly vehicles like the hybrid car. From what I hear, sales are poor because of the high prices and lower performance. Similarly, there is little done in terms of recycling because there is not enough government incentives to do so. We don't see recycling trucks plying the HDB to take away suitable wastes and the inconvenience of having to find recycling bins has made recycling not attractive for many. I think Singaporeans used to recycle more in the days of the karang guni man..

miong SG

What I do know is this -

our once beautiful natural beaches were all completely destroyed by PAP Government.

An environment scientist once remarked that it would take at least 100 years for Singpore shoreline to recover from the massive destruction caused by reckless and inconsiderate land reclamation especiallly along the East Coast.

pearlie27 SG

Not only the east coast, Pasir Panjang beach in the south west is also affected. The rocks of our only rock beach used to be covered with moss with many little red crab (those with one pincer very much bigger than the other pincer) crawling all over. But now I only see the sterile rocks. Sad

BillyBong SG

We are a long way from matching the rigidity of environmental friendliness in other developed countries, especially in the industrial sector, let alone the recycling bins we place all over SG.

At the moment, it's all lip movement and hot air. We talk a lot but have not focused into proper and feasible everyday practicalities that will entice the local singaporean to respond favourably. All our ISO 14000, 15000 are words on paper. Many shipping companies blatantly dump their chemical wastes in the sea, factory environments are horrendous with oil seeping into drains and contaminating our lines etc.

Safety and green environment has not reached a level of awareness needed to educate the average singaporean. They simply cannot believe in threats like global warming and airborne pollution, having never experienced one.

The difficulty is in convincing this majority which form the nucleus of the working population about the inherent and immediate dangers of damaging the environment. Once this is overcome, the rest is simply laying out a roadmap.

Take obesity for example. Everyone talked about it but no one did anything concrete. In the last 5 years, the message has finally gotten thru. Now everyone talks about BMI and fitness in schools. Pressure on MOE to ensure kids stay trim and fit is ever increasing.

Likewise, the environment. Education is the first step. Everything else is doomed to fail.

ablazegal SG

Yup I totally agree!

Recycling bins can scarcely be found in Singapore. There used to be some at Watten Park estate. I'm not sure if they're still there now though. As far as I know, recycling bins are found in schools, and BP stations. Aside from that, recycling bins are a rare sight.

Compared to other developed countries such as Australia, we, as a nation are definitely guilty of being not being environmentally conscious. In Australia, plastic bags at the supermarkets are given out sparingly. Shoppers are encouraged to buy the reusable bags (which go for 99 cents). The bags are, in fact, quite fashionably made, such that it isn't a stigma to be seen carrying one of those bags. Common garbage bins are separated into those meant for 'cans', 'bottles', and 'paper' material.

It's high time Singapore did such things too, instead of just shoving down 'Reuse, reduce, recycle' down student's throats when there are seemingly few avenues to encourage such behaviour.

oxford mushroom SG

The problem is economics...the government must financially support recycling efforts to make it attractive. Thirty years ago, I remember we recycle almost everything....bottles, newspaper, old clothes, cardboard etc...we were most enthusiastic because we got a few cents per bottle from the karang-guni man, who came by regularly. In fact, there were a few of them who compete with each other for the business. Now the factories are not interested and the karang-guni men have gone out of business, cos' it is cheaper to import raw materials than it is to recycle.

The government must support the recycling effort for it to succeed. It will be an easy matter to emcourage hybrid cars, for example, but simply removing some of the tariffs. If the COE for hybrid cars were drastically reduced by say 60%, I can imagine they will sell like hot cakes.

ablazegal SG

Would have to agree.
THe biggest recyclers are really Karanguni men, aside from the fact that they make $ out of it

About A GaL SG

It wont happen even with hydrogen powered cars or ones in its kind - because if COE is removed or dropped. there will be perpetual traffic jam on te roads, Singapore is overpopulated and every single person owns a car, imagine what will happen on the roads.

ablazegal SG

Recycling ought to be a lifestyle as well. Okay maybe recycling is hard due to the economics of things but what about reusing? Just look at the way we Singaporeans (and yes, I have to bear some blame too here) ‘anyhow throw’. Egg Cartons, Bottles, even plastic bags. Perhaps plastic bags aren’t that much of an issue and it’s come to my understanding that Carrefour has stepped up efforts to reduce the number of plastic bags dispensed. Yet. There is surely, a more effecient way. Paper bags? How about issuing tote bags or encouraging consumers to buy one which they then lug to the supermarkets instead of dispensing plastic bags all the time?

FireIce SG

i see all sorts of rubbish in the recycling bins......
i mean.....ppl jus anyhow throw.....dun care wat the bin is labelled....