SINGAPORE: Singapore's waste collectors will soon be
required to play a bigger role in the National
Recycling Programme when their contracts are up for renewal in
2011.
Launching this year's Recycling Week activities at Tampines on
Saturday, Environment and Water Resources Minister Yaacob Ibrahim
said encouraging more homes to recycle continues to be a challenge,
but efforts to reduce packaging waste at source are paying
off.
After launching the Singapore Packaging Agreement in 2007, there
has been a reduction of 2,500 tonnes of packaging waste, which
translates to savings of nearly S$4.5 million for firms.
"We are studying various ways where we either want to legislate, or
do a combination of legislation plus other means, to encourage
recycling for some of the specific waste streams because we have
been able to tackle a lot of the waste at the general level. But
now, the challenge is to look at the specific streams and how we
can reduce the amount at these areas," said Dr Yaacob.
From October 1, this effort will cover all types of product
packaging, including detergents and personal care products.
The National Environment Agency believes spreading the recycling
message is a many-hands approach and it will be involving
stakeholders from all areas, such as schools, industries, libraries
and also the waste collectors, to achieve a greater rate of
recycling.
Dr Yaacob added: "At the moment, they (waste collectors) are
obligated to provide recycling facilities and collect recyclables
either once a week or twice a week, depending on the contract. We
are looking at all those parameters to see whether we can
improve."
He also feels this can be done if households are convinced that
they, too, have a part to play in this national effort.
The Recycling Week activities will move to three different
locations next weekend to cover areas in Bishan, Hougang Central
and Jurong Point. Singapore hopes to achieve a recycling rate of 70
per cent by 2030.
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