Visitor Zaiton came with a trolley filled with recyclables and spent some time learning more about recycling from Tzu Chi volunteers. Photo by Wong Twee Hee
The National Environment Agency, together with nine other government agencies organized the Clean & Green Singapore 2016 event from the 5th to 6th November 2016. Tzu Chi Singapore was invited to participate in the themed exhibition, “Towards a Zero Waste Nation,” where visitors were encouraged to try their hand at sorting recyclables.
“Can computers and bulky items be collected for recycling?” Zaiton, a Malay woman who was pushing a trolley filled with recyclables asked Tzu Chi volunteers.
In response to her question, volunteers confidently told her, “You can take your computer to the Tzu Chi recycling point in your neighbourhood. For bulky items, such as refrigerators or washing machines, you can contact your Town Council for help.”
After getting a few of her questions addressed, Zaiton together with volunteers, sorted out the items in her trolley and proceeded to deposit them into the different recycling bins.
Then, heaving a sigh of relief, she announced that the load of stuff which had filled her house could finally be sent for recycling. She was in agreement with the concept of first sorting out the resources before giving them away for recycling as this meant that the items would not be easily dirtied and would be easier to process.
During the opening of the Clean & Green Singapore 2016 event, PM Lee invoked the common Chinese proverb that earlier generations plant trees which provide shade for the later generations to enjoy. This expressed his view that more than just an act of greening our environment, the planting of trees also symbolizes that everyone has a responsibility to create a better living environment for the next generation. For Singapore to become a sustainable city, all of us have to look to the way we live our daily lives, such as reducing the amount of trash produced and cutting down on water consumption.
The light rain on 5th November did not cast a damper on the enthusiasm of visitors. Many of them were accompanied by elderly family members or children. They arrived at the canopied space beside the Khatib MRT to take part in the annual Clean and Green carnival. Some of them also brought along items to be recycled. Tzu Chi volunteers taught visitors how to sort out their recyclables and also invited them to take part in the monthly island-wide Tzu Chi Recycling Day programme. Additionally, at the carnival site, there was a lucky draw which was organized to encourage members of the public to engage in recycling activities.
Huang Qi Qing arrived at the carnival on his bicycle with three large bags of recyclables. On normal days, he would deposit items that could be recycled into the blue recycling bin at the bottom of his block. He had already sorted out his items neatly, and volunteers took the opportunity to share with him that some of them could still be taken apart and sorted into different categories – for example, plastic caps can be removed from plastic bottles as the cap and the bottle are made of two different kinds of plastic.
“We cannot waste any of our precious resources,” said Huang with conviction. He went on to say that recycling and resource conservation should be part and parcel of everyone’s life and indeed, creating a sustainable Singapore is every denizen’s responsibility.
A volunteer guides a member of the public in depositing glass recyclables into the correct bin. Photo by Wong Twee Hee
PM Lee Hsien Loong encouraged everyone to cultivate a green lifestyle starting from their daily activities, at the Clean & Green Singapore 2016 event. Photo by Wong Twee Hee
Volunteers and RC recycling volunteers sorting recyclables before putting them into the correct bins. Photo by Wong Twee Hee
Volunteers assisting members of the public in depositing their recyclables. Photo by Wong Twee Hee
Volunteers explaining to visitor Huang Qi Qing (second from right) that recyclables must be taken apart and sorted according to their component materials, for example, a glass jar and its plastic cap. Photo by Wong Twee Hee
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