17:50 from what I am hearing, NEA sounds pretty tone-deaf. It seems logical to me that a commingling system makes people less likely to think first before throwing, since sorting of materials does not fall on us.
I feel it's a catch-22 situation. Having stringent sorting at the source reduces the willingness to recycle for many. I am guilty of that. I always ensure what I dispose of into the bloobins are contamination-free, but sorting them and bagging them separately is tedious. If we have segregated bins, how big should each be? How easy/fast is the collection? Even with segregation, it can still be contaminated. I strongly believe it takes another generation or two before Singapore residents are much more civic-minded so that we don't need to use complex systems or processes to collect/sort/recycle. Segregated bins in shopping malls are easier to manage, people throw single small items and there's always a general waste bin beside.
@@okaydoubleu We don't have a generation or two to slowly ramp up recycling rates. I personally believe that I need to at least do my part by correctly recycling, since I bought and consumed, but obviously I am in the vast minority.
Finally someone is suggesting formalizing karung guni men, its literally a home-grown solution, the karung guni men can ensure that recyclables are clean and suitable for recycling. Pay them a livable wage and zone them out by estate but also by type of recyclables, collect paper on monday, plastics on tuesday etc. The NEA director is so idealistic, it's obvious that there is practically no way to prevent contamination ever in this comingling system cos theres always gonna be assholes in society... in fact just scrape the blue bins all together I literally have not seen a blue bin not contaminated before. Let the karang guni men go around with the blue recycling garbage trucks and give them the blue wheelie blue bin that you can find in the landed estates so they can go unit by unit to collect, this will reduce almost all heavy lifting and they can collect more per trip compared to their current lorries and vans and the job can be done by anyone any age.
wow the director of NEA is incredibly snobbish and tone-deaf. just holding a high-paying job without care for the final results - "we will just hope..."
The NEA director’s answers are really disappointing. He doesn’t directly answer the questions about commingling and puts the onus of proper recycling squarely on education.
I was listening to this episode while working and when this person spoke, I immediately turned on the video to look at who this person is. This guy is a classic civil servant who doesn't take responsibility in improving processes and thinks HIS way of thought makes the world go round and everyone should adapt to the methodologies HE thinks is right. Pretty much a tone deaf entity. In short he is living in his own bubble and our SG recycling effort as a whole is actively being hampered by this guy.
He has a shoddy excuse for each point raised by the journalist. You can also tell from his body language that he seems to know this himself, but is just saying things that doesn't rock the boat of what NEA is prepared to do (or not do). Sad.
I too agree that he was quite defensive of the flaws of a co-mingling system. However if you think about it, even if we compartmentalize the recycling bins into glass, plastic etc. - Who's to say there won't be people putting in contaminated things? The issue truly is with errant users and perhaps also lack of education. The suggestion to replace the the recycling bins with karung gunis is even more laughable, how often do you have someone asking to collect your recyclables? That suggestion seems really out of touch with reality.
He grew up with his parents telling him hes the best and hes leader material, so no surprise his head is so bloated. Man is single-handedly causing SG environment problems to deteriorate further yet hes blaming citizens for lack of education.
Thank you CNA & Munah for the direct confrontation with the NEA Director, very much needed to demonstrate how ignorant his replies are. NEA is clearly falling short of public's expectations severely.
Even when presented with overwhelming evidence that co-mingling is the root cause, this NEA rep evades and doesn't address the concerns. NEA and their dim-witted policies which do not work in reality are the problem. Thank you CNA for this investigative piece. It really highlights the incompetence of our government boards.
An influencer that went to the ground to see the recycling system for a short period of time talks more sense than the person who leads the entire recycling system in Singapore.
perhaps they already have many meetings and discussions before implementing the current system, hence they might have taken into account various factors like speed, cost of transport, etc. or perhaps as a head of department he has to defend his organization and "toe the party line" so to speak nonetheless, his counter-arguments still sound unconvincing to me. 12% recycling rate is abysmal.
Who else is here to view comments on NEA’s director? I was quite disappointed in the way he’s avoiding questions. He is in charge of the national’s effort and movement towards sustainability. Yet this is his level of accountability. I hope NEA’s board of directors can pick someone else for this role.
Cross-contamination in the blue bins is a huge issue!! Every time I put my recyclables into the blue bin, I see stuff that are not recyclable, or food refuse etc. I sometimes ask myself why I even bother to wash my plastic bottles and metal cans before putting them in the blue bins. Sigh.... Does Bryan have any collections in Jurong East? I always collect my recyclables until my own "bloo" containers are full before bringing them down to the blue bins. But they end up being cross-contaminated in the bins so if he has a collection near where I stay, this would be excellent news! Why can't the door-to-door collection system work? We don't need to be home when the rag and bone man comes on their rounds. We just segregate our recyclables and put them outside our homes the night before a scheduled collection day. I have 3 big plastic bags in my kitchen, 1 each for PET bottles, metal cans, and glass bottles, and used carton boxes near my front door. One-third of my small flat is like a recyclable collection centre.......I'm even embarrassed to invite friends over.
I feel the same way. Really discouraging to see this when I put in effort to clean n dry recycables before putting them into the blue bin. I am more apprehensive about putting them in nowadays when I see my neighbours treat it as a trash bin. V much agree with the proposed door to door solution. :)
Exactly. Sometimes there are leaflets going around the estate informing of collecting old newspapers, magazines, clothings etc at a certain time. We just leave our stuff outside, stuck that leaflet into our pile and let them collect at our doorstep!
3 main issues: 1. Many inconsiderate people who just treat recycling bins as waste bins. 2. For those who do recycle, many don't clean them before sending to recycling bin. 3. Current recycling process don't get people to sort out different types of recyclables before putting them into the bins as there is only one bun for everything. Despite feedback from public, authorities refuse to change the process as the view is public can't play their part.
Agreed, the real solution is less recycled items and more compostable items. This way all the containers, and yes even diapers, can be sent to one facility which digests the items and forms two very important byproducts, renewable natural gas, and compost for use by farmers. Of course the items will have to be tested in smaller batches for chemicals and heavy metals before starting the composting phase or else there is the risk of contamination in a much larger batch and wasted energy.
When the blue bin is clearly the problem for contamination, the director said it isn't. That's inconceivable. Clearly, he isn't taking the right responsibility at all, not even an inch. Putting zero fault to the blue bin really showed us his department is not doing responsible duty. Sigh. If you were to come up with a system for recycling, you'd better make it fool proof. If not, don't do it. You're wasting resources and manpower.
Totally agree with the general sentiments of the comments. Not here to criticise NEA, but we need to overhaul the recycling process. Sorting our recyclables is a great way to start. The problem with our current process is that it increases the chance of contamination significantly. For example, I wanted to recycle the toilet paper core roll, but I decided to just throw it away because it's made of paper and anything wet with junk juice will contaminate it immediately. The safest are like the plastics and metal already. An idea I had for those who are really keen on recycling is just to sort it ourselves with plastic bags we can tie up. Then when it reaches the facility and the workers rip it open they should see it's just one whole batch of the same thing and they can just throw it into the relevant bin. Not sure if it'll help and not a perfect idea but yeap.
I used the bloo box at home to hold groceries and packed dry food i bought from supermarkets. It is so easy to understand how to segregate and what can be recycled or not, not need a bloo box. The reason why people are not doing it is not because they don't understand, but rather they don't really bother or care!
Great documentary and amazing reporter! NEA please do better! Your argument of trying reducing the carbon footprint is tone deaf as what ended up being recycled in the end is so little it essentially ended up wasting the trip and effort in the first place… As someone who really tries to sort, wash and clean my recyclables before bringing them down to the blue bin it is very disheartening to see my efforts are being wasted when someone just throws their half finished drink contaminating the whole bin 🥲 the blue box initiative was also such a let down because it is essentially just a box for me to bring down my recyclables before it gets contaminated again
Yes! Everytime I go and throw my perfectly recyclables plus bottles that I had took the effort to rinse....I will ALWAYS see stuff that are not meant to be in the blue bin. I always wondered what's the point of throwing everything into one bin? I think it's worse than getting them sorted out separately first. The government just don't educate the public enough. Only a small percentage understands what can be recycled. The dos and don'ts on the bin isn't clear enough for the less educated and many foreigners. It just looks like a typical trash bin.
@@penguin6700 ya. i have stopped recycling anything that requires cleaning/washing. Why should I waste water (and money) when the govt clearly doesn't take recycling seriously? Anyone with half a brain will realise that the blue bin and blue box won't achieve anything? It's just for show.
0:31: 🗑 Despite efforts to promote recycling in Singapore, the domestic recycling rate remains low at 12%. 7:36: 🗑 Contamination of recyclables is a problem in Singapore due to the co-mingling system. 9:22: 🔄 Segregated recycling bins could minimize contamination, but implementing them island-wide is unlikely in the near future. However, karanguni men, who are expert recyclers, can play a significant role in improving recycling efforts. 13:08: ✅ Formalizing the role of karangunis in waste management and recycling companies can help boost Singapore's recycling efforts. 18:54: 🔄 The co-mingling system in Singapore's recycling process is causing contamination issues, but the National Environment Agency (NEA) believes it is still effective in encouraging recycling and reducing carbon emissions. 19:59: 🌍 The need for a complementary network to collect recyclables alongside recycling bins. Recap by Tammy AI
I would provide a different view just for discussion purposes. If the non-mingling absolutely works then we should see that people do not throw contaminated products into such bins. However, immediately at 8:10 of the vid, we see the lady throw a used cup that seems like she just finished her drink from into the PET bin. So already, the vid itself shows it doesn't totally work. I would also suggest CNA show stats on the amount of non-contaminated products can be retrieved from such bins in malls. It might not be too different. Otherwise, we are just speculating here.
It's extremely frustrating to see how the entire system is broken from start to finish. Where I currently live overseas, I have five bins at home for compostables, paper, glass, metal and plastics, mixed, and they all go to separate bins to be taken away by municipal trucks. And the trash management authorities use social media to help residents figure out what can be thrown/recycled and into which bins or not at all.
@@CVYR490that's such a rubbish statement, no pun intended. It's very obvious in other countries that they stay separated because the trucks from different companies come on different days to collect the different types of recyclables.
How you know? Did you actually went and investigate how they process the so recycle rubbish? Do you know where do they dump all those rubbish to? They shipped million tons and tons to asian country, to China, where your fore father come from. as long as their country is clean, they can dont care about the rest of the world. do you still believe they are more environment, more green? Well they should, because for the past 150 yrs they put in and dump toxic waste, rubbish, air pollution ot the ocean and to the air, and now they point finger to all asian countries except themselves. You think they hold up to their human right belief? They kill more people and invade more countries than the rest of the world. I lived overseas for 20 over years, i know their hypocritical mentality and their evil mass media. Wake up. @@joshua5g
I believe anyone who tries to talk to NEA or feedback on issues or suggest solutions would understand. It seems like it is never their fault. Issues are always created by others, never a case of their own mistakes. They will always claim that they are unable to do anything other than to send flyers to educate the public and to prove that they have done their jobs. If issues involves wild animals they will claim that they are unable to do anything. IMHO maybe because wild animals did not receive their flyers. :)
Thank you CNA for covering this topic. The bluebins across the islands clearly aren’t effective when only 12% of what’s in the bins get recycled. such a pity to know more could be recycled if not for contamination. Wouldn’t these statistics get reported back to NEA and what are they doing to solve the root of the contamination issue? Focus should be on what NOT to put in the huge blue bins first instead of issuing individual household blue bins. If people are not recycling right, I rather they don’t do it in first place. 1. Education (Long Term Solution but takes years) perhaps schools can bring children to the material recovery facility for them to realize the impact of incorrect recycling (which is what their parent might be doing.) 2. Public awareness is key. Repeated Advertisements and videos can be placed in trains, MRT stations (where they often boast high traffic daily) TVs, etc. Repetition helps to embed the information in long term memory. 3. Volunteers/students to go door to door to educate people on recycling 4. Roll out recycling programs to corporations to educate their workforce/employees It’s only effective when everyone’s doing right. I feel ashamed to say this as a Singaporean but I learnt the right recycling methods not in Singapore but when I was in Japan and Korea, Singapore and the relevant agency really has a lot to catch up..
1. How much time does NEA expect to take to educate the population on the contamination issue? For years, educating people to return their trays has proved futile as resorting to fines became the eventual solution. The rates probably have gone up a little after some campaigning, but I seriously doubt it's gonna move any needle. 2. It may sound nice that we're saving costs and carbon footprint by using the co-mingling system. But how does that compare to incinerating 70%+ of the recyables though? Let's say if we adopt a stricter system like Japan/Taiwan/Korea and increase the rate to 80% of recycables usable, will the carbon footprint and cost prove to be worthed it?
Agreed, the real solution is less recycled items and more compostable items. This way all the containers, and yes even diapers, can be sent to one facility which digests the items and forms two very important byproducts, renewable natural gas, and compost for use by farmers. Of course the items will have to be tested in smaller batches for chemicals and heavy metals before starting the composting phase or else there is the risk of contamination in a much larger batch and wasted energy.
1. Probably stretching this out before some kind of fine gets imposed. how to track which person or household contributed to the problem might be an issue. A little lamentable on fine being the eventual solution for trays and likewise disincentive charge for plastic bags. Because these examples might reinforce impression education is less effective as a long term solution. 2. Have the same question too. Students are taught the right ways at school but getting other household members to cooperate seems like another hurdle to cross. Is the recycling right know how practised at work place? Those countries seem to do well at that too.
I think we need to accept that we’re not living in utopia. Bad actors will always exist and simply hoping that people will do better just reeks of laziness or worse, ineptitude. Dear authorities, please reconsider implementing better measures (get rid of commingled system for starters) and create more public education. CNA shouldn’t be the ones taking up the slack. That said, great job, Talking Point team!
Actually the younger generation are getting up to scratch to their first world counterparts. It’s because PAP continued to import Tiongs in uncontrolled numbers that’s causing our setbacks.
20:47 so many agents in the organization couldn't see the issues and make the correct changes but an "outsider" could? Sad part isn't our recycle effort are almost futile but countinue to see a mistake gonna continue to carry on for years maybe just to save "face" or someone's incompetency
so dismayed with NEA's stand on 'the onus is on people themselves'. no wonder recycling rate continues to be low coming from an agency who does not know how to engage
I agree with all the comments here. I noticed that the blue bins are often in disarray, and recyclables should be seggerated. Also, when it rains, the cardboard and other materials in the bin get wet, the whole bin gets soiled and messy, undermining the efforts of those that genuinely want to recycle their items. I emailed & proposed an idea to my town council: organizing a group of volunteers to take turns sorting the blue bins in our block. But didn’t get a reply… I really hope we can all come together to urge our ministers to take this recycling issue more seriously and I believe we can make a better recycling system and be a better green country and actually help our Mother Earth that is actually dying from all our pollution
i try very hard to separate my recyclables into different categories (even to the extent of setting up a recycling bin at my doorstep for greater efficiency). I bring them to the bloobin only to see that all of the items gets mixed up again. These bloobins are placed out in the open so certain materials becomes wet and mushy. Its very dishearting to hear that residents who recycle gets blamed for the contamination. Why segregate when the collection truck comes and mix up all the recyclables again? The national recycling "effort" is set up as though as it is a show staged to show everyone that they have made the effort and it is the people on the ground who are not cooperative. Why do people not collect the mini bloobox? The box is so flimsy and it is not going to be able to contain the recyclable items such as glass jars and the bigger items. Are these boxes are going into the bloobin as recyclables? I don't know. I believe the government agencies are not genuinely interested in recycling but doing it to fufil KPIs. If you are educating the young in school to recycle because it is important, then government agencies PLEASE DO WHAT YOU PREACH PROPERLY.
If the govt is serious about cutting carbon emissions, Jurong cube and bedok point shouldn't be allowed to re-develop as these buildings are about 12 years old only.
I learned about recycling since 1996. I have been washing all my plastic, clean off any paper labels, dried them and only keeping the pure ones (not multiple plastic mixed together) and especially type 1, 2 and 5 for recycling (type 4, 6 and others are rarely recycled). then there are the dirty ones in blue bins messing up all my effort, all i can do is to keep my recyclables in a big bag, hoping not to be contaminated. Paper wise, I don't even want to put into the blue bins. there are just too many people other there just don't give a sh*t about others by willfully throwing whatever they like into the blue bins.
The planet is overpopulated. We sowed the seeds of our own imminent destruction when we started burning coal. No amount of recycling will prolong the life of our species on this planet. Make your peace with the universe, bend over, and kiss your ass goodbye.
it can be too heavy and bulky to bring them to the bins. I've seen it but I would have to lug my stuff, take public transport and walk all the way to the bin.@@penguin6700
This recycling system is so inefficient. I now wait till the paper only recycling machine by SGRecycle is ready before lugging my paper recyclables there. I throw plastic bottles and metal cans in the shared bin and bring the clothes, bags and toys to the yellow machines. Not sure if it's been mentioned, imposing a fine on disposing of what is clearly trash e.g. unfinished food and soiled diapers might just work. I see many people using reusable bags and customers and cashiers think more carefully before using more bags after a mere 5 cent per bag fee is imposed.
Eh then those people standing and sorting trash at the Materials Recovery Facility not manpower intensive? What NEA talking? Many of the bloobins are in the open or not cleared often, and most of the time I see a pile of wet sludge inside and around the bin.
Don't be fooled by the segregated bins at shopping centres. Some are just pooled together into trashbin by cleaners who are just following management's orders (presumably). Someone needs to put some airtags on these recyclables :/
Yes they are still thrown into the same bin. I found that out recently. When organisations tries to do their part but not the G who are "advocating" recycling LOL. More to come when households have lesser plastic bags from supermarkets.
NEA prematurely allowed the ending of Recycle Vending Machines without any prior notice on 31 Jul 2023. The new beverage return programme will only take place in 2025. They are so concerned about giving recyclers the rewards. When RVM first started the response was overwhelmingly good that they adjusted the rewards to just peanuts. And now they dont even want to give peanuts anymore.
Japan and the European countries are good at segregating and recycling. They are a generic people and cultured. In Singapore, we are multiracial and education on mindset change don't work. You can educate 99.99 percent of the people in Singapore to behave, but it just take 0.01 percent of the people to contaminate one full bin of hard work by the remainder 99.99 percent. Incentive is the right way to go. Bring in the Rag and Bone men army.
After a trip to the Garden by the bay many years ago (and learnt about the declining health of our Mother Earth), me and my family started our laborious recycling journey. But after watching this episode, we felt so defeated that our effort may come to a futile when all the items are simply lumped together! Singapore is so strong economically but so third world when come to treating our Mother Earth better. This is so sad.
Please do not give up. I am sure you are not alone. As much as I am far from being the greenest, I believe I am doing much more than my parent's generation. It just takes a few black sheep to make the whole village's effort look futile. All the more we should persevere.
Director's replies reminded me of a Simpsons show where 2 guys carried a big pane of glass, and tried their very best to cross a busy road, only to throw the glass into a dumpster.
Educating the public on how to recycle and be considerate. I think my recyclables have all gone wasted. I have been diligently cleaning my bottles and jars, but all I see at the blue bins are rubbish.
NEA has to step up more to educate people what can or cannot be recycle. This does not sync with what the NEA director mention about the blueprints and carbon issue when only 12% of the items are recyclable.
Why not allow the garang guni to collect any recyclables from the blue bins.. pretty sure they are willing to do so.. this will certainly increase the number of recycling.
sometimes I place empty cardboard boxes beside the blue bin, knowing that the garang guni will be the one who will recycle it better than the blue bin system.
I make effort to clean my recyclables and seal in bag. Disappointed that some might not be usable. Look at the mixed up garbage. The recycling effort in Singapore is superficial and insincere. Not much done to assess and rectify recycling difficulty or gaps. E.g.The mouth of blue bin is too small and sometimes locked. A lot of people have no choice but to dump beside the bin. Consider redesigning bin or leaving it unlocked. We need to consider better education and enforcement. Station recycling embassadors or go door to door like karang guni to make sure recycling is done correctly. Overtime recycling will be a habit and we can achieve a higher recycling rate.
Government have to create a eco-system to paid garang guni man enough to help national recycling increase the rates. Government should also give incentives for these people to get a transport for these works @ an subsides rates. These will help with recycling movement for Singapore.
We are just way behind countries like Japan on individual households’ ability and enthusiasm to sort our recyclables. I used to work for an incineration plant and I’m aghast at the sheer volume of rejects that arrive daily at my site for incineration. With respect to our culture, we have to be incentivised to do the sorting and decontamination at home. You just can’t mandate people to wash their recyclables unless they are compensated on utility (water) and opportunity (labour) cost. Manufacturers have to fine tune their processes to ensure that environmental their friendly products/packaging are themselves not commingled with incompatible components that increases complications to remove and segregate. There was a case when a tracker was deposited in one of the blue bins as part of an audit. The contents of the bin went straight to the incineration plant (operated by the company I worked at) and bypassing MRF. NEA was thoroughly flabbergasted at this lapse of procedure. And also don’t blame the NEA guy. He’s just doing the perfect job of denial as instructed by his superiors. Agreeing with NGOs’ observations will make them look bad.
Agree with the host completely that our current efforts to Bloobin are almost futile. And to think that my family and I have been diligently and religiously packing and bagging all our recyclables for as long as the Bloobin was in existence. Other countries have successfully recycled based on the "strict" segregated system. Why can't we? I really dun understand. If the purpose is to encourage recycling, this is like taking 100 steps backwards. Disappointing indeed.
The real solution is less recycled items and more compostable items. This way all the containers, and yes even diapers, can be sent to one facility which digests the items and forms two very important byproducts, renewable natural gas, and compost for use by farmers. Of course the items will have to be tested in smaller batches for chemicals and heavy metals before starting the composting phase or else there is the risk of contamination in a much larger batch and wasted energy.
there is no composting of post consumer waste in Singapore. everything is incinerated. Singapore has very little need for compost and more than enough biomass from garden trimmings to meet those needs. the real solution is everyone stop buying so much crap
I don’t like to put the recycle item in the blue bin because there are inconsiderate people that throw food in the blue bin. And I keep the papers and recycle it to the SGRECYCLE machine for papers. However, the machine is always full or error. I am not sure how to recycle the items and don’t waste my effort of collecting.
The SGRecycle machines at my area, are cleared around 3 times a week. But they are usually filled up quite quickly. And you are right, some have errors. Sometimes you press the 'door open' button on the touchscreen, but the door doesn't open.
Karanguni men are expert recyclers. If so, employ or organised them to do the job. Telling people to ensure that recyclable items are clean is a troublesome task for some.
To effectively recycle waste, the first important thing is to sort it at the source and have a good enough collection system. This requires large investments and good awareness from both the government and the nation. In the United States, I see trash everywhere and almost unsorted. It is possible to carry out land that is too large.
Lol the NEA interview went for an hour, but all they could splice together from the director’s answers were these robotic broken-record public announcements that evaded acknowledging the problems and taking any responsibility whatsoever. So cringe. Typical yes-men nervous scholars implanted into the top ranks of civil service with neither vision nor leadership nor charisma, just kowtowing to the targets set by their ministers that they are so eager to paper-push regardless of the realities on the ground smh 🤦🏻♂️ well done to the presenter for attempting to tackle these issues head on.
Yeah I don’t think its just about the bin. There’s a whole culture of recycling in Japan. You can only throw trash a specific type of trash once a week… you get fined if you mess up your trash… people take it super seriously and you get ostracised if you mess it up… its super stressful there and I for one am glad government is making it easy for us in Singapore. I blame those who throw rubbish in recycling bin.
The NEA guy's remark is stupid. From 20:25 He say residents want to have their own timing to recycle - what rubbish? This episode is okay until the end when the NEA guy speaks. It is not an episode about recycling, it is an episode about the Dunning Kruger Effect, when stupid people are at the helm!
just saw in the news today that NEA introduced a chatbot for people to ask questions on whether items can be recycled. all that money could have gone to a simple pilot initiative to hire the manpower required to sort through and handle the recyclables properly.
Suggestion: Users to bag recycleables in CLEAR plastic bag. It will be so much easier for the sorters to identify what can be recycle, what is contaminated. But of course, it has been a challenge to educate users thus far
Can get students to learn recycling right at school (cleaning out and sorting)and they can help pass on the know how to other household members. Agree that Karang Guni can be part of the solution but it seems NEA not keen on that.
The willingness to work for the environment and response to climate change has to come from the heart. But some people are just sitting on big chairs because they have some credentails but they lack passion and no heart. They are just there to collect the paychecks and do nothing more. I feel that this NEA director does not have the apptitude for his job. He may have some university degrees or whatever but surely, he has zero passion to protect the environment. He is just there to do a job and get paid. He has no innovation nor mission. He is not fit for this job. He does care about the environment. I wonder how many are there like him? How much public money have been wasted all these years. Now we know why only 12% get recycled. It’s because of people like him, who do not care. Whereas those who care are not getting the job. Something needs to be done. I hope Ms Grace Foo is aware of this.
haha you are assuming you are the first to use the basin of water. what about the 2nd/3rd/4th/100th user? how disgusting will the water basin be? and how about breeding dengue?? and if you meant a tap with a sink, then it will certainly be abused for free water collection...
@@takanna interesting perspective, however, you don't see people going to free water collection point in public toilet what makes you think they will do it over there where it also stinks. Drinking water point also not that close to trash due to air pollution. That water point must use responsibly rinse the basin after use to prevent stain.
Actually I don't understand why there is only 1 single blue bin for putting a mixed of recycling items at the neighbourhood, and it's located outdoor whereby the rain might get in. And there's an essential need for educational on what can be recycled. The reason behind why the current recycling system is not improved despite the issues identified can be narrowed down to : no budget and some people don't want to make more effort to do their job.
Singapore is such an advance country is Judy disappointing that the recycling scheme is so bad . Also we need to have a bin to throw compose like other countries.
The material that is incinerated is "Recycled" into Electricity. Very little remains after the burn. What is left is sent for proper disposal. It's ok to recycle materials into needed Electric Power as it reduces the demand for Coal, Nuclear, Petroleum and Natural Gas.
Recycling efforts tell us to recycle plastic. Contamination mostly comes from plastic products. Plastic recycling rate is only 4-6%. No point recycling plastic.
And here I thought...Only US has these kind of problems. LoL. From what I understand in this video...as long as people are getting paid....they will surely, and properly, arranged those recycled products. Of course, I am sure not 100% will do that...but at least more people will do it. :) Because TBH...w/o getting paid to arrange or clean your recycle products....many ppl will just be lazy to sort it and just threw it in the blue bin.
people who put diapers in the recycling, do it because it doesn't cost any money and they are lazy. That's why my neighbour puts his rubbish in the recycling and sometimes throws it on the footpath and in the gutter.
I'll say it' will be gd to really really bump up the awareness of this recycling process b4 throwing to the bins uncontaminated to all platform as ads cos what ic for my place some ppl just throw in tissues and how bout making a bin with cam plus a fine just like littering in public
You try to convince the uncle director... He got military background??? Good luck convincing him. SAF taught him "well" You're never gonna convince someone who thinks he's in command and what he says is law.
How is co-mingling the root cause when if everyone knows what can/cannot be recycled, cross-contamination would be a non-issue. It's more like a stop gap measure while the education efforts continue.
Not doing co-mingling would make things much clearer. Like paper, cardboard, glass and metal. Still might end up with some issue like ceramics, but difference between what is recyclable and what is not is infinitely simpler.
17:50 from what I am hearing, NEA sounds pretty tone-deaf.
It seems logical to me that a commingling system makes people less likely to think first before throwing, since sorting of materials does not fall on us.
I feel it's a catch-22 situation. Having stringent sorting at the source reduces the willingness to recycle for many. I am guilty of that. I always ensure what I dispose of into the bloobins are contamination-free, but sorting them and bagging them separately is tedious. If we have segregated bins, how big should each be? How easy/fast is the collection? Even with segregation, it can still be contaminated.
I strongly believe it takes another generation or two before Singapore residents are much more civic-minded so that we don't need to use complex systems or processes to collect/sort/recycle.
Segregated bins in shopping malls are easier to manage, people throw single small items and there's always a general waste bin beside.
@@okaydoubleu We don't have a generation or two to slowly ramp up recycling rates.
I personally believe that I need to at least do my part by correctly recycling, since I bought and consumed, but obviously I am in the vast minority.
Finally someone is suggesting formalizing karung guni men, its literally a home-grown solution, the karung guni men can ensure that recyclables are clean and suitable for recycling. Pay them a livable wage and zone them out by estate but also by type of recyclables, collect paper on monday, plastics on tuesday etc. The NEA director is so idealistic, it's obvious that there is practically no way to prevent contamination ever in this comingling system cos theres always gonna be assholes in society... in fact just scrape the blue bins all together I literally have not seen a blue bin not contaminated before. Let the karang guni men go around with the blue recycling garbage trucks and give them the blue wheelie blue bin that you can find in the landed estates so they can go unit by unit to collect, this will reduce almost all heavy lifting and they can collect more per trip compared to their current lorries and vans and the job can be done by anyone any age.
wow the director of NEA is incredibly snobbish and tone-deaf. just holding a high-paying job without care for the final results - "we will just hope..."
The NEA director’s answers are really disappointing. He doesn’t directly answer the questions about commingling and puts the onus of proper recycling squarely on education.
I was listening to this episode while working and when this person spoke, I immediately turned on the video to look at who this person is. This guy is a classic civil servant who doesn't take responsibility in improving processes and thinks HIS way of thought makes the world go round and everyone should adapt to the methodologies HE thinks is right. Pretty much a tone deaf entity.
In short he is living in his own bubble and our SG recycling effort as a whole is actively being hampered by this guy.
Classic one track mind
I watched on TV and came looking on RUclips to see anyone share this same sentiment. I feel that the director is avoiding responsibility.
He has a shoddy excuse for each point raised by the journalist. You can also tell from his body language that he seems to know this himself, but is just saying things that doesn't rock the boat of what NEA is prepared to do (or not do). Sad.
I too agree that he was quite defensive of the flaws of a co-mingling system. However if you think about it, even if we compartmentalize the recycling bins into glass, plastic etc. - Who's to say there won't be people putting in contaminated things? The issue truly is with errant users and perhaps also lack of education. The suggestion to replace the the recycling bins with karung gunis is even more laughable, how often do you have someone asking to collect your recyclables? That suggestion seems really out of touch with reality.
The NEA guy stubbornly sticking to the bloobox plan despite the failure percentage and negative on the ground feedback is making him look suspicious🤔
Very reluctant to accept feedback.. 😅
40% contamination of the blue boxes even by NEA’s own admission & STILL it is not NEA’s problem
He grew up with his parents telling him hes the best and hes leader material, so no surprise his head is so bloated. Man is single-handedly causing SG environment problems to deteriorate further yet hes blaming citizens for lack of education.
Thank you CNA & Munah for the direct confrontation with the NEA Director, very much needed to demonstrate how ignorant his replies are. NEA is clearly falling short of public's expectations severely.
Definitely agree, and very disappointed with the NEA’s responses.
This is why we need to vote Tan Kin Lian as President to ensure our govt leaders are NOT out of touch with the ground in Singapore.
Even when presented with overwhelming evidence that co-mingling is the root cause, this NEA rep evades and doesn't address the concerns. NEA and their dim-witted policies which do not work in reality are the problem.
Thank you CNA for this investigative piece. It really highlights the incompetence of our government boards.
But honestly we need to do better, and not really push the blame when in reality it really is our fault
An influencer that went to the ground to see the recycling system for a short period of time talks more sense than the person who leads the entire recycling system in Singapore.
perhaps they already have many meetings and discussions before implementing the current system, hence they might have taken into account various factors like speed, cost of transport, etc.
or perhaps as a head of department he has to defend his organization and "toe the party line" so to speak
nonetheless, his counter-arguments still sound unconvincing to me. 12% recycling rate is abysmal.
Who else is here to view comments on NEA’s director?
I was quite disappointed in the way he’s avoiding questions.
He is in charge of the national’s effort and movement towards sustainability.
Yet this is his level of accountability.
I hope NEA’s board of directors can pick someone else for this role.
Cross-contamination in the blue bins is a huge issue!! Every time I put my recyclables into the blue bin, I see stuff that are not recyclable, or food refuse etc. I sometimes ask myself why I even bother to wash my plastic bottles and metal cans before putting them in the blue bins. Sigh....
Does Bryan have any collections in Jurong East? I always collect my recyclables until my own "bloo" containers are full before bringing them down to the blue bins. But they end up being cross-contaminated in the bins so if he has a collection near where I stay, this would be excellent news!
Why can't the door-to-door collection system work? We don't need to be home when the rag and bone man comes on their rounds. We just segregate our recyclables and put them outside our homes the night before a scheduled collection day. I have 3 big plastic bags in my kitchen, 1 each for PET bottles, metal cans, and glass bottles, and used carton boxes near my front door. One-third of my small flat is like a recyclable collection centre.......I'm even embarrassed to invite friends over.
I feel the same way. Really discouraging to see this when I put in effort to clean n dry recycables before putting them into the blue bin. I am more apprehensive about putting them in nowadays when I see my neighbours treat it as a trash bin. V much agree with the proposed door to door solution. :)
Exactly. Sometimes there are leaflets going around the estate informing of collecting old newspapers, magazines, clothings etc at a certain time. We just leave our stuff outside, stuck that leaflet into our pile and let them collect at our doorstep!
3 main issues:
1. Many inconsiderate people who just treat recycling bins as waste bins.
2. For those who do recycle, many don't clean them before sending to recycling bin.
3. Current recycling process don't get people to sort out different types of recyclables before putting them into the bins as there is only one bun for everything. Despite feedback from public, authorities refuse to change the process as the view is public can't play their part.
Agreed, the real solution is less recycled items and more compostable items. This way all the containers, and yes even diapers, can be sent to one facility which digests the items and forms two very important byproducts, renewable natural gas, and compost for use by farmers. Of course the items will have to be tested in smaller batches for chemicals and heavy metals before starting the composting phase or else there is the risk of contamination in a much larger batch and wasted energy.
When the blue bin is clearly the problem for contamination, the director said it isn't. That's inconceivable. Clearly, he isn't taking the right responsibility at all, not even an inch. Putting zero fault to the blue bin really showed us his department is not doing responsible duty. Sigh. If you were to come up with a system for recycling, you'd better make it fool proof. If not, don't do it. You're wasting resources and manpower.
Totally agree with the general sentiments of the comments. Not here to criticise NEA, but we need to overhaul the recycling process. Sorting our recyclables is a great way to start. The problem with our current process is that it increases the chance of contamination significantly. For example, I wanted to recycle the toilet paper core roll, but I decided to just throw it away because it's made of paper and anything wet with junk juice will contaminate it immediately. The safest are like the plastics and metal already.
An idea I had for those who are really keen on recycling is just to sort it ourselves with plastic bags we can tie up. Then when it reaches the facility and the workers rip it open they should see it's just one whole batch of the same thing and they can just throw it into the relevant bin. Not sure if it'll help and not a perfect idea but yeap.
good job CNA and Munah. thanks for asking the real questions
I used the bloo box at home to hold groceries and packed dry food i bought from supermarkets. It is so easy to understand how to segregate and what can be recycled or not, not need a bloo box. The reason why people are not doing it is not because they don't understand, but rather they don't really bother or care!
Great documentary and amazing reporter!
NEA please do better! Your argument of trying reducing the carbon footprint is tone deaf as what ended up being recycled in the end is so little it essentially ended up wasting the trip and effort in the first place…
As someone who really tries to sort, wash and clean my recyclables before bringing them down to the blue bin it is very disheartening to see my efforts are being wasted when someone just throws their half finished drink contaminating the whole bin 🥲 the blue box initiative was also such a let down because it is essentially just a box for me to bring down my recyclables before it gets contaminated again
As my mum in law used to say: I am wasting water washing the cardboard milk carton. I used to think she was ignorant. Now I recycle more selectively.
Yes! Everytime I go and throw my perfectly recyclables plus bottles that I had took the effort to rinse....I will ALWAYS see stuff that are not meant to be in the blue bin. I always wondered what's the point of throwing everything into one bin? I think it's worse than getting them sorted out separately first. The government just don't educate the public enough. Only a small percentage understands what can be recycled. The dos and don'ts on the bin isn't clear enough for the less educated and many foreigners. It just looks like a typical trash bin.
@@penguin6700 ya. i have stopped recycling anything that requires cleaning/washing. Why should I waste water (and money) when the govt clearly doesn't take recycling seriously? Anyone with half a brain will realise that the blue bin and blue box won't achieve anything? It's just for show.
0:31: 🗑 Despite efforts to promote recycling in Singapore, the domestic recycling rate remains low at 12%.
7:36: 🗑 Contamination of recyclables is a problem in Singapore due to the co-mingling system.
9:22: 🔄 Segregated recycling bins could minimize contamination, but implementing them island-wide is unlikely in the near future. However, karanguni men, who are expert recyclers, can play a significant role in improving recycling efforts.
13:08: ✅ Formalizing the role of karangunis in waste management and recycling companies can help boost Singapore's recycling efforts.
18:54: 🔄 The co-mingling system in Singapore's recycling process is causing contamination issues, but the National Environment Agency (NEA) believes it is still effective in encouraging recycling and reducing carbon emissions.
19:59: 🌍 The need for a complementary network to collect recyclables alongside recycling bins.
Recap by Tammy AI
I would provide a different view just for discussion purposes. If the non-mingling absolutely works then we should see that people do not throw contaminated products into such bins. However, immediately at 8:10 of the vid, we see the lady throw a used cup that seems like she just finished her drink from into the PET bin. So already, the vid itself shows it doesn't totally work. I would also suggest CNA show stats on the amount of non-contaminated products can be retrieved from such bins in malls. It might not be too different. Otherwise, we are just speculating here.
It's extremely frustrating to see how the entire system is broken from start to finish. Where I currently live overseas, I have five bins at home for compostables, paper, glass, metal and plastics, mixed, and they all go to separate bins to be taken away by municipal trucks. And the trash management authorities use social media to help residents figure out what can be thrown/recycled and into which bins or not at all.
I think Oversea recycle system are the same, they just never show you the truth.
@@CVYR490that's such a rubbish statement, no pun intended. It's very obvious in other countries that they stay separated because the trucks from different companies come on different days to collect the different types of recyclables.
How you know? Did you actually went and investigate how they process the so recycle rubbish? Do you know where do they dump all those rubbish to? They shipped million tons and tons to asian country, to China, where your fore father come from. as long as their country is clean, they can dont care about the rest of the world. do you still believe they are more environment, more green? Well they should, because for the past 150 yrs they put in and dump toxic waste, rubbish, air pollution ot the ocean and to the air, and now they point finger to all asian countries except themselves. You think they hold up to their human right belief? They kill more people and invade more countries than the rest of the world. I lived overseas for 20 over years, i know their hypocritical mentality and their evil mass media. Wake up. @@joshua5g
Shopping malls/offices do have segregated bins, but they are all thrown into the same pile at the end of the day, the cleaners themselves said it.
I believe anyone who tries to talk to NEA or feedback on issues or suggest solutions would understand. It seems like it is never their fault. Issues are always created by others, never a case of their own mistakes. They will always claim that they are unable to do anything other than to send flyers to educate the public and to prove that they have done their jobs. If issues involves wild animals they will claim that they are unable to do anything. IMHO maybe because wild animals did not receive their flyers. :)
Thank you CNA for covering this topic. The bluebins across the islands clearly aren’t effective when only 12% of what’s in the bins get recycled. such a pity to know more could be recycled if not for contamination. Wouldn’t these statistics get reported back to NEA and what are they doing to solve the root of the contamination issue?
Focus should be on what NOT to put in the huge blue bins first instead of issuing individual household blue bins. If people are not recycling right, I rather they don’t do it in first place.
1. Education (Long Term Solution but takes years) perhaps schools can bring children to the material recovery facility for them to realize the impact of incorrect recycling (which is what their parent might be doing.)
2. Public awareness is key. Repeated Advertisements and videos can be placed in trains, MRT stations (where they often boast high traffic daily) TVs, etc. Repetition helps to embed the information in long term memory.
3. Volunteers/students to go door to door to educate people on recycling
4. Roll out recycling programs to corporations to educate their workforce/employees
It’s only effective when everyone’s doing right. I feel ashamed to say this as a Singaporean but I learnt the right recycling methods not in Singapore but when I was in Japan and Korea, Singapore and the relevant agency really has a lot to catch up..
1. How much time does NEA expect to take to educate the population on the contamination issue? For years, educating people to return their trays has proved futile as resorting to fines became the eventual solution. The rates probably have gone up a little after some campaigning, but I seriously doubt it's gonna move any needle.
2. It may sound nice that we're saving costs and carbon footprint by using the co-mingling system. But how does that compare to incinerating 70%+ of the recyables though? Let's say if we adopt a stricter system like Japan/Taiwan/Korea and increase the rate to 80% of recycables usable, will the carbon footprint and cost prove to be worthed it?
This environmental problem is another pandemic in the making.
Agreed, the real solution is less recycled items and more compostable items. This way all the containers, and yes even diapers, can be sent to one facility which digests the items and forms two very important byproducts, renewable natural gas, and compost for use by farmers. Of course the items will have to be tested in smaller batches for chemicals and heavy metals before starting the composting phase or else there is the risk of contamination in a much larger batch and wasted energy.
1. Probably stretching this out before some kind of fine gets imposed. how to track which person or household contributed to the problem might be an issue. A little lamentable on fine being the eventual solution for trays and likewise disincentive charge for plastic bags. Because these examples might reinforce impression education is less effective as a long term solution.
2. Have the same question too. Students are taught the right ways at school but getting other household members to cooperate seems like another hurdle to cross. Is the recycling right know how practised at work place? Those countries seem to do well at that too.
Thank you so much Munah for getting down and dirty on the ground to give us another informative and insightful docu!
I think we need to accept that we’re not living in utopia. Bad actors will always exist and simply hoping that people will do better just reeks of laziness or worse, ineptitude.
Dear authorities, please reconsider implementing better measures (get rid of commingled system for starters) and create more public education. CNA shouldn’t be the ones taking up the slack.
That said, great job, Talking Point team!
Sometimes I'm really so ashamed as a Singaporean.
We are a first world country but with third world citizens.
Actually the younger generation are getting up to scratch to their first world counterparts. It’s because PAP continued to import Tiongs in uncontrolled numbers that’s causing our setbacks.
20:47 so many agents in the organization couldn't see the issues and make the correct changes but an "outsider" could? Sad part isn't our recycle effort are almost futile but countinue to see a mistake gonna continue to carry on for years maybe just to save "face" or someone's incompetency
so dismayed with NEA's stand on 'the onus is on people themselves'. no wonder recycling rate continues to be low coming from an agency who does not know how to engage
I agree with all the comments here. I noticed that the blue bins are often in disarray, and recyclables should be seggerated. Also, when it rains, the cardboard and other materials in the bin get wet, the whole bin gets soiled and messy, undermining the efforts of those that genuinely want to recycle their items.
I emailed & proposed an idea to my town council: organizing a group of volunteers to take turns sorting the blue bins in our block. But didn’t get a reply…
I really hope we can all come together to urge our ministers to take this recycling issue more seriously and I believe we can make a better recycling system and be a better green country and actually help our Mother Earth that is actually dying from all our pollution
i try very hard to separate my recyclables into different categories (even to the extent of setting up a recycling bin at my doorstep for greater efficiency). I bring them to the bloobin only to see that all of the items gets mixed up again. These bloobins are placed out in the open so certain materials becomes wet and mushy. Its very dishearting to hear that residents who recycle gets blamed for the contamination. Why segregate when the collection truck comes and mix up all the recyclables again? The national recycling "effort" is set up as though as it is a show staged to show everyone that they have made the effort and it is the people on the ground who are not cooperative. Why do people not collect the mini bloobox? The box is so flimsy and it is not going to be able to contain the recyclable items such as glass jars and the bigger items. Are these boxes are going into the bloobin as recyclables? I don't know. I believe the government agencies are not genuinely interested in recycling but doing it to fufil KPIs. If you are educating the young in school to recycle because it is important, then government agencies PLEASE DO WHAT YOU PREACH PROPERLY.
Oh ya and the stuff in the bin gets wet whenever there is heavy rain lol
If the govt is serious about cutting carbon emissions, Jurong cube and bedok point shouldn't be allowed to re-develop as these buildings are about 12 years old only.
I learned about recycling since 1996. I have been washing all my plastic, clean off any paper labels, dried them and only keeping the pure ones (not multiple plastic mixed together) and especially type 1, 2 and 5 for recycling (type 4, 6 and others are rarely recycled). then there are the dirty ones in blue bins messing up all my effort, all i can do is to keep my recyclables in a big bag, hoping not to be contaminated. Paper wise, I don't even want to put into the blue bins. there are just too many people other there just don't give a sh*t about others by willfully throwing whatever they like into the blue bins.
The planet is overpopulated. We sowed the seeds of our own imminent destruction when we started burning coal. No amount of recycling will prolong the life of our species on this planet. Make your peace with the universe, bend over, and kiss your ass goodbye.
Put paper in SG Recycle Bins which are monitored by CCTV and only for paper.
it can be too heavy and bulky to bring them to the bins. I've seen it but I would have to lug my stuff, take public transport and walk all the way to the bin.@@penguin6700
This recycling system is so inefficient. I now wait till the paper only recycling machine by SGRecycle is ready before lugging my paper recyclables there. I throw plastic bottles and metal cans in the shared bin and bring the clothes, bags and toys to the yellow machines.
Not sure if it's been mentioned, imposing a fine on disposing of what is clearly trash e.g. unfinished food and soiled diapers might just work.
I see many people using reusable bags and customers and cashiers think more carefully before using more bags after a mere 5 cent per bag fee is imposed.
The video is very helpful. Thank you. We now have a better understanding of whether blue recycling (commingle) bin works.
Eh then those people standing and sorting trash at the Materials Recovery Facility not manpower intensive? What NEA talking?
Many of the bloobins are in the open or not cleared often, and most of the time I see a pile of wet sludge inside and around the bin.
Don't be fooled by the segregated bins at shopping centres. Some are just pooled together into trashbin by cleaners who are just following management's orders (presumably). Someone needs to put some airtags on these recyclables :/
Hmm.. worth an investigation on this
Yes they are still thrown into the same bin. I found that out recently. When organisations tries to do their part but not the G who are "advocating" recycling LOL. More to come when households have lesser plastic bags from supermarkets.
This is a good video. Gov should look at how effective the blue bins are
NEA prematurely allowed the ending of Recycle Vending Machines without any prior notice on 31 Jul 2023. The new beverage return programme will only take place in 2025. They are so concerned about giving recyclers the rewards. When RVM first started the response was overwhelmingly good that they adjusted the rewards to just peanuts. And now they dont even want to give peanuts anymore.
Japan and the European countries are good at segregating and recycling. They are a generic people and cultured. In Singapore, we are multiracial and education on mindset change don't work. You can educate 99.99 percent of the people in Singapore to behave, but it just take 0.01 percent of the people to contaminate one full bin of hard work by the remainder 99.99 percent. Incentive is the right way to go. Bring in the Rag and Bone men army.
After a trip to the Garden by the bay many years ago (and learnt about the declining health of our Mother Earth), me and my family started our laborious recycling journey. But after watching this episode, we felt so defeated that our effort may come to a futile when all the items are simply lumped together!
Singapore is so strong economically but so third world when come to treating our Mother Earth better. This is so sad.
Please do not give up. I am sure you are not alone. As much as I am far from being the greenest, I believe I am doing much more than my parent's generation. It just takes a few black sheep to make the whole village's effort look futile. All the more we should persevere.
Lack of proper segregated recycling bins, education and laziness. That's the problem here.
Director's replies reminded me of a Simpsons show where 2 guys carried a big pane of glass, and tried their very best to cross a busy road, only to throw the glass into a dumpster.
Educating the public on how to recycle and be considerate. I think my recyclables have all gone wasted. I have been diligently cleaning my bottles and jars, but all I see at the blue bins are rubbish.
I don't even feel like recycling anymore seeing that my items are always contaminated anyways..waste of time and effort.
Its sad some people just dont appreciate and treat it as trash bin instead. 😢
can't blame some of them as it may not be very obvious for the less educated and foreigners. It actually looks like a normal trash bin.
We’re still a long way to go where recycling is concerned. Our dump will be filled up way sooner than predicted/expected.
NEA has to step up more to educate people what can or cannot be recycle.
This does not sync with what the NEA director mention about the blueprints and carbon issue when only 12% of the items are recyclable.
Why not allow the garang guni to collect any recyclables from the blue bins.. pretty sure they are willing to do so.. this will certainly increase the number of recycling.
sometimes I place empty cardboard boxes beside the blue bin, knowing that the garang guni will be the one who will recycle it better than the blue bin system.
LOL good idea. I think I will have to place my recyclables outside the blue bin too.
I make effort to clean my recyclables and seal in bag. Disappointed that some might not be usable. Look at the mixed up garbage.
The recycling effort in Singapore is superficial and insincere. Not much done to assess and rectify recycling difficulty or gaps. E.g.The mouth of blue bin is too small and sometimes locked. A lot of people have no choice but to dump beside the bin. Consider redesigning bin or leaving it unlocked.
We need to consider better education and enforcement. Station recycling embassadors or go door to door like karang guni to make sure recycling is done correctly. Overtime recycling will be a habit and we can achieve a higher recycling rate.
More tough questions can be poised to NEA director, seems like he slipped through the cracks and got into sustainbility.
Insanely insightful, thanks
Government have to create a eco-system to paid garang guni man enough to help national recycling increase the rates. Government should also give incentives for these people to get a transport for these works @ an subsides rates. These will help with recycling movement for Singapore.
We are just way behind countries like Japan on individual households’ ability and enthusiasm to sort our recyclables. I used to work for an incineration plant and I’m aghast at the sheer volume of rejects that arrive daily at my site for incineration.
With respect to our culture, we have to be incentivised to do the sorting and decontamination at home. You just can’t mandate people to wash their recyclables unless they are compensated on utility (water) and opportunity (labour) cost.
Manufacturers have to fine tune their processes to ensure that environmental their friendly products/packaging are themselves not commingled with incompatible components that increases complications to remove and segregate.
There was a case when a tracker was deposited in one of the blue bins as part of an audit. The contents of the bin went straight to the incineration plant (operated by the company I worked at) and bypassing MRF. NEA was thoroughly flabbergasted at this lapse of procedure.
And also don’t blame the NEA guy. He’s just doing the perfect job of denial as instructed by his superiors. Agreeing with NGOs’ observations will make them look bad.
Should fine people for incorrect use of recycle bins
Why do people put DIAPERS into the recycling bin? That's just stupid. Someone is too optimistic for their own good! Recycling diapers? Really?
NEA very reluctant to accept feedback.. sad..
Agree with the host completely that our current efforts to Bloobin are almost futile. And to think that my family and I have been diligently and religiously packing and bagging all our recyclables for as long as the Bloobin was in existence. Other countries have successfully recycled based on the "strict" segregated system. Why can't we? I really dun understand. If the purpose is to encourage recycling, this is like taking 100 steps backwards. Disappointing indeed.
Im sure one day therell be fines issued for those who contaminate the blue bins.
The real solution is less recycled items and more compostable items. This way all the containers, and yes even diapers, can be sent to one facility which digests the items and forms two very important byproducts, renewable natural gas, and compost for use by farmers. Of course the items will have to be tested in smaller batches for chemicals and heavy metals before starting the composting phase or else there is the risk of contamination in a much larger batch and wasted energy.
there is no composting of post consumer waste in Singapore. everything is incinerated. Singapore has very little need for compost and more than enough biomass from garden trimmings to meet those needs.
the real solution is everyone stop buying so much crap
I have seen town council's cleaners thrown trash into the blue recycle bins.
I don’t like to put the recycle item in the blue bin because there are inconsiderate people that throw food in the blue bin. And I keep the papers and recycle it to the SGRECYCLE machine for papers. However, the machine is always full or error. I am not sure how to recycle the items and don’t waste my effort of collecting.
The SGRecycle machines at my area, are cleared around 3 times a week. But they are usually filled up quite quickly. And you are right, some have errors. Sometimes you press the 'door open' button on the touchscreen, but the door doesn't open.
Karanguni men are expert recyclers. If so, employ or organised them to do the job. Telling people to ensure that recyclable items are clean is a troublesome task for some.
I too currently have a huge bag with cleaned plastics n glass. Is there anyway of disposing them properly instead putting into the dirty bluebins?
To effectively recycle waste, the first important thing is to sort it at the source and have a good enough collection system. This requires large investments and good awareness from both the government and the nation. In the United States, I see trash everywhere and almost unsorted. It is possible to carry out land that is too large.
Lol the NEA interview went for an hour, but all they could splice together from the director’s answers were these robotic broken-record public announcements that evaded acknowledging the problems and taking any responsibility whatsoever. So cringe. Typical yes-men nervous scholars implanted into the top ranks of civil service with neither vision nor leadership nor charisma, just kowtowing to the targets set by their ministers that they are so eager to paper-push regardless of the realities on the ground smh 🤦🏻♂️ well done to the presenter for attempting to tackle these issues head on.
Yeah I don’t think its just about the bin. There’s a whole culture of recycling in Japan. You can only throw trash a specific type of trash once a week… you get fined if you mess up your trash… people take it super seriously and you get ostracised if you mess it up… its super stressful there and I for one am glad government is making it easy for us in Singapore. I blame those who throw rubbish in recycling bin.
NEA needs to rename to (D)EA(F)
Fire the Director, strip the rank to garang guni. Instead of answering, he is counter-answering the questions; without solving the issue.
The NEA guy's remark is stupid. From 20:25 He say residents want to have their own timing to recycle - what rubbish? This episode is okay until the end when the NEA guy speaks. It is not an episode about recycling, it is an episode about the Dunning Kruger Effect, when stupid people are at the helm!
just saw in the news today that NEA introduced a chatbot for people to ask questions on whether items can be recycled. all that money could have gone to a simple pilot initiative to hire the manpower required to sort through and handle the recyclables properly.
The guy is as tone deaf as the 2 Ministers ; we are driving any token efforts that is visible without any net real effort in reducing anything
Suggestion: Users to bag recycleables in CLEAR plastic bag. It will be so much easier for the sorters to identify what can be recycle, what is contaminated. But of course, it has been a challenge to educate users thus far
Can get students to learn recycling right at school (cleaning out and sorting)and they can help pass on the know how to other household members. Agree that Karang Guni can be part of the solution but it seems NEA not keen on that.
I think most students are taught and know how to do it right. Is the lesser educated, cannot-be-bothered group and also the many foreigners.
The willingness to work for the environment and response to climate change has to come from the heart. But some people are just sitting on big chairs because they have some credentails but they lack passion and no heart. They are just there to collect the paychecks and do nothing more. I feel that this NEA director does not have the apptitude for his job. He may have some university degrees or whatever but surely, he has zero passion to protect the environment. He is just there to do a job and get paid. He has no innovation nor mission. He is not fit for this job. He does care about the environment. I wonder how many are there like him? How much public money have been wasted all these years.
Now we know why only 12% get recycled. It’s because of people like him, who do not care. Whereas those who care are not getting the job. Something needs to be done. I hope Ms Grace Foo is aware of this.
If each blue bin is beside a water basin, it will be convenient to wash, clean and dispose into recycling bin.
haha you are assuming you are the first to use the basin of water. what about the 2nd/3rd/4th/100th user? how disgusting will the water basin be?
and how about breeding dengue??
and if you meant a tap with a sink, then it will certainly be abused for free water collection...
@@takanna interesting perspective, however, you don't see people going to free water collection point in public toilet what makes you think they will do it over there where it also stinks. Drinking water point also not that close to trash due to air pollution. That water point must use responsibly rinse the basin after use to prevent stain.
Lol NEA bureaucracy stopping them from being efficient and doing things right.
it should have been a couple of different trash cans to separate trash from the beginning, but even that wouldn't help much
Actually I don't understand why there is only 1 single blue bin for putting a mixed of recycling items at the neighbourhood, and it's located outdoor whereby the rain might get in. And there's an essential need for educational on what can be recycled. The reason behind why the current recycling system is not improved despite the issues identified can be narrowed down to : no budget and some people don't want to make more effort to do their job.
Singapore is such an advance country is Judy disappointing that the recycling scheme is so bad . Also we need to have a bin to throw compose like other countries.
Perhaps fine those that abuse the blue bin. After all, we are a ‘fine’ city! 😜
when people dont learn to segregrate recyclables, doesnt this contradict with educating people about what can or cannot be recycled?
The material that is incinerated is "Recycled" into Electricity. Very little remains after the burn. What is left is sent for proper disposal. It's ok to recycle materials into needed Electric Power as it reduces the demand for Coal, Nuclear, Petroleum and Natural Gas.
Recycling efforts tell us to recycle plastic. Contamination mostly comes from plastic products. Plastic recycling rate is only 4-6%. No point recycling plastic.
In Japan, the rubbish sorting is very advanced compared to Singapore an Australian
Japanese people are also v considerate that's why it works. Here we have idiots throwing diapers n pads in. Arrgh..
As someone who recycles, why not just learn from other countries like japan?
At least recyclables can be sectioned into different components
And here I thought...Only US has these kind of problems. LoL. From what I understand in this video...as long as people are getting paid....they will surely, and properly, arranged those recycled products. Of course, I am sure not 100% will do that...but at least more people will do it. :) Because TBH...w/o getting paid to arrange or clean your recycle products....many ppl will just be lazy to sort it and just threw it in the blue bin.
btw I luv ur journalism cna. slay.
The culprits are those that misuse or abuse the recycling bins. They are either ignorant or mentally deprived. 🤣🤣
Is it just me or does the guy in orange shirt working look like Jianhao??
Look like the blue bin is for show only
Should focus on certain recyclable for a start…
people who put diapers in the recycling, do it because it doesn't cost any money and they are lazy. That's why my neighbour puts his rubbish in the recycling and sometimes throws it on the footpath and in the gutter.
Another way what Singapore could adopt a bottle return 10cents refund recycle scheme very similar to Australian
They will be doing that in apr 2025
Top 5 plastic polluting countries:
1. China 🇨🇳,
2. Indonesia,
3. Philippines,
4. Vietnam, and
5. Thailand.
- Thanks, Formosa Plastics!
I'll say it' will be gd to really really bump up the awareness of this recycling process b4 throwing to the bins uncontaminated to all platform as ads cos what ic for my place some ppl just throw in tissues and how bout making a bin with cam plus a fine just like littering in public
You try to convince the uncle director... He got military background??? Good luck convincing him.
SAF taught him "well"
You're never gonna convince someone who thinks he's in command and what he says is law.
Bloobin. Nice. I approve.
Part-time karung guni men are now the town council cleaning staff
She recycle the water bottle, but left the Trash Lid on?
Hmm. I think its still our responsibility to recycle correctly.
How is co-mingling the root cause when if everyone knows what can/cannot be recycled, cross-contamination would be a non-issue.
It's more like a stop gap measure while the education efforts continue.
Not doing co-mingling would make things much clearer. Like paper, cardboard, glass and metal. Still might end up with some issue like ceramics, but difference between what is recyclable and what is not is infinitely simpler.
So simple, change the colour to yellow, purple, etc.... But not blue. 😅😅😅😅😅