Organisations, eateries and individuals are cutting down on waste by adopting the reduce, re-use and recycle policy.
The credit cards are staying plastic, but when customers get a drink of water at OCBC now, it will not come in a bottle, but in a biodegradable cup adorned with playful patterns designed by its staff.
The bank’s eco-initiative is one shared by many organisations across the island these days, in the wake of a greater awareness of just how much waste people produce. Around 25 organisations told The Sunday Times about ways they are implementing a reduce, re-use and recycle policy.
A spokesman for the National Environment Agency says there was less waste generated in 2017 when compared with 2016. While less was recycled in 2017 than 2016, Singapore’s overall recycling rate remained at 61%.
Recycling can involve soap as well as ink and toner cartridges, and there are moves to create greener offices, eateries and events.
Several organisations also have recycling programmes to convert used materials into reusable items. For example, digital imaging solutions firm Canon recycles the plastic and metal parts of used ink and toner cartridges into new plastic and metal products, minimising waste and the need to mine virgin material.
Offices are also doing their part. Staff at CapitaHub, the corporate headquarters of developer CapitaLand, are encouraged to generate official letters in an electronic format instead of paper and board papers for meetings are also not printed. These initiatives have seen CapitaHub reduce its paper usage by more than 45% an employee compared with 2009.
Events are also trying to be “greener”. The Income Eco Run, which takes place on 29 April 2018, is looking to be more environmentally friendly than in 2017. There will be minimal product packaging and no flyers in the race pack. Promotional vouchers would also be given out electronically instead of being printed.
Singapore also now has its first plastic straw-free food court.
Watch the video below to see how this idea of a plastic straw-free food court was birthed from a current SMU undergraduate student:
The Koufu food court at Singapore Management University stopped using plastic straws from 29 March 2018, and it also uses bio-degradable takeaway packaging and reusable utensils.
Mr David Yang, Koufu’s Chief Development Officer, says: “By initiating this no-plastic-straw campaign, we aim to raise awareness of reducing plastic waste.”
Watch Mr Yang’s interview below:
Read more here.
Source: The Straits Times, 1 April 2018