Singapore is responsible for a huge amount of electronic waste.  The National Environment Agency (NEA) reported that 60,000 tons of electronic were being produced by Singapore produced annually.  Many consumers suggested that they are unsure of how to recycle their electronic waste, and so much of it ends up being thrown away without being recycled (Chia, 2018).  However, Singapore has been making an effort in recent years to recycle more of their electronic waste at a consumer level.  In this post, I will outline how Singaporean consumers are being encouraged to make more of an effort to recycle e-waste.

In 2018, four large electronic companies in Singapore introduced e-waste collection bins outside their stores.  This move has made it easier for consumers to recycle products such as batteries and mobile phones.  Additionally, three other major companies, StarHub, DHL and TES, have worked together to create the RENEW programme.  This initiative has worked to make recycling easier for consumers by introducing recycling bins across the island.  There are currently 470 recycling bins in Singapore as a result of the initiative, making it easier than ever for consumers to dispose of their e-waste appropriately (StarHub, 2019).

It is likely that this change will be helpful in increasing the amount of electronic waste being recycled.  As discussed in the Theory of Planned behaviour (see blog post here), perceived behavioural control is an important factor in increasing likelihood to perform a behaviour – individuals are encouraged to perform sustainable behaviours if they see them as doable and easy.  Therefore, improving e-waste recycling facilities may go a long way to ensuring that these products do not end up on sites like Agbogbloshie.

Having said this, recent reports suggest that Singapore has a long way to go.  A recent article in the Straits Times reported that only 10% of Singaporeans aged 18 to 25 recycle their electronic waste (Teh, 2019).  In addition to this, a third of that 10% recycle wrongly!  34.1% of participants who claimed to attempt to recycle were simply throwing electronic items into general recycle bins.

From these findings, I would conclude that Singapore is taking some appropriate steps to encourage its citizens to recycle their electronic waste.  Changes in recycling facilities are an effective way of making a positive change to promote conservation.  However, I would also suggest that it is important for Singaporeans to become more educated on the importance of recycling e-waste, so that they can become more informed on the issue and how to dispose of their electronic waste properly.  With better education, I believe it will be possible to make e-waste recycling more popular in Singapore.