Recycling isn’t Enough
There is a huge emphasis in Singapore for better recycling practices but this doesn’t solve the problem of overconsumption. If anything, the action concerns itself only an after the purchase; it doesn’t change the consumer’s mindset that we are buying more than what we actually need or buying without thinking of what happens after we no longer need it. Below are two image of a typical trash bin at NTU set apart by merely two hours. Reusables aside, the plastic cups can actually be recycled so maybe it’s because recycle bins were not accessible?
Unfortunately, this isn’t the case either (see images below).
Even when the recycling bin is literally beside the trash bin, people still choose not to recycle it. Is it because they don’t think it’s recyclable? Perhaps. More likely, however, is that people don’t want to go through the trouble of recycling because this involves extra steps as opposed to just dumping it in the general waste bin.
Here lies the problem of our relationship with cheap plastics. We are not paying for the cost of it upfront because the price is inclusive of whatever you pay for the product. And so, the cost goes under the radar. That then leads to the question, is going through the trouble of washing, drying and finding a recycling bin worth it for a piece of plastic? This would most probably be a resounding no.
| Relationship with Stuff | Individual Action can make a Difference |