More recyclable material has been collected from Housing and Development Board (HDB) flats and landed properties, according to the country’s first online recycling rewards programme.
The programme, called Grow your Recycling Incentives Now, was launched in June in landed properties in Tanjong Pagar Group Representation Constituency (GRC) and parts of Jalan Besar GRC by Veolia Environmental Services.
The programme was rolled out a month later in HDB estates in Tampines, Pasir Ris and Changi Simei, as well as in landed properties in Pasir Ris and Changi Simei.
Residents can earn redemption points for every kilogram of recyclable material collected, which can be used to redeem for retail privileges or be donated to support charitable causes.
According to Veolia Environmental Services, the amount of recyclable material collected from the HDB flats grew by over four times, from 90 tonnes in July to 365 tonnes in January.
Over the same period, landed properties witnessed a 31.7 per cent increase, from 120 tonnes of recyclable materials collected last July to 158 tonnes in January.
Currently, about 1,000 of the estimated 7,000 residential landed household in Pasir Ris, Changi Simei, Tanjong Pagar GRC and parts of Jalan Besar GRC have registered with the programme.
“We hope to have half of the landed property in the two sectors that we are working on to register in the next 12 months,” said Mr Jerome Baco, country manager of Veolia Environmental Services.
To mark Earth Day, more than 50 employees of Veolia Environmental Services reached out to more than 900 landed properties in the Tanjong Pagar GRC last Friday to encourage more residents to recycle and sign up for the programme.
The company had in February deployed recycling ambassadors in the HDB estates to work with the respective grassroots network such as the Residents’ Committees, to educate residents on the correct recycling practices and encourage recycling.
Recyclables deposited into the radio frequency identification-tagged recycling bins can be weighed and the participating household identified.
Through this method, residents can convert the weight of recyclables into redemption points. With a minimum of 3kg of recyclables collected in the recycling bin, one point will be awarded for every kilogram.
The accumulated points can be used to redeem privileges and gifts sponsored by seven merchants, such as Ben and Jerry, Homefix and Pet Lovers Centre. The points can also be donated to support a worthy cause.
Notwithstanding the points, Mr Loo Teck Leong, 82, a resident of Tanjong Pagar GRC, felt the most important thing for him is to recycle those items that can be recycled.
Another resident of Tanjong Pagar GRC, Miss Cheryln Tan, 35, a communications executive, said that with the recyclable bins at her doorstep, it makes it “convenient to recycle” as she would not have to drive to a recycling centre to bring items such as plastic bottles and papers.
