All HDB blocks, 43% of condos have recycling programmes

Today Online 18 Dec 07;
Letter from ONG SENG ENG, Director, Resource Conservation Department, National Environment Agency (NEA)

We refer to Ethan Guo's letter "Done that, bin where?" (Dec 10).

We would like to apologise to Mr Guo for the delay in responding to his earlier feedback and for the inaccurate location of the recycling bin at Temasek Tower on our website.

Due to construction works in the area, the bin had to be relocated to the walkway along Wallich Street (Tanjong Pagar MRT Entrance/Exit B). The new location has since been updated on our website.

In his letter, Mr Guo suggested that recycling bins be provided at every HDB block, condominium and shopping centre. We wish to highlight that under the NEA's National Recycling Programme (NRP), door-to-door recycling service is provided for all HDB blocks and landed estates through the appointed Public Waste Collectors (PWCs).

To make it even more convenient for the public to recycle, the NEA has worked with PWCs, Town Councils, CDCs and other agencies to provide at least one centralised recycling depository for approximately every five blocks of HDB flats for residents to recycle their household waste and to supplement the NRP.

In order to reach out to more people, the NEA has also placed recycling bins in public places with high human traffic. Some of these public places include MRT stations, bus interchanges and shopping malls.

As condominiums make their own arrangements for waste collection, the NEA also works closely with condominium managements to set up structured recycling programmes for the residents.

About 43 per cent of the condominiums already have recycling programmes. We have, meanwhile, contacted Mr Guo and the managing agent of his condominium to look into starting a recycling programme soon.

We would like to thank Mr Guo for his feedback and support of the recycling programmes.