Letter from K. Ignatius Guo, Straits Times Forum 7 Jul 08;
I APPLAUD this year's National Day Parade (NDP) message: Let's Go Green. The article last Friday ('Packaging the fun - in an eco-friendly way') on the organiser's attempt to make use of recycled materials in NDP goodie bags was inspiring. However, on a closer look at rehearsals conducted weekly, there is still a long way before the organiser can claim the parade is truly green.
As an investment specialist focusing on green technology, carbon credit and other alternative energy themes with a global investment banking group in the Marina Bay area, I have had the opportunity to observe the handling of recyclables in the Millenia Walk vicinity on two consecutive Saturdays. I was disappointed there was no concerted effort to harness the many opportunities to recycle.
While bright blue bins were provided to dispose of recyclables in the waste disposal area, they were under-used. In fact, at meal times, workers, soldiers, participants and members of the public freely discarded empty and half-empty water bottles, clear plastic covers and other re-useable materials in the green waste bins provided. It was also depressing to see these recyclable materials collected with food waste, so contaminating them and making them non-recyclable, let alone re-useable.
Furthermore, the appointed recycler on the ground seemed to focus entirely on collecting and safekeeping papers and carton boxes that were discarded each time. I wonder if they were serious recycling professionals or just savvy rag-and-bone men.
Singapore, having ratified the Kyoto Protocol in 2006, has since held several world events and seminars on climate change, renewable energy, water resource and environment management. It is a regional leader that champions recycling as part of the national environment strategy and one of the first movers in renewable energy R&D, carbon market development and green technology investment.
The awkward display of uninformed recycling practice by the very people who prepare for the nation's birthday cast a shadow on Singapore's sincerity and commitment to this very effort.
