Make it easier to recycle

Letter from Donovan Lo, Today Online 22 Sep 08;

I refer to “Recycling mandatory for condos, private properties” (Sept 17). Recycling works best as a voluntary effort instead of being governed by laws.

Haven’t our previous attempts in recycling taught anyone anything? Examples include the distribution of recycling bags (which only ends up littering the doorstep of houses when owners are not home), and complaints of how items in recycling bins are collected (demoralising those who really made an effort).

The Government should help to make recycling a lifestyle, rather than force people to pay for access to recycling facilities. It should be made easier for someone to recycle his trash. Since rubbish collectors dump recyclables together with the trash, which is later sorted at recycling points, there is no need to differentiate paper, glass and cans before collection.

Also, recycling should be made convenient, instead of having centralised recycling bins that residents have to walk a long way to get to. One recycling bin located at each block will encourage residents to put in more effort.

Recycling should be rewarding. If the karung guni (rag-and-bone) man is able to make a living collecting tin cans, can’t entrepreneurs think up some profitable recycling programme?

I feel recycling efforts have taken a wrong turn. What’s next? A law to fine those who throw a recyclable can down the rubbish chute?