S Ramesh, Channel NewsAsia 26 Sep 09;
SINGAPORE: Singapore's waste collectors will soon be required to play a bigger role in the National Recycling Programme when their contracts are up for renewal in 2011.
Launching this year's Recycling Week activities at Tampines on Saturday, Environment and Water Resources Minister Yaacob Ibrahim said encouraging more homes to recycle continues to be a challenge, but efforts to reduce packaging waste at source are paying off.
After launching the Singapore Packaging Agreement in 2007, there has been a reduction of 2,500 tonnes of packaging waste, which translates to savings of nearly S$4.5 million for firms.
"We are studying various ways where we either want to legislate, or do a combination of legislation plus other means, to encourage recycling for some of the specific waste streams because we have been able to tackle a lot of the waste at the general level. But now, the challenge is to look at the specific streams and how we can reduce the amount at these areas," said Dr Yaacob.
From October 1, this effort will cover all types of product packaging, including detergents and personal care products.
The National Environment Agency believes spreading the recycling message is a many-hands approach and it will be involving stakeholders from all areas, such as schools, industries, libraries and also the waste collectors, to achieve a greater rate of recycling.
Dr Yaacob added: "At the moment, they (waste collectors) are obligated to provide recycling facilities and collect recyclables either once a week or twice a week, depending on the contract. We are looking at all those parameters to see whether we can improve."
He also feels this can be done if households are convinced that they, too, have a part to play in this national effort.
The Recycling Week activities will move to three different locations next weekend to cover areas in Bishan, Hougang Central and Jurong Point. Singapore hopes to achieve a recycling rate of 70 per cent by 2030.
- CNA/so
Lighter Coke bottles save costs and the environment
Amresh Gunasingham, Straits Times 27 Sep 09;
That bottle of Coke sold at your nearest supermarket is now a tad lighter - in a bid to help save the environment.
Using fewer materials, F&N Coca-Cola, the distributor of beverages such as Coca-Cola and Sprite here, has shaved 2g off the 500ml and 1-litre plastic bottles sold since 2007.
Though the difference in weight is unnoticeable to consumers, it cuts down on the harmful gases emitted when the used bottles are incinerated.
The measures also save the company up to $280,000 annually. Yesterday, it was one of 12 companies given the National Environment Agency's (NEA) 3R Packaging award by Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Yaacob Ibrahim.
Other recipients included food giant Nestle Singapore and food processor Tetra Pak Jurong.
They are among 84 signatories to the Singapore Packaging Agreement (SPA), a government-led initiative which commits companies from the food and beverage sector to reduce the weight, size or thickness of materials in packaging, among other areas.
The agreement was launched two years ago, with 32 firms. Since then, the number has nearly trebled.
Speaking to reporters at the ceremony, Dr Yaacob said: 'The packaging agreement has been a very successful effort on our part to get companies to reduce waste at source...to ensure that before anything reaches the waste stream, we reduce it as much as possible.'
To date, the 84 companies have chalked up $4.4 million in savings from using less packaging material.
NEA chief executive officer Andrew Tan noted that more companies are taking the green path to gain a competitive advantage.
Mr Sunny Koh, deputy chairman of the SPA governing board, noted that going green can help boost a company's bottom line as leaner products translate into savings in freight costs.
Mr Koh, who is also group managing director of frozen food retailer China Town Food Corporation, said the cost savings are a boon for small- and medium-sized enterprises grappling with the downturn.
'For a food products manufacturer, for example, packaging can take up about 25 per cent of cost. Saving just 5 per cent on the packaging material can cut costs by up to 10 per cent.'
At China Town, for example, using less packaging for products such as frozen roti prata and glutinous rice balls had gleaned annual savings of up to $50,000, he said.
Mr Ong Seng Eng, director of resource conservation at NEA, said one challenge companies face is the perception that smaller packaging means less value for money.
'If consumers pay $2 for a bag of chips, a smaller package size may give the impression that it contains less chips.
'In fact, only a third of the packaging volume is taken up by its content, leaving room for excess material to be reduced.'
The key going forward lies in educating consumers.
From next month, the SPA will be extended to shopping malls, hotels and companies in the manufacturing sector, among others, the NEA said.
