A recent clean-up found more than 160 kilogrammes of rubbish on the northern shores of Pulau Ubin.
Evelyn Lam, Channel NewsAsia, 4 Oct 13;
SINGAPORE: A recent clean-up of the beaches at Pulau Ubin led by Outward Bound Singapore saw more than 160 kilogrammes of waste being collected.
Volunteers found fishing nets and abandoned barrels among the usual plastic bags and bottles in the rubbish deposited at Pulau Ubin's northern shores.
Chua Li San, head of character and curriculum development at Outward Bound Singapore, said: "We don't know what is actually being contained in those barrels. Is it petroleum or is it some other petrochemical waste?
"The fishing nets... we don't know if any fishes or birds will be trapped by the nets.
"Is cleaning the beach the only solution? We need to do something more extensively... to educate people."
Fishermen said they usually bring their rubbish to the collection point at the nearby Marina Country Club and added that some of the waste could have floated over from kelongs at the opposite shores of neighbouring countries.
The Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority said it is an offence for fish farmers to dispose waste into sea waters.
- CNA/ec
