A number of factors such as the contamination of recyclables and incorrect recycling could have possibly contributed to Singapore’s low recycling rate among households, experts told CNA. “They might engage in ‘wishful’ recycling, where they hope an item can be recycled or repurposed in some ways and thus place them in the blue recycling bin, which in turn causes inefficiency in the waste mgmt process,” Ms Pek Hai Lin, manager of NGO Zero Waste SG said. Noting that a decrease in recycling rate does not mean that people are recycling less, she added: “In fact, despite contamination rate still being high, people seem more aware and interested in better waste mgmt habits, which is heartening.” Many also “do not have the inclination” to properly separate and properly dispose of recyclables, added Associate Professor Tong Yen Wah from the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engg at NUS, and more education is needed in this area. “We are too used to the conveniences of throwing everything into one bin or chute, and do not bother to recycle properly,” he said.... Continue Reading