Dr. Teo Ho Pin (first from left), mayor of North West District, participated in the three-hour long recycling workshop at the Tzu Chi Eco-Awareness Centre. (Photo by Zhuo Jia Ling)
“See that?”
Tzu Chi volunteer Wang Wei Xun flips to the next slide on the projector.
“Wow, that’s a lot!”
Seeing the countless dots on screen that were actually hundreds of thousands of plastic bags and PET bottles that are pollutants in our environment, the 194 North West District residents were astonished and tittered amongst themselves.
Wang, who is a senior recycling team leader, proceeded to explain that the plastic was not biodegradable; after they were thrown away as rubbish, the incineration process releases large amounts of gaseous poisons that require processing. Quoting from the Singapore Environment Council advisory, in 2011, Singapore alone used up 3 billion plastic bags. With the current low oil prices, recycling merchants refuse to take in plastic material as it is not profitable. Wang then called on everyone to decrease their usage of plastic for the sake of the environment.
“As the consumer, we must say no (to the usage of) environmentally-unfriendly Styrofoam and disposable utensils.”
Wang further encouraged everyone to take brave steps to inculcate the philosophy of recycling into community activities, such as tea sessions and gatherings where food is served.
Incorporating Recycling into Daily Life
On 2 July 2016, following its first learning workshop at the Tzu Chi Eco-Awareness Centre last year, the North West CDC organized a similar workshop for its residents. Participants included volunteers and residents from Nee Soon South, Admiralty Zone 7 RC and Bukit Panjang Zone 1. Also present were representatives from the Singapore Environment Council, National Environment Agency, North West CDC, and mayor of North West District Dr. Teo Ho Pin also attended.
Upon finding out that the number of attendees was close to 200, the planning team convened a team of 10 Chinese-speaking and 5 English-speaking guides. Each was in charge of a group of about 10 attendees. Through posters, statistics, and item displays, the guides were able to bring awareness to the various types of climate and environmental disasters that the earth faces. They explained that the damage and pollution caused to the earth was the result of man’s greed and ignorance, and spoke on how recycling can start from each individual, with the ripple effects of influencing one’s friends and family to do likewise.
“Face and toilet tissues cannot be recycled, so please use more of handkerchiefs,” guide Shen Ming Xian said as he pulled out his own handkerchief to show his listeners. He proceeded to explain how materials comprising a CD can be sorted into three different categories of plastic, paper, and the disc itself.
Many of the participants snapped photos of the posters and models on display at the recycling point. In addition, they even had the chance to practise the “ten fingers mnemonic” together, which taught them how to easily remember the method of sorting recyclables.
“A soya sauce bottle needs a lot of water to clean, right?” asked a participant. Shen, who ensured that he answered every question raised, replied that only a small amount of used water was needed to do the job.
Resident Chen Guo Fen expressed amazement that discarded items can be recycled and re-used. After a series of processing, PET bottles can be turned into yarn from which Tzu Chi’s eco-blankets, used in its humanitarian missions, are made. Chen has the practice of sorting out her rubbish at home, and normally bundles her old newspapers together and cleans her used plastic bottles before storing them. Later, she deposits these items into the respective recycling bins at her void deck. Today, she bought two eco-friendly bowls from Tzu Chi, and expressed her wish that her daughter would use them to buy takeaway food as it was both good for the environment and their health.
Learning to Refuse
During the workshop, attendees were introduced to Tzu Chi’s eco-utensils, which are light and convenient to carry around. Dr. Teo specially recommended the use of Tzu Chi’s eco-chopsticks instead of disposable chopsticks. He also commented that some residents indiscriminately throw rubbish into the recycling bins at the void decks, and this dirties the bins. He thus encouraged the residents to learn from Tzu Chi the correct way to sort their discards.
Dr. Teo said that Tzu Chi volunteers have been very enthusiastic in their continual support of community volunteers in organizing recycling events. He said that Singapore, being a multiracial society, needs the cooperation of various groups. The use of the English language to spread awareness of recycling allows people of all races to understand its importance so that they can participate in the activity together. He also expressed his wish that every North West Residents’ Committee (RC) can have its own recycling point, growing the numbers from the current 17 such points to cover all the 90 plus RCs.
Hong Li Yun from Bukit Panjang Zone 1 RC recounted that under the encouragement of their mayor, the recycling point was set up and like Tzu Chi, their recycling day was designated as the second Sunday of the month. Hong is grateful for Tzu Chi volunteers who are present on every recycling day to teach their helpers appropriate recycling methods. Being a childcare teacher, she believes that recycling should be taught and practised from a young age. She was on duty that day, spreading awareness of the topic among the attendees.
“The RC promotes the ‘3Rs’: Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. We can learn another ‘R’ from Tzu Chi—Refuse (which is) not to buy things we don’t need,” said Huang Xue Hai from the Yishun South Zone Clean and Green committee.
There were more than 60 attendees from that zone at the workshop, and Huang hoped that the knowledge could benefit their recycling volunteers. He also wished that recycling points could be set up in five other areas within Yishun so that everyone could play their part.
At the close of the informative event, which had lasted an hour more than the original two hours scheduled, 11 students from the Tzu Chi parent-child bonding class presented a sign language item entitled, “A Clean Earth,” expressing their hopes for everyone to bring the concept of recycling into their homes, that we may leave a healthy earth for the next generation.
A guide explains the impact of global warming to visitors. (Photo by Wang Jun Xuan)
Shen Ming Xian (first from right) tells visitors about the Tzu Chi “ten fingers recycling mnemonic”. (Photo by Zhuo Jia Ling)
A volunteer shows how kitchen waste can be turned into an environmentally-friendly enzyme solution. (Photo by Wang Jun Xuan)
Chen Guo Fen (left) learnt that Styrofoam food containers are not only bad for the environment, they are also bad for health, and bought two eco-friendly bowls on the spot. (Photo by Wang Jun Xuan)
Recycling volunteers from Bukit Panjang Zone 1 RC participate in the sign language item, “Everybody Does Recycling”, together with a Tzu Chi volunteer. (Photo by Zhuo Jia Ling)
Wang Wei Xun shows his audience a picture of the shocking amount of plastic bags and PET bottles discarded by people. (Photo by Zhuo Jia Ling)
Elderly recycling volunteers share how they care for the earth in their daily life. (Photo by Zhuo Jia Ling)
At the conclusion of the event, 11 students from the Tzu Chi Parent-Child Bonding class present the sign language item “A Clean Earth”. (Photo by Zhuo Jia Ling)
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