SINGAPORE: About 72 per cent of households in Singapore recycle, a survey by the National Environment Agency (NEA) found this year.
This is an increase from the 64 per cent recorded in a similar survey in 2021. The latest survey on household recycling was conducted by NEA from April to June 2023, covering 2,180 respondents.
According to the figures released by NEA on Thursday (Sep 14), a higher proportion of respondents were aware of common items that can be put in recycling bins and chutes.
For example, 89 per cent of respondents were aware that a rinsed shampoo or detergent bottle can be recycled, up from 71 per cent in 2021.
There was also a higher proportion of respondents who were aware of common items that cannot be put in recycling bins and chutes, such as tissue paper, styrofoam boxes and soft toys.
“However, there was a decline in the awareness that unwanted fruit or vegetable parts, soiled plastic food containers, and small electronic appliances cannot be deposited into recycling bins or chutes,” said NEA.
“Contamination arises when items that cannot be recycled, or food and liquid waste, are thrown into the blue recycling bins or chutes.
“When recyclables are contaminated, they become no different from general waste. They will then have to be disposed of, incinerated, and landfilled.”
Under Singapore’s Zero Waste Masterplan and the Singapore Green Plan, the country aims to increase its overall recycling rate to 70 per cent by 2030.
The overall recycling rate rose to 57 per cent in 2022 from 55 per cent in 2021 and 52 per cent in 2020.
CNA has contacted NEA for more information about the survey, including how it defines if a household recycles waste.
