Explain: Low recycling rate-> Implied that Singaporeans are beginning to prioritise their own convenience over the environment 

By using reusable bags, it discourages them from producing more plastic waste. Furthermore, with how stores are beginning to charge for plastic bags, this will be seen as beneficial for singaporean as they can save money and protect the environment.

Eg. NTUC (supermarket) charges 10 cents for their plastic bags, this portrays the usage of recycle bags instead of plastic bags as beneficial for Singaporeans, allowing them to cut down on costs when grocery shopping.

Outcome: Thus, this strategy will reduce plastic waste and the public is generally more encouraged to adopt a more an environmentally friendly attitude.

Hence, using reusable bags will increase Singapore’s rate of recycling as the overall plastic waste generated is reduced.

Point:Singaporeans should buy secondhand items and donate used clothes that they are unable to fit in

Ex: Buying secondhand items would allow singaporeans to save more as these items are usually cheaper, so singaporeans are unlikely to be reluctant to do so as they will financially benefit. To add on, donating used clothes

would allow Singaporeans to return back to society instead of contributing to general waste in sg.

Example and outcome: Thrifting is becoming popular among the youth in Singapore with more thrift shops blossoming. This allows thrifting and the buying and donating of secondhand items to be much easier for the general public. Furthermore, with the help of local influencers promoting the new thrift stores, it will increase the number of Singaporeans recycling their used clothes and spread awareness on buying them; since they are the new trend.

Link: Thus with the help of thrift stores and Singaporeans donating used clothes, this will reduce Singapore’s waste while increasing recycling efforts

 proper disposal 

Explain : 

properly dispose of plastic waste by segregating it from non recyclable waste, rinsing and drying recycbes and placing plaste waste in recycling bins, instead of general waste bins. individuals can help ensure that plastic waste is recycled instead of ending up in landfills or polluting the environment. 

Example: 

individuals can segregate plastic waste from non-recyclable waste before disposal, making it easier for waste collectors to collect and recycle the plastic waste. They can also rinse and dry plastic waste before recycling to prevent contamination from food residues or liquids. This ensures that the plastic waste is suitable for recycling and can be effectively processed at the recycling plant. Furthermore, individuals can place plastic waste in recycling bins instead of general waste bins, ensuring that the plastic waste is sent to the recycling plant for processing. This helps reduce the amount of plastic waste that ends up in landfills, conserving natural resources and reducing carbon emissions.

Link: By proper disposal of plastic waste, individuals can contribute to plastic recycling and help create a more sustainable future for ourselves and future generations.

Point 2:

public education on the importance of plastic recycling 

Explain:

One of the reasons why Singapore’s plastic waste is still a problem is the lack of information as to the proper way to recycle, as well as the importance of plastic recycling. Through public education through various initiatives and programmes held in schools, many citizens would be educated in the importance of plastic recycling and be encouraged to participate in recycling efforts. Such initiatives help to spread awareness to uneducated people which will lead to the increase of Singapore’s rate of plastic recycling. 

Example:

For example, the NEA runs the nationwide “Say YES to Waste Less” campaign, to drive public awareness of the impact of excessive consumption of disposables and the need for action. Retailers, F&B outlets, supermarkets, hotels, grassroots organisations, schools, and NGOs partner the NEA in this effort to encourage action at points of consumption. This includes prompting customers to opt out of disposable cutlery for their online orders, providing incentives to customers who bring their reusables, and actively encouraging employees to reduce their use of disposables. 

Link 

Hence, with the information learnt by citizens from such campaigns and other various initiatives, more people will be educated on the need and importance of recycling, leading to an increase in Singapore’s rate if plastic recycling.

explanation:

example: 

link/outcome: 

point 2: citizens can make an effort and take initiative to bring their own reusable cutlery, utensils or dishes such as cups, bowls, plates, nets, straws etc. 

explanation: 

example: 

link/outcome: 

Use reusable items instead of plastic unreusable items

Exp: 

plastic bags and containers are used a lot in our daily lives and are just thrown away after one use. by using reusable bags, cups, containers, we can decrease the amount of plastic used by a large margin.

Elab: 

like when going shopping for groceries, we tend to use many plastic bags when packing our groceries because it is easy and accessible at the supermarket as they give out plastic bags for free and it is very convenient. when we go to hawker centers or restaurants and take away food, we are given plastic containers, and while sometimes they charge a small fee for the take away items like 20 cents, we usually just pay the minor fee and continue using the plastic cups or containers once and throw away. So by changing these plastic products to reusable items, we can reduce on the amount of plastic used as they are replaced by items we will use over and over instead.

Point 2:

Citizens can learn how to recycle plastics properly

Exp: 

Most plastics that are recycled are often contaminated as they are not clean or they may not be recycled into the correct recycling bins. Hence, making the plastics unable to be recycled.

Elab:

People generally think that throwing all their waste into recycling bins is considered recycling, but often times the items recycled are unable to actually be recycled as they are not clean or not in the proper bins. Singapore citizens should learn how to wash and clean their recyclables before putting the items into their respective bins labeled with the intended recycled contents. For example in japan, people wash and clean all their recyclable rubbish and then throw plastic, glass, metal, combustable and cardboard waste into five different bins respectively. This helps ensure that all recycled items are clean and not contaminated and that they can be fully recycled.

point 2: promotion of how recycling is good for us through public media, radio, tv etc

Point 2: Use more products made from reusable materials instead of non-reusable plastic products. (e.g. shopping bags and household items) 

Evidence (example): 

- When going to supermarkets or shops, instead of using plastic bags just to throw them away shortly after, people should bring their own reusable canvas bag to put their groceries inside without wasting unnecessary plastic bags.

- Supermarkets should start charging money for plastic bags in order to make customers think twice before asking for plastic bags. Moreover, shops should encourage customers to use their own bag by offering discounts on items when they use their own reusable bags.  

      

Explanation/Elaboration:

- People often ignore the harm that plastic bags would cause to the environment as they are used to being provided with them for free as well as thinking that plastic bags would automatically be recycled once thrown into the recycling bin. In fact, the plastic bags cannot be decomposed, therefore the more people use plastic bags, the lower the rate of plastic recycling in Singapore.

- If more people decide to bring their own bags to go shopping, there is no need to use plastic bags anymore. In addition, if shops and supermarkets succeed in preventing customers from using plastic bags whether by increasing the charges or offering discounts, it would help decrease the use of plastic bags drastically. Hence, with the contribution of both customers and shops, we will be able to increase Singapore’s rate of plastic recycling.

Point 2: 

citizens can raise awareness of other citizens by educating them on the importance of plastic recycling.

 Evidence (example): 

Governments can use websites on social media to promote plastic recycling and inform citizens of the harmful effects of not recycling and continuous use of plastic materials. In housing development board (HDB) corridors flats, plastic recycling posters can be pasted on the bulletin boards on how to properly recycle plastic into the blue recycling bins and its small ways of making the country a cleaner and better place.   

Explanation/Elaboration: 

As social media is influencing people’s lives deeply, the government should make use of the platform to raise awareness of the importance of plastic recycling and the reasons why we should recycle and the harmful impact if we don’t take actions sooner. By making websites to promote plastic recycling, this allows the people to understand the importance of recycling plastic properly, the good effect when we recycle the plastic materials and how small actions might even make some change to global warming. A report showed that more than 80% of people living in Singapore stay in a HDB. Therefore, as there is a majority of people living in HDB flats, plastic recycling is needed to put onto bulletin boards so that people that passes by the bulletin board or is interested will be able to see the plastic recycling posters and be educated on plastic recycling.