Singapore – new recycling programme rewards schools with points for gifts

Students have been told to get SMART, which stands for “Students Must Always Recycle Trash”.



Channel News Asia reports that this is part of a new programme to boost recycling in some schools from 50 to 75 percent. Advertisement The idea is to minimise waste and promote recycling, and there are rewards to do this. Backed by waste collector Altvater Jacob, the new SMART programme targets 143 schools in Pasir Ris, Tampines, Jurong and Bedok using a loyalty programme.



Students collect points by recycling.



And these points can then be exchanged for gifts like a paper shredder. Dunman Secondary School, which already has an active recycling programme, is one school taking part. Filling a large bin with paper will earn the school 11 points, and filling a small one will earn them one point. Edelweiss New, Principal of Dunman Secondary School, said: “We have always been recycling…but it is more of an ad-hoc basis…but we actually want to make it a habit where pupils make it part of their lives, as a way of life.



“Taking part in this project, we actually have a collection point in our school so it is much easier for the kids to put in recyclables everyday”



For students of this school, every time they throw a piece of plastic, can or paper will be a step closer to gaining more points. But they say that the real reward is in knowing that they have done their part in helping to preserve the environment.



Joanne Lim, Dunman Secondary School, said: “Recycling taught me to treasure what we have now. Do not take things for granted attitude, afterall natural resources will go off one day.” Ian Clarence Chan, Dunman Secondary School, said: “Recycling is also important because it saves costs and generate less pollution towards Singapore.” Soedarsono, Dunman Secondary School, said: “We contribute waste, soon our landfill will fill up and when that happens, we will spend more money on more land just to pile rubbish when this land can be used for other purposes.”



On average, a school generates about 5,000 kilogrammes of waste each month. Altvater Jacob hopes students can recycle at least 75 per cent of this. Liew Chee Yin, Director of Altvater Jacob, said: “Education is the key to a sustainable recycling programme in Singapore so that is why we have started this programme in schools…we hope students can learn more and share it with parents.”



The new programme will work closely with the Recycling Corners Programme, which was launched by the National Environment Agency two years ago, and which involves 40 percent of Singapore schools