Proprietors and organisations have had to come up with more innovative ways to induce people to recycle.

For instance, a new "reverse vending machine" rewards people with vouchers when they insert used cans or bottles (New vending machines to push recycling; Jan 10).

However, there is one problem - people often do not realise that there is a need to rinse the items before putting them in.

This situation applies to the blue recycling bins at the foot of many Housing Board flats as well as the recycling chutes in newer blocks.

There is also indiscriminate mixing of general rubbish with recyclables. This results in a dismal situation at the recyclables collection centre.

It was reported that there was a foul stench at SembWaste's Materials Recovery Facility, and workers sorting the rubbish required masks while at work (Food waste raises a stink for recycling; May 20, 2016).

There should have been no smell at all.

Using incentives to induce people to recycle sends out the wrong message.

The act of recycling should come from a sincere and keen desire to do one's part to save planet Earth and to reduce waste.

Simple bins would serve this purpose just as well as expensive reverse vending machines.

Leaflets with instructions on the proper way of recycling should be distributed to every household.

This would produce the desired results for recycling and make recycling more convenient.

Lee Kay Yan (Miss)