Voices Of Youth

Make recycling a social norm

Every Singaporean is familiar with the words "reduce, reuse, recycle". So why is the household recycling rate just 19 per cent? (Sorting out the recycling blues of Singapore; June 30)

Laziness stands in the way.

Many regard recycling bins as normal bins. In-house rubbish chutes also result in recyclables being treated like normal rubbish.

To help save the earth, we just have to walk an extra few metres to utilise the recycling bins at every block.

Reducing is also paramount. Efforts can be simple, like rejecting a plastic cover or straw with your drink. Plastic-free days could be held in supermarkets, and a small fee be imposed on every plastic bag used.

If Singaporeans do not realise the importance of conservation, we are in trouble.

Sustainability is our responsibility. As inhabitants of this earth, we ought to protect it. We can play our part by making recycling a social norm instead of an inconvenience.

Darrellyn Yong Zheng Ying, 16, Secondary 4 student

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on October 04, 2017, with the headline Make recycling a social norm. Subscribe