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From dirty bottles to greasy paper plates: Which can be recycled – and how?
As holiday festivities fill our homes with more waste, know exactly what belongs in the blue recycling bins – and what doesn’t
This festive season, make recycling the right way a part of your cleaning routine by finding out what should and should not be thrown into the blue recycling bins.
ILLUSTRATION: SPH MEDIA
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Christmas and year-end celebrations are just around the corner, bringing joyful gatherings among family and friends. However, these festive feasts often leave behind a trail of waste, from holiday decorations and gift wrapping to leftover food.
When it’s time to clean up after the festivities, it may be tempting to toss everything down the rubbish chute. But did you know that many festive items, such as cardboard gift boxes and wrapping paper, can be recycled and given a second life?
While some of us already use the blue recycling bin, the National Environment Agency (NEA) reports that about 40 per cent of items placed in these bins cannot be recycled due to contamination, often from food and liquid waste
To end the year on a more sustainable note, use this interactive guide to test your recycling knowledge and learn why proper waste sorting and disposal matter.
Determine what should go in the blue recycling bin and what belongs in other bins
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One of the easiest recycling rules to follow is keeping food and liquids out of the blue recycling bin. Greasy food containers, used paper plates, or bottles with leftover drinks can ruin recyclables by contaminating them in the bin. A quick rinse of food and drink containers and ensuring there’s no food or liquid residue can make a big difference.
For festive gatherings, consider switching to reusable plates and cutlery instead of disposables. It’s a simple way to cut down on waste and save precious resources.
If you’re upgrading your gadgets or buying new furniture, don’t forget to dispose of used or unwanted items properly. For electronic waste (e-waste) like used phones, laptops, batteries, or light bulbs, drop them off at designated e-waste collection points
As for bulky items like old sofas or luggage, these can’t go into regular bins – contact your Town Council or a licensed waste collector to arrange for proper disposal. Starting Jan 1, 2025, free doorstep collection services will also be available for bulky e-waste
And when you’re decluttering at the end of the year, don’t just throw out old clothes, shoes, or toys. If they’re still in good condition, consider selling or donating them through textile recycling bins in many neighbourhoods
How food and liquid waste can stain recyclables in the blue recycling bin
ILLUSTRATION: SPH MEDIA
When recyclables with food or liquid remnants are placed in the blue recycling bin, they can stain other recyclables and render them unrecyclable – undoing all the effort you and others have put into recycling. Watch NEA’s video
Recycling isn’t just about cutting down on waste; it’s about making old materials useful again. Clean recyclables can be turned into new products, keeping valuable resources in use. But when recyclables get contaminated, they are incinerated as waste and end up in Semakau, Singapore’s only remaining landfill – and it’s filling up fast.
Follow the three steps to recycling right
ILLUSTRATION: SPH MEDIA
Recycling doesn’t have to be hard. In Singapore, you do not even need to sort items by type – the blue recycling bins take mixed recyclables, so no need to separate paper, plastic, glass, or metal. Keep it simple with these three steps:
By following these steps, you can recycle right and help Singapore reach its sustainability goals under the Singapore Green Plan 2030, making our city cleaner and greener for future generations.
