Singapore has taken measures to encourage citizens to recycle their waste by placing recycling bins outside Braddell MRT station, contradictory, Singaporeans have demonstrated a poor attitude towards recycling by misusing the bins such as dumping the wrong waste into the bin and inappropriately decorating the exterior of the bins with food trash and cigarette stubs. Japan on the other hand, has a practice which requires the washing and sorting of rubbish into 3 different clear plastic bags, citizens who do not or refuse to abide will not only not have their waste disposed of, but also returned to them until the situation is remedied, which in this case, is to go through all of the rubbish again and sorting them.
This article appealed to me because I stay very near Braddell MRT station and like the writer, I too walk pass the recycling bins very often and each time I do so, I find them to be more and more of an eyesore. It is also very ironic and disheartening to see the recycling bins being misused by Singaporeans as Singapore is making an effort to persuade citizens to recycling their waste materials.
I agree with the writer as she suggested that the practice of washing and sorting of waste in Japan should be implemented in Singapore as well. A child will only realize and correct his/her wrongs after being punished or lectured by the parents, this concept can also be applied here, to Singapore citizens. Japan's practice may be a little extreme but it does work. Sure, Singaporeans may not like this practice and think of it as an insignificant waste of time, but if adopting this practice can help correct their bad habits and preserve the environment longer, then why not give it a try?
The question I have for the writer is that if Singapore does adopt Japan's practice , will 'ALL' Singaporeans wash and sort their waste into plastic bags? Surely there will be some irresponsible citizens out there who will just dump their waste in the void deck and get away scot-free. And upon witnessing these actions, other Singaporeans will follow suite, and soon enough everything will just revert back to it's original state where no one will care about recycling or disposing their waste appropriately.
If I were in control, I will assign people to patrol areas with recycling bins to nab and fine whoever misuses or litters the rubbish bins, perhaps this way, litter bugs will finally change for the better.
I'll end this blog with a quote:
'What people learn from punishment is how to avoid being punished.'
Lim Wei Wen [101879G] PEACE OUT
http://blogs.straitstimes.com/2010/5/14/refusing-to-recycle
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