18,000 HDB households to get free Ikea recycling bins
Some 18,000 residents in new Housing Board (HDB) precincts will receive vouchers this month to redeem free recycling bins at Ikea.
This initiative, jointly organised by the National Environment Agency (NEA) and Ikea Singapore, is an effort to inspire more households to recycle.
The bins are designed to be durable, washable, functional, and come in neutral colours.
They are made from 60 per cent recycled plastic, and come with a prominent blue label that offers recycling tips.
It advises households to ensure that recyclables are free from food and liquids, and to rinse bottles and containers before recycling them.
The bins retail at $9.90 at Ikea, but be provided free to those who have received their vouchers in the mail.
Eligible residents in Built-to-Order flats in new HDB precincts such as MacPherson, Bidadari, Sembawang and Sengkang, will get their voucher by mail. They can be redeemed at Ikea outlets in Tampines and Alexandra Road.
Households can empty the bins in the main recycling bins and chutes at their blocks.
The initiative is the result of household recycling surveys conducted last year by the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources (MEWR) and NEA, which found convenience indicated as an important enabling factor for recycling.
Respondents also revealed that the most common reason for not recycling was that they had too few items to recycle.
NEA chief executive Tan Meng Dui said: "We are happy to work with Ikea Singapore to encourage households to make recycling a daily household routine."
He added that the in-home recycling bin makes recycling things more convenient than disposing them as garbage.
"The recycling bin also brings the 'recycling right' message into the homes of these residents."
Get The New Paper on your phone with the free TNP app. Download from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store now
