by Wan Ting Koh
AFTER a week of using handkerchiefs in the name of waste reduction, I’m back to tissues now.
No more handkerchiefs for me, as I found it too unhygienic to use the same piece of cloth to wipe various bodily fluids. The good news is that I’m using tissues more judiciously now, so I split a piece into two, and use them sparingly.
Since my one-week experience of trying to cut down on waste, I’ve been more conscious about keeping my waste-line down. I’ve kept my hot drink cup and recyclable shopping bags. Other things, like the lunchbox and handkerchief, however, I found harder to maintain.
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According to statistics from the National Environment Agency (NEA), 1,192,200 tonnes of paper and cardboard waste were generated in 2015, compared to 603,700 of the same type that was recycled. A total of 824,600 tonnes of plastic waste was generated, compared to 57,800 tonnes recycled.
A total of 824,600 tonnes of plastic waste was generated, compared to 57,800 tonnes recycled.
To address the challenges I faced, and for more advice, I spoke to an expert at waste-reduction, Zero Waste SG executive director Eugene Tay, about my experience and to ask what I could have done better.
Here is the interview with Mr Tay, whose organisation seeks to help Singapore eliminate the concept of waste:
1. I found it difficult to reduce waste when the people I interacted with were not as mindful of the waste they created. How can one reduce waste in the face of such ingrained habits in the community?
During my waste-reduction week, I found it harder to reduce waste because many people I interacted with – from hawkers and sales assistants to my family and friends – are used to creating waste in their daily activities. Mr Tay said it was a “common” problem, adding that most retailers don’t understand the need to reduce. I asked him this question because in my one week of waste-reduction, I encountered hawkers who immediately reached for disposable cups when I asked for drinks – even if they weren’t for takeaway beverages.
To this, Mr Tay said that his company was also making efforts to educate retailers. He said that retailers can provide customers with incentives to bring their own bags, lunchboxes, and bottles by reducing the fee by a few cents when these customers bring their own packaging. And on the consumers’ part, they can actively bring their own reusable bags and lunchboxes.
2. What would you say to those who think that waste reduction efforts, like using handkerchiefs instead of tissues, come at the expense of hygiene?
It’s fine to use a tissue paper to wipe your nose, especially if you have a runny nose, said Mr Tay. But if you save a piece of tissue for every time you wipe your mouth, by using a handkerchief, “that saves you more than 365 pieces of tissue a year”, he said. “Bringing a handkerchief is the easiest thing to do.”
But what do you say to people who think the handkerchief gets dirty easily? “Then you wash it more often,” said Mr Tay. Even if you use a handkerchief, you can throw it into your regular washing load so you’re not wasting too much water. But he admits that using a tissue paper is better for “extreme cases” such as mucus from sinus conditions.
3. What about the argument that, even as you conserve one thing, you’re wasting another? For example, one argument is that you’re wasting water and detergent when you don’t use disposable utensils.
It was drawn to my attention that while I might be saving on disposables by using reusable crockery, I was also using a lot more water to clean up. But Mr Tay pointed out that, in Singapore’s context, water was recycled.
Plus, one has to do a “whole life cycle analysis” of both disposables and water to compare which results in more waste, said Mr Tay. This includes comparing the environmental impact of the materials at every stage, from production to distribution and disposal. For example, the analysis takes into account the energy needed to pump water into a plant.
One has to do a “whole life cycle analysis” of both disposables and water to compare which results in more waste.
Barring the technicalities of such an analysis, Mr Tay said he feels that washing containers results in less of an impact than disposables. Said Mr Tay: “To me, if I use a little water to wash it, the water ends up being recycled as NEWater, [so] in a way it’s still okay.”
On the other hand, using a disposable has direct environmental impact. “If you use a disposable, let’s say styrofoam, it goes to the plant and you are wasting plastic which is made from oil – a non-reusable source. When you burn it, it becomes carbon emissions, which contributes to climate change,” said Mr Tay.
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4. The main challenge of bringing your own lunchbox for takeaways may be that the size of the lunchbox is inadequate for serving portions. What do you suggest?
Mr Tay suggested that customers bring a lunchbox that is roughly the size of the clam-shell styrofoam packages used for takeaways. “The lunchbox I use is the same size or slightly bigger. If it’s too small, then when you tabao rice it can’t fit into the lunchbox,” said Mr Tay.
Mr Tay’s $2 lunchbox, which he bought from Daiso, measures 17.8cm (length) by 14.4cm (width) and 6.7cm (height), and has a volume of 850ml.
He also has a stainless steel flask with a volume of 480ml, which can fit the typical coffeeshop kopi or teh that comes in a glass mug.
This flask, which he bought for $25 at Isetan, weighs only 250g, and can contain hot and cold drinks.
5. Festive seasons, like Christmas and the New Year, are seasons of waste. A lot of disposables are used for parties, for wrapping gifts, etc. What do you think can be done to reduce waste during these periods?
Mr Tay suggested the same thing that I did for my presents – reuse wrapping paper. Or, don’t wrap your presents at all. If you really need to use disposables for parties, paper plates are better than plastics, he said. But go for the more sustainable, environmentally-friendly choices, such as those that are 100 per cent biodegradable.
Go for the more sustainable, environmentally-friendly choices, such as those that are 100 per cent biodegradable.
That said, Mr Tay doesn’t feel the need for people to be too hard on themselves, especially on an event that occurs only once a year. Instead, people should focus on the things that they do regularly, like taking away food from the coffeeshop.
“If you use tissue paper every day, or if you go to Starbucks to get some coffee, then you should look at bringing your own handkerchief and bottle. If you do something on a regular basis that contributes to waste daily, then you focus on that,” said Mr Tay.
6. What can an individual do to manage waste better? Do you suggest a waste diary?
You can use a waste diary for about two weeks to look at the amount and type of waste you generate on a daily basis. Then you can take the first step towards reducing waste, said Mr Tay.
You could also use a trash bag, like I did, to measure the amount of waste you accumulate. Using the same trash bag for your waste-reduction exercise would give you a better gauge of how successful you are. Mr Tay said that reducing waste is the priority, followed by reusing and finally, recycling.
Reducing waste is the priority, followed by reusing and finally, recycling.
Mr Tay’s sage words: It is in the simple things that people do in their daily lives, like choosing a product with less packaging, or even buying a product in bulk, that reduces waste. For example, you can buy a whole package of sugar rather than individual sachets.
Finally, the last piece of advice Mr Tay had for me, when I told him about my unpleasant experience with the hawker uncle (who ticked me off for not knowing the right cup size for a drink) was: Do it with your colleagues.
“If you’re the only person breaking the status quo, of course you will see some resistance… It’s always good not to do it alone. If your colleagues can do it together with you, there is peer support,” said Mr Tay
“If they have to scold maybe two, three, or 15 persons, then maybe they won’t scold.”
You can start reducing your waste by being more aware of the materials you use in your daily life too. Let us know any tips and advice you have for managing waste more effectively and efficiently.
This piece is part of a series that highlights the need to #ReduceYourWasteline, in collaboration with Asia Pacific Breweries Singapore. Read the other pieces here:
What a waste diary looks like
Trimming my waste-line
Featured image by Najeer Yusof.
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