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  Today Online 25 Apr 07
Let's live up to our Green City image
Encourage more individuals and companies in S'pore to be environment-friendly
Letter from Joanne Soh

I agree with Mr Simon Tay, in the interview, "Green for good" (April 23), when he noted that Singapore--and the world--has passed a tipping point in awakening to climate-change issues.

What with the large investments in green products around the world, and the slackening resistance put up by anti-Kyoto Protocol bureaucrats in the United States, it is obvious that people are starting to sit up and pay attention to the global warming phenomenon that environmentalists began talking about years ago.

I had been concerned that Singapore, with her title as a Green City, was oddly not as enthusiastic about jumping on the environmental bandwagon and fronting the push to "go green" in South-east Asia.

It is heartening to find out, from the interview, that the National Environment Agency (NEA) is in fact working behind the scenes to help steer Singapore towards environmental friendliness.

However, I feel that it would be a pity if the NEA spends a few years on research--as Mr Tay said, "we're at a stage of study and action"--without seizing the momentum of the pro-environment movement right now.

There are policies we could glean from the experience of countries such as Canada, which has often been ranked as the most habitable place on earth.

During a recent trip to that country, I noticed how protecting the environment on the individual level was a matter of great national pride for Canadians. The Canadian equivalent of NTUC FairPrice, for instance, sets aside an area in their mall for the collection of recyclable goods. Empty drink packets, cans, glass and plastic bottles, milk cartons and other forms of packaging are expected to be washed and brought to the collection area, where a worker attends to every individual, counts the number of items, and gives the consumer either cash or shopping points in return.

Singaporeans are not unfamiliar with this practice, relying as we do on the karung guni man.

The carrot is there, on top of being a practical reminder to consumers that recycling and helping the environment ultimately benefits them. Such an arrangement also provides an accessible mid-point between the recycling plant and the little environmentalist in most of us.

Often, I find that it is not that Singaporeans are reluctant to recycle, but because there are so few recycling bins around, many opt for convenience instead.

Setting aside such an area in any supermarket outlet means that more people could drop by with their bag of recyclable items and do their grocery shopping in one trip.

While Singaporeans should not always look to the Government to move before we do, it would signal a greater commitment if the Government were to promote environmentalism more actively.

Policies that encourage or compel corporations to adopt friendlier procedures, for example, would send the signal that our environment--and our reputation as a Green City--is important.

That would help unite the people. Like the Canadians, all we need is a cause!
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