Tzu Chi Waste Sorting and Recycling

It is the second Sunday of October, which means that it is Tzu Chi Recycling Day! My recycling regime consists of sending recyclables to the blue bin at the end of the month and to Tzu Chi every second Sunday to ensure that I do not get overwhelmed by the amount of items I have to keep for Tzu Chi.

This time, I reached the Yishun recycling point before it was closed and was able to participate in the waste sorting. Unlike our NEA blue bins, where you dump all types of recyclables together, Tzu Chi practises thorough waste sorting. It goes beyond the usual classification of plastics, paper and metals. The funds from selling these recyclables go to the Tzu Chi charity, thus you are able to save the Earth and help the needy at the same time.

Tzu Chi Yishun Recycling Point

Sorting of plastics - soft (colour/transparent), hard (colour/transparent), bags, PET bottle. Aluminium and steel.

A corner where volunteers sort the plastics collected.

Sorting of paper - black-and-white/monochrome, colour, paper carton/cardboard.

Electrical appliances. I saw dismantled old fans.

Items which are found at the "Others" section