Ahh the age-old question—can this be recycled? It’s probably something we’ve asked ourselves many times as we stand in front of the recycling bin, drink can or plastic container in hand, debating whether or not to toss our unwanted receptacle in it.

Unfortunately, the answer is almost always a no, unless you’ve given your items a quick rinse beforehand.

One of the basic requirements of recycling is that items should be washed or cleaned before being disposed of in recycling bins, because once food and liquid waste leaks out, most items within the same bin will likely be unsuitable for recycling. This might seem like common knowledge, but cross-contamination is the main reason why in 2021, domestic recycling rates remained at a low of 13%, unchanged from 2020’s figures.

That begs the question, how much do we actually know about recycling in Singapore? Test yourself by taking our quiz below on all things recyclable.

Q1: Which of these items cannot be recycled as paper?

a.       Cardboard boxes

b.       Wooden chopsticks

c.        Receipts

d.       Tetra Pak drink cartons

ANSWER: (b)

Yes, paper comes from wood pulp, but wood itself isn’t paper, so it can’t be recycled as such!

Cardboard boxes are typically made up of a layer of flute (corrugated paper) sandwiched between two layers of Kraft paper, so in other words, they’re 100% paper and recyclable. There might be different types of receipts (i.e. thermal, wood-free, or carbonless), but they’re all made of paper, and can thus be recycled. Tetra Pak drink cartons might come with a waterproof lining, but as long as they’ve been emptied and washed, they’re good to be recycled as paper.

Metal lunchboxes are typically made out of stainless steel, which is recyclable. With paint cans, as long as there’s no liquid paint left in them, they can be deposited in the recycling bin. Plus, it’s super satisfying to peel off that last bit of dried up paint from the inside of the can! With old medals, as long they aren’t too rusty, and have any ribbons or straps removed, they can be recycled as well.

Q5: Which of these items can be recycled at dedicated facilities?

a. Clothes

b. Sport shoes

c. Batteries

d. All of the above

ANSWER: (d)

With clothes, it’s always best to donate them if they’re still in good condition. Places like The Salvation Army or Tzu Chi are good places to drop them off. But if they’re well-worn pieces, Greensquare Textile Recycling is an option to consider. They’ve got drop-off points all over Singapore including The Green Collective at Funan (#02-18), and they even accept accessories like belts and bags as well, but all items have to be clean and packed securely.

For old sport shoes, ActiveSG has a recycling programme where donated shoes are repurposed into materials for jogging tracks, fitness corners, and playgrounds. And as for batteries, simply drop them off in any e-waste recycling bin!

Now that you’ve refreshed your knowledge on the dos and don’ts of recycling, you might be wondering where else you can drop your recyclables off, or what else you can do for the environment. Well, why not drop by Raffles City to participate in Project Green, an initiative to engage tenants and shoppers alike in sustainability-related activities?

Among the slew of programmes lined up, some highlights include the Project Green Showcase, an exhibition featuring some of the ways in which Raffles City’s very own tenants are doing their part for the environment. For instance, L'OCCITANE’s first and only eco-concept boutique at Raffles City features a refill fountain where shoppers can purchase products in reusable bottles, and Nespresso has a long-standing recycling programme where used coffee grounds are sent to local organic farms like Sky Greens to be turned into compost.

Apart from that, a permanent Green Corner has been set up within the mall, complete with interactive educational displays that will be refreshed quarterly, recycling bins, e-waste bins, and a bag sharing station. There’s also an ongoing Bagless Friday, where shoppers are encouraged to bring their own reusables when shopping in the mall on Fridays. As an added perk, shoppers that BYO on Fridays will receive 2XSTAR$ for purchases made at participating stores.*

Of course, sustainability is a lot more than merely recycling, reducing, and reusing. It’s about learning and understanding how our actions impact the Earth, and how we can adopt the practices that work best for ourselves. So whether it’s by bringing your own shopping bags out, recycling that bubble tea cup (after washing it, of course), or simply getting your friends and family to complete our little quiz, we hope this inspires you to take that first step towards living a greener life.