Recycling Bins At Void Decks In Pasir Ris

                 It is more convenient for residents in 100 blocks
                 to recycle their old newspapers, books and
                 magazines

                 By LIM WEI CHEAN

                 RESIDENTS of 100 blocks in Pasir Ris now need to
                 go only to their void deck to recycle old newspapers,
                 books and magazines.

                 Big, blue bins have been placed at the lift lobby of
                 these blocks as part of a pilot project to encourage
                 people to recycle paper.

                 The bins will have a slot through which only waste
                 paper can be deposited.

                 Altvater Jakob, the official waste-collection
                 contractor for Pasir Ris, Tampines and Aljunied
                 GRC, has spent $400,000 on the bins and a special
                 truck that will collect the contents.

                 The company's factory in Tuas will convert the waste
                 paper into recycled paper, which will be sold to
                 paper mills in neighbouring countries like Indonesia,
                 Malaysia and the Philippines.

                 Altvater Jakob is the largest waste-paper recycling
                 company in Singapore, salvaging one third of all
                 waste paper, or 3,500 tonnes, every month.

                 Said Mr Bernard Klaus, the company's general
                 manager: "It is our vision that through such efforts,
                 recycling will become part and parcel of the
                 Singaporean's lifestyle eventually."

                 Proceeds from recycling of waste paper collected
                 from Pasir Ris will go towards supporting the charity
                 and community projects of the Northeast Family
                 Support Network.

                 Pasir Ris residents have given the experiment their
                 thumbs up.

                 Madam Padma Sundram, 38, a part-timer, thinks the
                 bin is a great idea: "I will definitely use the bin.

                 "In fact, my husband is now cleaning out the old mail
                 at home for recycling purposes."

                 Madam Gowri Sinnappu, 39, a nurse, says: "I can put
                 my children's old textbooks into the bin for recycling
                 rather than throw them away."

                 Madam Ng Puay Suan, 50, a housewife, says having
                 the bin at the lift lobby is convenient because it makes
                 disposing of old newspapers easy.

                 Altvater Jakob is now waiting for clearance to
                 provide bins for the rest of Pasir Ris.

                       Adapted from The Straits Times, 27 May 2000.