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(NEA Press Release 29 September 2009)

Singapore, 29 September 2009 – Singaporeans can now go behind the scenes to take a first-hand look at Singapore’s extensive waste minimisation efforts, through exclusive site tours conducted under the National Environment Agency’s (NEA) new Recycling Trail.

Organised by the Singapore Environment Institute (SEI) of NEA, the Recycling Trail is an extension of the Programme for Environmental Experiential Learning (PEEL), which was inaugurated in September 2007.

Aimed at expanding the participants’ knowledge of Singapore’s comprehensive environmental strategies and encouraging them to adopt an environmentally-friendly lifestyle, each PEEL Trail is an “out-of-classroom” learning experience that brings participants to environmental management facilities around Singapore. A specially-trained guide facilitates each Trail by providing information on Singapore’s environmental strategies.

The PEEL Recycling Trail includes tours of various recycling facilities, such as NEA’s Sarimbun Recycling Park, a wood recycling facility, e-waste recycling facility and household waste sorting centre, allowing participants to witness and learn how waste from industries and households can be given a new life if they are not discarded.

By promoting the understanding of the value of recycling, the Trail aims to encourage participants to be more conscious of their responsibility towards the sustainable use of precious resources, and to adopt 3R (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) habits that can minimise the amount of waste going to Singapore’s waste-to-energy plants and Semakau Landfill.

The PEEL Recycling Trail is the latest offering in the development of PEEL, following a series of five existing trails – the Clean Land Trail, Clean Water Trail, Clean Air Trail, Climate Change Trail and Public Health Trail.

Mr Andrew Tan, Chief Executive Officer of NEA, said, “With the launch of the PEEL Recycling Trail, Singaporeans can now gain valuable insights into Singapore’s waste management strategies. We hope that the programme will inspire more to adopt recycling habits as we strive towards our national recycling goals.”

Under the Sustainable Development Blueprint announced by the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Sustainable Development (IMCSD) in April 2009, Singapore has targeted to attain a 70% recycling rate by 2030.

In addition to local participants, the PEEL Trails are also open to foreign professionals working in the environmental field and organisations interested in enhancing their knowledge of environmental management. Interested members of the public can sign up at www.nea.gov.sg/sei.

Each Trail is a full-day programme lasting from 9.00am to 5.30pm. Trails start and end at the Environment Building. At every Trial, participants are provided with a Trail kit containing information to help them further understand Singapore’s strategies on waste management and sustainable development.

NEA has seen strong interest in the tours since the first four PEEL Trails were launched in September 2007 - the Clean Land, Clean Air, Clean Water and Public Health Trails – attracting a total of 1769 local and foreign participants so far.

Last updated on 5 Nov 09