Waste Minimisation and Recycling

  1. The National Environment Agency
  2. Our Services
  3. Waste Management
  4. 3R Programmes and Resources
  5. Waste Minimisation and Recycling
  6. At Home

At Home

  • Reduce

    Use only what you need

  • Reuse

    Re-use things for the same or new purpose

  • Recycle

    Convert waste into useful products

Tips to reduce waste

ic-grocery 
  • Plan a shopping list to avoid impulsive purchases
  • Bring a reusable shopping bag to reduce usage of plastic or paper bags
  • Purchase items
    • with less packaging
    • that will last longer
    • that are refillable
    • that will not go out of fashion quickly
  • Borrow, share or hire things that are only needed occasionally
ic-eating-utensils 
  • Store perishable food in the refrigerator
  • Cook just sufficient food for meals
  • Minimise the use of disposable wares, e.g. disposable forks, spoons, cups
  • Pack meals in reusable containers
ic-letter-toilet 
  • Opt for electronic statements/newsletters
  • In the absence of electronic mail, request for only a set of newsletter/flyer from sender if a few members of the household receive the same reading materials
  • Contact sender to remove address from mailing list to prevent junk mail
  • Use rag instead of paper tissue for cleaning

Related Links

ic-book  'The 3Rs': A Guide to 3R Practices for Households [PDF, 2.38MB]
 fwrguide_icon  'Love Your Food': A Guide to Reducing Food Wastage and Saving Money 

Tips to reuse waste

Paper

  • Convert scrap paper into memo pads

Plastic

  • Reuse medicine containers for travel toiletries
  • Use unwanted plastic bags to contain household waste before disposal into refuse bins or chutes
  • Plastic bags are then incinerated with other waste at the waste-to-energy incineration plants which are designed to:
    • Incinerate waste safely
    • Recover energy from incineration process
    • Meet air quality standards through good combustion and fuel gas emission control
  • Use reusable bags when doing grocery shopping
  • NEA is supportive of 'Bring Your Own Bag' initiatives which encourage shoppers to use their own reusable bags to cut down on the usage of plastic bags.

Glass

  • Reuse used glass containers as receptables

Clothing

  • Use old clothing as rags for cleaning
  • Pass on old clothing in good/usable condition to others

Others

  • Reuse your mouse pad as an insulator for placing hot objects, or as a coaster
  • Pass old textbooks, story books, and toys to others
  • Donate unwanted things that are still in good working condition to charitable organisations.
    For more information on other collection centres, please click here.
  • Repair and recondition faulty electronic appliances to extend their useful lives
  • Clean and reuse ornaments for the next festive season

Related Links

ic-book  'The 3Rs': A Guide to 3R Practices for Households [PDF, 2.38MB]
ic-recycle-big Recycling / Collection Points

  • WHAT

    to recycle

  • HOW

    to recycle

  • WHERE

    to recycle

Common recyclable items

Please note:

NO food or liquid waste
This will contaminate all the other recyclables in the recycling bin.

Paper

paper waste image 

Glass

glass waste image 

Plastic

plastic waste image 

Metal

metal waste image 

Non-recyclables

shoes 
battery image 
ceramics image 

To CHECK if your item can or cannot be recycled, use the Recycling Search Engine. Or check out Bloobin's Recycling Guide for his advice on the common list of recyclables.

Related Links

ic-book  'The 3Rs': A Guide to 3R Practices for Households [PDF, 2.38MB]

Steps to recycle at home

1.

Segregate recyclables from waste.
→

2.

Empty food or liquid residue, if any; rinse if needed.
→

3.

Place recyclables in a household recycling receptacle, e.g. used plastic bag or cardboard box.
→

4.

Deposit recyclables into recycling bin.
recycle bin image 
NEA trash bin 

Related Links

ic-recycle-black  Recycling Processes - In a nutshell 

  • HDB & Private Landed Properties

  • Condominiums & Private Apartments

The National Recycling Programme (NRP) was launched in April 2001. Under this programme, the Public Waste Collectors (PWCs) licensed by NEA are required to provide recycling bins and recycling collection service to all households in HDB and private landed properties, as well as condominiums/private apartments which opt into the PWC scheme.

Related Links

ic-book'The 3Rs': A Guide to 3R Practices for Households [PDF, 2.38MB]
All condominiums and private apartments are required to provide sufficient recycling receptacles within their development. Recyclables may be collected in either commingled or segregated form and are to be sent for recycling. Please check with your managing agent (MA) or management corporation (MC) for the locations of recycling receptacles in your estate.

For MAs or MCs who are submitting information on their estate’s recycling receptacles and operations through the Waste and Resource Management System (WRMS), https://wrms2.nea.gov.sg, may refer to the WRMS user guide [PDF, 1.22 MB] for the use of the WRMS.

For enquiries relating to recycling bins provision in condominium and private apartments, you may fill in the Online Feedback Form or call our hotline at 6225 5632.

Related Links