Smart Recycling Boxes in Singapore Help Bring Down Contamination Rate

A recycling trial in Bishan and Sin Ming, Singapore has helped reduce the contamination rate of contents to 5 percent, down from the national average of 40 percent.

This trial, put on by company 800 Super, first started in April 2022 rewards points to residents who recycle contents separately. Items eligible include paper, plastic, aluminum, metal cans, clothing, and glass. The mentioned points can be used for supermarket vouchers.

800 Super set up 10 smart boxes around the area that has different compartments for residents to deposit their recyclables, opposed to the usual method in Singapore of collecting everything in a large blue bin.

“These smart boxes force people to be more disciplined when they have to sort their recyclables,” said Glen Chow, a 32-year-old resident and retail assistant. “This makes it better than the blue bins, which tend to fill up more quickly, and sometimes get used as a rubbish bin to throw any kind of waste.”

The more disciplined way of recycling has helped bring down contamination rate, meaning that 95 percent of contents collected can be successfully recycled.

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