\n<\/p>\n
SINGAPORE\u00a0–\u00a0Media OutReach<\/a>\u00a0– 2 November 2021 –\u00a0<\/b>The Singapore Environment Council (SEC)<\/a> and Equinix, the world’s digital
\u00a0<\/p>\n RVMs are
\u00a0<\/p>\n Yee May Leong,
\u00a0<\/p>\n The joint
\u00a0<\/p>\n Jen Teo,
\u00a0<\/p>\n Over 467
\u00a0<\/p>\n Alongside
\u00a0<\/p>\n Ms Teo added, “We strongly believe that collaboration
Note to the Editor: <\/p>\n Please
ANNEX<\/b><\/p>\n Name<\/b><\/p>\n
\n <\/td>\n
<\/p>\n Designation <\/b><\/p>\n
\n <\/td>\n
<\/p>\n Tertiary Institution <\/b><\/p>\n
\n <\/td>\n
<\/p>\n Quote <\/b><\/p>\n
\n <\/td>\n
Gary Png<\/p>\n
\n <\/td>\n
<\/p>\n Director, Estates &
\n <\/td>\n
<\/p>\n Temasek
\n <\/td>\n
<\/p>\n “This partnership with SEC may be a small
\n <\/td>\n
Xavier Ang<\/p>\n
\n <\/td>\n
<\/p>\n Diploma student, Green
\n <\/td>\n
<\/p>\n “The Reverse Vending Machine project is a great
\n <\/td>\n
Shyam<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n Srinivasan<\/p>\n
\n <\/td>\n
<\/p>\n Diploma student,
\n <\/td>\n
<\/p>\n Republic
\n <\/td>\n
<\/p>\n “As there
\n <\/td>\n
Devaanantham
\n <\/td>\n
<\/p>\n “It is
\n <\/td>\n
\ninfrastructure companyTM<\/sup>, have concluded a four-month Reverse
\nVending Machine (RVM) pilot project at Republic Polytechnic and Temasek
\nPolytechnic to promote students’ recycling habits. A total of 3,555 and 3,442
\nused beverage containers were collected at Temasek Polytechnic and Republic
\nPolytechnic respectively, with a contribution of $10,800 made towards benefitting underprivileged students at the two
\npolytechnics. The pilot demonstrated the potential and capability of public-private-people
\npartnerships to deliver green solutions with the ability to scale up to more
\neducational institutions and food and beverage (F&B) establishments in
\nretail environments.<\/p>\n
\none way to encourage the domestic recycling of used beverage containers at
\nsource. Utilising the technology of the in-built camera to capture images of
\nthe container, the software identifies the type of container before sorting
\nthem into different storage bins with the collection data recorded for viewing
\nby an online system. All containers are collected weekly by SembWaste and
\nsent for recycling at Sembcorp’s material-recovery facility, avoiding
\nincineration and landfilling.<\/p>\n
\nManaging Director of Equinix South Asia, said, “As a Fortune 500 company with
\nover 230 International Business ExchangeTM<\/sup> (IBX\u00ae) data centers
\nglobally, Equinix has a responsibility to connect and support local
\ncommunities, and power the world in a sustainable manner. Through sponsoring
\nthe RVM Polytechnic project, we are pleased to have contributed to the national
\nrecycling programme, whilst educating students and helping those in need along
\nthe way. We hope this meaningful project encourages everyone, especially the
\nyouths who are our leaders of tomorrow, to do more together to create a better
\nfuture.” <\/p>\n
\npilot project is indicative of Equinix’s efforts in catalysing collective
\naction in the community for the betterment of society through utilising new
\ntechnologies and innovations.<\/p>\n
\nExecutive Director of SEC, said, “We are extremely heartened by the support of
\nthe schools and students for this project pilot. While COVID-19 has certainly
\npresented challenges, the pilot has nevertheless allowed us to get a better sense
\nof sentiment on the ground. With the National Environment Agency (NEA) expected
\nto roll out its Deposit Refund Scheme by 2022, the insights will help us refine
\nhow we engage not just the schools but the community as a whole. We believe that
\nsuch an approach is critical as we work together with the government to drive Singapore
\ntowards a zero-waste nation.”<\/p>\n
\nmillion plastic drink bottles are used in Singapore each year, equivalent to
\nthe size of 94 Olympic-sized swimming pools. COVID-19 has aggravated plastic
\nwaste from takeaways and food deliveries. A 2020 study conducted by NUS Alumni
\nfound that Singapore households generated an extra 1,334 tonnes of plastic
\nwaste from takeaways and food deliveries during the country’s two-month circuit
\nbreaker in 2020. And yet, according to the NEA’s 2020 Waste and Recycling Statistics<\/a>, only 4% of plastics were recycled last year.
\nThis pales in comparison with 11% for glass and 19% for food waste and shows
\nthe vast scope for recycling plastics. <\/p>\n
\npackaging waste, Singapore has designated e-waste and food waste as priority
\nstreams under its Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)<\/a> framework. The first phase of the EPR will be
\nthe Deposit Refund Scheme (DRS). To be rolled out by 2022, this is a
\nnation-wide system to take back and recycle used beverage containers. DRS aims
\nto aggregate the collection of post-consumer plastic waste and ensure a steady
\nsupply of feedstock for recycling, ultimately closing the plastic-waste loop.
\nAs envisaged in the Singapore Green Plan 2030<\/a>, DRS will bolster national efforts to reduce waste
\nper capita sent to landfills by 30 per cent by 2030.<\/p>\n
\nbetween the private, public and people sectors is the way forward to make a
\ndeeper impact on recycling beverage container waste and contribute to our
\nnation’s zero-waste goals. We hope that as more forward-thinking companies and organisations
\nstep forward to partner us, we can collectively accelerate efforts to make
\nrecycling convenient to consumers through the Reverse Vending Machine and other
\nrecycling touchpoints.”<\/p>\n
\nrefer to<\/i> the<\/i> <\/i>Annex<\/i>
\nfor <\/i>additional
\n<\/i>quotes
\nfrom Temasek Polytechnic and Republic Polytechnic. <\/i>\n\n
\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\n <\/tr>\n\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\n Facilities Management Department<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\n Polytechnic<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\n step, but we believe it would go a long way towards educating the Temasek Polytechnic
\n community on how we can play our part to protect the planet for future
\n generations.”<\/p>\n
\n <\/tr>\n\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\n Building & Sustainability <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\n initiative as it allows us to do our part for the environment by recycling
\n bottles and cans rather than indiscriminately throwing them into bins.”<\/p>\n
\n <\/tr>\n\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\n Environmental Science, Year 2, and member of Conservation Interest Group<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\n Polytechnic<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\n are many students on campus who buy bottled and canned drinks, it’s great
\n that we are able to be proactive in recycling our used containers through the
\n Reverse Vending Machine.”\u00a0 <\/p>\n
\n <\/tr>\n\n
<\/p>\n
\n Ramachandran<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\n critical that we come up with innovative solutions to address the global
\n challenge of waste management. The Reverse Vending Machine is one such solution,
\n and I look forward to more machines being rolled out across the different
\n locations in Singapore.” <\/p>\n