Dear Friends,
OVERVIEW
“Redesigning? Shouldn’t it be Educating and Enforcing?”
What do the four pictures (see above) have in common? Yes, waste not properly discarded in spite of bins being provided for. Our authorities have spent lots of money and resources to get the bins for us so that we can dispose of the waste or items properly and cleanly. But no, we put our unwanted items outside the bins! We are supposed to be a first-world country, however, our social behaviour does not reflect it as such.
What is needed is really for everyone to play their part responsibly by disposing of our waste properly.
In Picture 1, the writer suggested that we redesign the bin to contain cigarette butts. This was reported in the Straits Times, 3 Oct 2022.
Apparently, the writer may not be aware that this bin might have been placed in an area where no smoking is allowed. We have bins with cigarette trays on top to facilitate smokers in areas where smoking is allowed. In Picture 2, the waste was left on top of the bin in spite of the fact that the bin was not filled up. In Picture 3, big parcel boxes were not flattened before being disposed of. In Picture 4, waste from a nearby eatery and shops were disposed of haphazardly which may invite rodents and birds. We know that rain washes and wind blows, waste left in the open would drop to the ground and into the drain and finally end up in our waterways and reservoirs. This is our concern.
Hence, the solution is not about redesigning bigger or the shape of the receptors or bins. Waterways Watch Society opine that a more dedicated and structured approach to educating our people coupled with strong enforcement actions is needed. And we should begin with the Schools.
Recently Singapore River One’s #VoicesByTheRiver series did an interview with Eugene Heng, our CEO & Founder of Waterways Watch Society.
You can view his sharing of keeping our waterways clean and safe and our hopes for the community to play their part in preventing litter from entering our water resource.
WATERWAYS WATCH SOCIETY ANNUAL REPORT 2022
On 11 September 2022, we conducted our AGM. A total of 88 members attended either. The Annual Report and the minutes of meeting can be found on our website or you may wish to retrieve them from here:
Annual Report: https://www.wws.org.sg/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/WWS-Annual-Report-2022_Final-with-FS.pdf
Minutes of Meeting: https://www.wws.org.sg/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/AGM-Minutes_11092022-.pdf
Thank you, BreadTalk for sponsoring coffee for our members!
In summary, the following activities were done for this week:
- We conducted 10 CSR and 1 VIA programmes which were attended by 325 participants and 69 participants respectively, and together they collected a total of 426 kg of litter.
- The CSR activities conducted were 2 Boat clean ups, 3 Foot clean ups, 4 Kayak clean ups and 3 Pedal Boat clean ups.
- The VIA activity conducted was a Foot clean up.
- An On-the-Job Orientation was conducted for 3 new members on their roles and responsibilities when doing a Boat patrol.
- This week a total of 120 members were involved for CSR/VIA programmes, talk, patrols, administration, housekeeping duties and training and, the total trash collected = 480 kg.
- Boat Patrol. A total of 3 Boat patrols were carried out; 1 each at Marina, Punggol and at Lakeside.
- Bike Patrol. A total of 5 Bike patrols were carried out; 2 at Marina, 1 at Punggol and 2 at Lakeside.
- Foot Patrol. We conducted 2 Foot Patrols, one each at Lakeside and Pang Sua.
- Pedal boat Patrol. 1 Pedal Boat patrol was conducted at Marina.
- Boat Tour for Frontline workers. No boat tour was conducted this week.
ACTIVITIES AND REPORT
1. Educational Programmes
2. Volunteer Patrols & Activities
a. Marina
b. Punggol
c. Lakeside
d. Pang Sua Pond
e. Yishun Pond Patrol
