Dear Friends,
OVERVIEW
“What a Sight, What a Haul! Why so like dat?”
It is a grave social concern to see so many masks being left in public places and especially in our waterways. Our volunteers and programme participants have seen and picked many during our litter-picking outings. Yes, masks will become one of the many types of litter that we will come to see in the foreseeable future, like styrofoam boxes, cigarette butts, plastic sachets, straws, wrappers and bags or tissue paper in our public places. Masks could become another source of plastic pollution.
Why is this happening? Simply put, it is due to lack of environmental ownership in Singapore with people being “detached from the consequences of their actions to the environment. ” People are relying on others to clean up after them. We need more hard actions to stem the tide. We can do the following to educate our people:
- Organise regular small-scale litter-picking activities in the housing areas, shopping malls and market areas to give an experience of how disposable masks and other takeaway packagings are compounding the ever-growing pile of waste, and plastic waste for that matter.
- Organise groups from neighbourhood residences, schools and other institutions to participate in Waterways Watch programmes.
- Ensure participants and organisers in major sporting and social events clean up the venues rather than rely on our NEA cleaners. (see photos below).
- Lastly, conduct more effective and meaningful Corrective Work Order (CWO) for offenders in more public places.
“Littering at Sporting Events!”
Another area of littering concern is found at sporting events. Again, it is not uncommon to find litter and trash left behind by the spectators and participants for the cleaners to clear them. This is not acceptable at all. We need to tackle the problem and nib it at the bud.
In summary, the following activities were done for this week:
- We conducted 7 CSR programmes which were attended by 225 participants and together they collected a total of 398 kg of litter. The activities they participated in were:
- Bike clean up – 2
- Boat clean up – 1
- Foot clean up – 4
- Kayak clean up – 2
- Pedal Boat clean up – 2
- An On-the Job Orientation was conducted at Punggol for 5 new members on their roles and responsibilities when doing patrol.
- This week a total of 119 members, including 5 new members, were involved for CSR/VIA programmes, talk, patrols, administration, housekeeping duties and training and, the total trash collected = 501 kg.
- Boat Patrol. A total of 8 Boat patrols were carried out; 3 at Marina, 4 at Punggol and 1 at Lakeside.
- Bike Patrol. A total of 4 Bike patrols were carried out; 2 at Marina, 1 each at Punggol and Lakeside.
- Foot Patrol. We conducted 1 Foot Patrol at Pang Sua.
- Kayak Patrol. We conducted 1 Kayak Patrol at Punggol.
- Pedal boat Patrol. 1 Pedal Boat patrol was conducted at Marina.
Thank you members and volunteers for your time and dedication to the task.
ACTIVITIES AND REPORT
1. Educational Programmes
2. Volunteer Patrols & Activities
a. Marina
b. Punggol
c. Lakeside
d. Pang Sua Pond
e. Yishun Pond Patrol
| No patrol |