Tiong Bahru replaces blue recycling bins with bi-monthly community drives to combat waste contamination

Tiong Bahru residents launch the Love Tiong Bahru pilot, replacing blue bins with supervised community drives to reduce recycling contamination rates.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 11, 2026, 5:25 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from The Straits Times

A Grassroots Response to Overflowing Blue Bins

The "Love Tiong Bahru" initiative officially commenced on April 11 at the Tiong Bahru Community Centre, marking a significant shift in the estate’s approach to waste management. Motivated by the persistent sight of blue recycling bins overflowing with general refuse, residents of the Seng Poh estate spearheaded a plan to remove these bins entirely between April 11 and June 20. According to project coordinator Kelvin Wang, the community was frustrated that the efforts of responsible recyclers were being undermined by littering and improper disposal. The new pilot program seeks to replace passive recycling with intentional, supervised collection.

Operational Shift Toward Supervised Sorting Drives

Under the temporary pilot scheme, residents are invited to bring their recyclables to the community centre during designated Saturday windows from 10 am to 12:30 pm. Volunteers man these collection points to direct participants in categorizing their items into specific streams for paper, plastic, metal, and glass. On the inaugural day, the drive successfully processed 125kg of cartons and newspapers, 40kg of glass, and 35kg of plastic. This hands-on approach aims to lower the contamination rate, which has remained at approximately 40 percent for standard blue bins since 2017.

Educational Outreach for the Next Generation

The pilot has also emerged as a practical educational platform for younger residents, such as three-year-old Ethan Bei, who participated by delivering plastic bottles in a toy car. His mother, Jaclyn Bei, noted that the previous state of the blue bins was disheartening and made it difficult to teach proper recycling habits. By participating in the supervised drives, families can more effectively learn which items are eligible for recycling and which must be discarded as waste. Organizers hope that this door-to-door engagement will foster a stronger sense of communal responsibility and cleaner habits within the neighborhood.