A group of Tzu Ching volunteers mindfully investigate every single corner of the street, bending down to pick up the recyclables that people throw away. (Photo by Lin Cen Ling)
Most people throw away their containers and bottles after drinking their contents. Yet, do the bottles still have some other use?
On 18 May 2014, in conjunction with the Global Tzu Ching activity of "In Praise of the Hands that Recycle," Singapore Tzu Chings engaged in a street cleaning and upcycling activity. This activity was held at the two locations where Tzu Chings regularly do recycling activities—the recycling points of Red Hill Block 84 and Ang Mo Kio Block 541. A group of youths took up the call, using the "same hands that surf the net", to immerse in a meaningful environmental protection activity.
At eight plus in the morning, 54 Tzu Ching volunteers walked along the streets and roads nearby Red Hill Block 84 and Ang Mo Kio Block 541, picking up bottles and other recyclables. In addition, they also collected materials which can be reused.
Passion for Recycling Does Not Diminish with Uncooperative Skies
Having the reputation of "Garden City" gives one the impression that Singapore is clean and efficient. Yet under close observation, fellow Tzu Ching volunteers can see small plastics and papers on the side of the road, drains, and even on the grass.
In the process of picking up recyclables, NUS student and Environmental Studies major Zhao Shi Hao has this to share: "Most people would think that after using something, there is no use for its container, naturally they throw it away. Today's activity has made me feel that a lot of what we throw away can be recycled."
Tzu Ching volunteers were picking up recyclables on the road when suddenly raindrops began to fall. Half of them quickly took out their umbrellas and in twos, they supported and sheltered each other along the way to the nearby pavilion. Even while en-route to the pavilion, they still did not forget to pick up recyclables on the road, even the rain could not douse their passion for recycling!
While waiting for the rain to stop, a Tzu Ching volunteer hit upon the idea of using rain water to wash the recyclables they picked up. NTU graduate Zhang Yan Ting recalled her volunteer work in Cambodia during a drought season. "It was so rare that when it rained, everyone used whatever they had to collect the rain water, using the rare opportunity to wash their cloths and belongings." This experience made her appreciate how precious a resource is water.
Redesign and Reuse, Reduce Unnecessary Consumption
When the rain lessened, Tzu Ching volunteers went back to the recycling point. There, they use their ingenuity to redesign and reuse the recyclables they had brought back, in what is called “upcycling.” Liu Ge Lin, a student from the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) had an idea to bundle up the bottles, using papers to fill the gaps in between to increase the “flatness” and strength, finally covering it with a recycled bag, and an upcycled stool is born! Meanwhile, Chen Guan Wen and friends turned disposable lunch boxes, paper cups, shoe boxes, powder milk covers, red packets etc. into cup mats and hanging and vertical storage spaces.
This was the first Tzu Ching activity for Yang Wei Ling from Nanyang Polytechnic. She was especially inspired during the upcycling activity. She shared, "I remember that our teacher used to teach us art and craft, using these plastic bottles to make simple art designs when I was a little kid. Today's upcycling activity, although similar to the class, but because of the videos and everyone's sharing, I feel especially inspired and creative." In her hand is a upcycled bottle, remade into a stationery holder. She notes that the bottle is no longer trash by just a small design tweak.
A regular of the monthly recycling activity, Tzu Ching volunteer Li Yu Hui reflected during the upcycling activity, "We made a storage box out of cardboards and beer bottles. Instead of buying a new storage tray, why not redesign the things that we intended to throw away?" After this activity, Yu Hui would consider before buying herself new things, and also think of whether redesigning her existing items would replace this unnecessary consumption.
Today, we live in a bustling, busy, fast paced world. Often, we just litter rubbish or leftover food out of convenience. This not only adds to the burden of the road cleaners, it also pollutes the environment. "We are actually quite blessed living in Singapore, we have rubbish bins and recycling bins all along the road. Yet some residents still does not know the importance of sorting out recyclables. We hope that we can educate the passerby on the basic knowledge of recycling while we were cleaning the road, thus “planting wholesome seeds” in the local population." One of the volunteer coordinators Lin Hui Xian shared.
"Recycling involves a lot of different processes. It's not just the easy job of picking up papers, straws or plastic bags. Other than that, we can reduce our cravings for material objects, using the power of social media to help spread the message." Senior Chen Zhi Xun shared at the conclusion of the activity.
Tzu Ching cannot bear to see the suffering of Mother Earth, they are determined to use various means to show their love for her. Even if it is the tiniest bit of trash, we can transform it into something valuable and extend its lifespan.
During the redesigning to extend lifespan of materials session, Tzu Ching volunteers used their ingenuity. They turned disposable lunch box, paper cups, shoe box, powder milk cover, red packets etc into cup mats, hanging and vertical storage spaces. (Photo by Chen Jia Qu)
Tzu Ching volunteers expresses their creativity. They bundle the bottles they picked up together, used papers to fill in the gaps in between to increase the flatness and toughness, finally, cover it with a recycle bag, and finally an upcycled stool is born! (Photo by Lin Cen Ling)
Even the rain could not douse Tzu Ching's fiery passion for recycling. Two by two, shoulder to shoulder, they share an umbrella. (Photo by Lin Cen Ling)
Having been to Cambodia for volunteer service during a drought, Zhang Yan Ting recalled that whenever it rained, everyone used containers to collect water to wash their belongings. It has made her especially appreciative of how precious a resource water is. (Photo by Qiu Yu Ting)
Yang Wei Ling (right) holds an upcycled bottle, remade into a stationery holder. She notes that the bottle is no longer trash. (Photo by Zhou Zheng Yang)
Volunteer coordinator Lin Hui Xian shared that today's society live in a bustling, busy, fast paced world. Out of convenience, the unwholesome habits of throwing rubbish anywhere was developed. She hope that they can educate the passerby of the basic knowledge of recycling while they were cleaning the road, planting wholesome seeds in Singapore. (Photo by Chen Jia Qu)
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