Can and bottle collectors ransack bins, leaving mess and attracting birds: 'Very unhygienic'

While the Beverage Container Return Scheme (BCRS) has encouraged more people to collect and return drink bottles and cans, concerns have emerged over some collectors rummaging through rubbish bins and leaving waste scattered in public areas.

Since its launch in April, around 5.5 million bottles and cans have been recycled through the scheme, said Senior Minister of State for Sustainability and Environment Janil Puthucheary in Parliament on Aug 5.

One such collector — a 53-year-old man who works near Amoy Street Food Centre — rides his bicycle around the area after work to collect empty cans and bottles, and had previously said he had received more than $1,000 from recycling them over two months.

In another case , a TikTok user who goes by Arnel shared a video on Sept 5 showing himself returning bottles and cans at a BCRS machine in Tampines, where he can be seen taking containers from a large rubbish bag and feeding them into the machine.

Concerns over littering and hygiene

While some collectors leave public spaces tidy, others have drawn complaints for leaving rubbish behind while searching through bins.

In a recent post shared on social media, an elderly man was seen rummaging through a rubbish bin and leaving plastic bags and other waste scattered on the ground, according to Shin Min Daily News.

The incident reportedly occurred in the common area between Blocks 97 and 98 of Aljunied Crescent.

A nearby resident, who wished to be known only as Luo, 70, said the man had been collecting recyclable items in the area for several years.

However, he claimed that the man's behaviour had become increasingly disruptive since the BCRS was introduced.

"The neighbours all know him. He used to only look for copper wire and scrap iron, but now he specifically looks for bottles and cans, turning the rubbish bins upside down and making a mess. It's very unhygienic," said Luo.

Another resident Lin Sumei (transliteration), 68, said she had seen the man rummaging through rubbish bins before throwing unwanted waste onto the grass, adding that the food scraps left behind attract pigeons and crows.

"Sometimes the residue will smell bad after being exposed to the sun, and the birds that come here could carry bacteria. In addition, there are many elderly people here, so it's not very good," she said.

Other videos circulating online also show people rummaging through rubbish bins for plastic bottles and other recyclables.

While some members of the public said they supported the scheme's environmental objectives, they felt efforts to collect bottles and cans should not result in littered public spaces.

Authorities urge responsible participation

Responding to queries from Shin Min Daily News, the National Environment Agency (NEA) and BCRS said they had taken note of public feedback and urged members of the public to participate in the programme in a responsible and considerate manner.

NEA said rummaging through public rubbish bins, taking items from them, and leaving or dumping rubbish on the ground are illegal acts and that they would take enforcement action against violators.

"When participating in the beverage bottle and can refund programme, the public should also do their part to keep common spaces clean," said the authorities.

xingying.koh@asiaone.com

虽然饮料容器回收计划 (BCRS) 鼓励了更多人收集和归还饮料瓶罐，但人们开始担心一些收集者会在垃圾桶里翻找，并将垃圾散落在公共区域。

8月5日，可持续发展与环境部高级政务部长贾尼尔·普图切里在国会表示，自4月份启动以来，该计划已回收了约550万个瓶罐。

其中一位收集者——一位在厦门街美食中心附近工作的 53 岁男子——下班后骑着自行车在附近收集空罐和瓶子，他之前曾表示，两个月来他通过回收这些物品获得了超过 1000 美元的收入。

另一起事件中，一位名叫 Arnel 的 TikTok 用户于 9 月 5 日分享了一段视频，视频显示他在淡滨尼的一台 BCRS 回收机上退还瓶罐，可以看到他从一个大垃圾袋中取出容器，然后将它们放入机器中。

人们对乱扔垃圾和卫生问题感到担忧。

虽然有些垃圾收集者会保持公共场所的整洁，但也有一些人因为在翻找垃圾桶时留下垃圾而遭到投诉。

据《新明日报》报道，在最近社交媒体上流传的一则帖子中，可以看到一位老人在垃圾桶里翻找，并将塑料袋和其他垃圾散落在地上。

据报道，该事件发生在阿裕尼弯第97座和第98座之间的公共区域。

附近一位70岁的居民罗先生（化名）表示，这名男子多年来一直在该地区收集可回收物品。

然而，他声称自从引入 BCRS 以来，该男子的行为变得越来越具有破坏性。

“邻居们都认识他。他以前只找铜线和废铁，但现在专门找瓶瓶罐罐，把垃圾桶翻过来，弄得一团糟。非常不卫生，”罗说道。

另一位居民林素梅（音译），68岁，表示她曾看到这名男子翻找垃圾桶，然后将不需要的垃圾扔到草地上，并补充说，留下的食物残渣会吸引鸽子和乌鸦。

“有时候残留物晒太阳后会散发出难闻的气味，而且来这里的鸟类可能携带细菌。此外，这里有很多老年人，所以情况不太好，”她说。

网上流传的其他视频也显示，有人在垃圾桶里翻找塑料瓶和其他可回收物。

虽然一些公众成员表示支持该计划的环境目标，但他们认为收集瓶罐的努力不应该导致公共场所垃圾遍地。

当局敦促负责任地参与

针对《新明日报》的询问，国家环境局（NEA）和BCRS表示，他们已注意到公众的反馈意见，并敦促公众以负责任和体贴的方式参与该计划。

国家环境局表示，翻找公共垃圾桶、从中拿走物品以及将垃圾随意丢弃在地上都是违法行为，他们将对违法者采取执法行动。

“公众在参与饮料瓶罐回收计划的同时，也应该尽自己的一份力，保持公共场所的清洁，”有关部门表示。

邢莹.koh@asiaone.com