ECO EXPRESS! 03

The offical e-publication of ECOwww.eco-singapore.org

3rd IssueMay - July 2006

FEATURINGSingapore’s Environment Treasures- Notes From The Bamboo River

Environment And Technology- Can We Use Technology Without Hurting The Environment?

Interviews- An Interview With Mr Jack Sim- An Interview With LHT

COVER STORYWaste Management- To Waste Or Not To Waste

CONTENTSNEWS (YOU CANNOT WASTE)A Page From Global Waste Management Efforts 03

SINGAPORE’S ENVIRONMENT TREASURESNotes From The Bamboo River 06

ENVIRONMENT AND TECHNOLOGYCan We Use Technology Without Hurting The Environment? 08

WASTE MANAGEMENTTo Waste Or Not To Waste 10

INTERVIEWSThe Toilet Aflcionado:An Interview With Mr Jack Sim 12The Company That Makes A DifferenceTo Our Environment: An Interview With LHT 14

KNOWLEDGE CAPSULE Questions & Answers On Waste Management 17

VOLUNTEER EDITOR Ng Pak Shun - “Pakky”

VOLUNTEER STAFF WRITERSBernardine Huang - “Vitrole”

Emmulin Wee - “Dumber” Firdaus Salim - “The Whistling Lark”

Freda Yuin - “Dumb”Iris Li

Kala M Kuppusamy - “Guhan”Lee Xi Xun - “Titun”

Liao Ying - “Skywalker” Janice Ng - “Zhenjie”

Jill Yong - “Miss Green” Tan Jia Ni - “Lizard”

Yvonne Poon

VOLUNTEER DESIGNER Han

Foreword...For many of us, our contact with trash typically stops after emptying the dustbins in our rooms or taking the garbage out of our homes to the rubbish chutes or rubbish bins. Perhaps, due to this limited interaction, we seldom think about where the rubbish goes or what it becomes, and we rarely consider the amount or type of waste we generate. However, we cannot afford to take such a cavalier attitude in the world we live towards waste for much longer. As industrialization and globalization increase their influences, our planet is under great stress in its struggle to shoulder the enormous amount and toxic types of wastes, which are oft-forgotten by-products of our lives.

No matter how frightening the problems of waste management are, unfortunately we often do not bother to do our part to Reduce, Reuse and Recycle, until we are convinced of the true and inevitable impacts of mismanaged waste in our lives. Therefore, EXPRESS! has decided to concentrate on the issues surrounding waste management in this issue, to make the “stinky” subject real and relevant to you. In addition, by understanding the fundamental challenges involving waste management, we hope that you can be empowered to demand more resources and better policies at the societal level, and you can be convicted of the need to change your lifestyles at the individual level. Will you be empowered and convicted to reduce the waste burden on our environment?

P.S. Check out the revamped ECO website @ http://www.eco-singapore.org to find out more about what ECO is busy with in Singapore and overseas!

Pak ShunManaging Editor

EXPRESS! Newsletter is published 4 times a year by the Environment

Challenge Organisation (Singapore), or ECO for short, a non-profit youth organisation registered under the Singapore Registrar of Societies.

INQBUZZ 113 Somerset Road

National Youth Centre #01-02Singapore 238165

Tel: 9147 4541 / 9147 4542 Fax: 6738 1693

Website: www.eco-singapore.org Email: [email protected]

The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily represent those of Environmental

Challenge Organisation (Singapore). No responsibility is accepted by the organisation

or its volunteers for the accuracy of any statement, opinion, or advice contained in the text or advertisements. All materials appearing

in EXPRESS! are the exclusive copyright property of the ECO. No part of EXPRESS! may

be reproduced in any form without prior written consent from Environmental Challenge

Organisation (Singapore).

A BIODEGRADABLE PROBLEMEven the disposal of natural substances such as vegetables can lead to waste management problems without effective waste management controls, Dingyuan is one of the largest vegetable distribution centers in China, with vegetables grown, processed and collected within a 500 km radius. About 40 million tons of vegetables are stored in warehouses; the problem is that half of these 40 million tons become waste every year. Despite the biodegradable nature of vegetables, the natural decaying process breeds flies and mosquitoes, and pollutes the environment, namely the air, rivers and underground water supplies.http://news.xinhuanet.com

By The News Team

A PAGE FROM GLOBAL WASTE MANAGEMENT EFFORTS

DUMP MODERNITYFor practical design ideas, look no further than to our forefathers who had both form and function in mind when designing buildings. In a recent seminar to address the issue of efficient construction systems conducted in India, Professor Frederic Schwartz, a leading design critic and a professor of architecture at the Harvard Graduate School of Design, emphasized the need to combine practicality in building design with modernistic architecture. He cited the excessive usage of glass panels in warm climate countries as a problem, as heat is trapped unnecessarily, leading to less than efficient power management. Conversely, in the long run, initiatives to design more efficient buildings are not only a blessing for office workers, but also an effective waste management method. Perhaps we should all pause from the bustle of modernity and take a page from the builders of the past.

“This is the reason that none of the old architecture in India had glass-based construction. They rather had thick brick and mortar walls, which not only made them more safer but also led to energy conservation,” Professor Schwartzhe asserted.

http://www.businesswireindia.com

NEWS YOU CANNOT WASTE

THE PARADOX OF RECYCLINGRecycling per se seems to be the golden child of “waste management”, however even recycling that is not handled properly can pose major problems. A report recently conducted by Greenpeace concluded that in many recycling centers situated in China and India, contamination from a cocktail of chemicals occurs at every single stage of the recycling process. From storing e-waste (discarded electronic products) that await their recycling fate to the multitude of methods used to recover valuable materials (which includes shredding, stripping, dipping and burning), these recycling processes have all resulted in the production of numerous hazardous heavy metals and organic compounds around the recycling vicinity.http://www.edie.net

Professor Frederic Schwartz

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EXPRESS!ALL ABOUT ENVIRONMENT

DEVELOPING WOESWell it seems that the developing giants of the world, namely India and China, have their fair share of waste-management woes. According to the World Bank, China’s rapid growth and nascent economy come with a costly price tag, China has 16 of the world’s 20 most-polluted cities and, more alarmingly, an estimated 400,000 Chinese citizens die each year from diseases related to air pollution. http://www.thenewstribune.com

equipment is disposed and recycled. The retailers on the other hand, have the obligation to take back appliances, which they have sold. That includes retrieving them upon the request of consumers who buy new ones to replace the old ones.”http://www.sunstar.com.ph

THE SECRETS TO SUCCESSFUL WASTEMANAGEMENT — A TIP FROM JAPANIt is an adage that is worth repeating though its lyrical gloss has since turned dull, that “waste management and environmental responsibility is a shared effort.” One of the reasons for the success of Japan’s solid waste management system is the sharing of responsibility by all stakeholders. The whole cycle of waste management includes the manufacturers, dealers, government and consumers, who are all significant players that contribute their fair share of responsibility.

A system more commonly known as EPR, or Extended producer’s responsibility, ensures that manufacturers are responsible for the design and management of recycling-oriented products. A poignant example of shared responsibility in waste management is the implementation of the Home Appliance Recycling Law. Briefly this is how it works, “the recycling process starts when a consumer buys an appliance. He/she has to first pay a fee for collection and recycling and then get a coupon from the retailer or by postal transfer. The bar-coded coupon is placed on the appliance, and will be the identifying mark when the

Japan home electrical appliance recycling plant

YOUR WASTE IS EVERYTHING MORE THAN RUBBISH — A NETWORK TO LEVERAGE HABIT OF RECYCLING FROM THE NORTHERN TO SOUTHERN STATES IN WALES Wales, United Kingdom — For residents living across Porthmadog, spring cleaning could be as easy as a click of the mouse. Thank to Ruth Hopkinton’s brainchild, people in north Wales can now dispose of their unwanted belongings, such as computers, lawn mowers and wardrobes, without worrying that they would be prosecuted for damaging the planet earth. After moving from Penrhyndeuraeth, Ruth realized she has accumulated so much possession that she could not find any more room to relocate all of them. That stimulated her to set up an online recycle bin for the community. She created a website with the name “Penrhyndeuraeth Freecycle,” which offers unwanted items free via e-mail; and this service has become a benchmark for online reuse programmes across Wales.

Environment group CYCH gave the website a thumb up, “If people are willing to re-use things like fridges in their communities before they end up as rubbish, it’s got to be good news.” And many residents like Tom Wilmore have benefited from this new initiative. When Tom found sand and cement left behind by his contractors after a recent house renovation, he sent an e-mail to freecycle in the hope that somebody would pick them up. True enough, a pallet was soon sent to the rescue.

It’s been half a year since the start of the online initiative, and items ranging from pens to karate suits have found a new lease of life through the website. We always perceive that the role of waste management should be left to either the state or the rag and bone man who earns a living by collecting unused junk. However, what we have here in Wales are a bunch of ordinary middle-class citizens circulating used items and furniture amongst each other with the help of a nifty website. It should start us thinking, what will happen if many of us here in Singapore would be willing to keep unwanted items that you think someone might need and/or even reuse someone else’s redundant items.

Talk about getting your house spick and span.Source: BBC newsBy “Zhenjie” Janice Ng

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DEBATING ECOLOGY IN

PARLIMENTIn the recent

years, Singapore has made

much progress in the quest for

economic revival and continuity.

However, economic progress also brings a myriad of ecological issues that requires our attention. For environmental conservation to work, a dozen initiatives need to be planned and, for every initiative, a dozen more steps need to be carried out to ensure its implementation and continuity. It is indeed a tumultuous task for the government and the individual, but through shared efforts, we can deal with issues such as effective waste management, conservation of natural resources, reducing pollution levels and many others. Highlighted below are just some of the issues brought up and initiatives suggested during the recent parliamentary sessions.

PROMOTING THE PROCUREMENT AND USE OF ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND / GREEN PRODUCTS AND TECHNOLOGIESThe need for ecologically-friendly companies to be recognized on a business to business basis

makes for a sound economic policy. While a green labeling scheme exists to provide consumers with factual information on energy consumption through a user-friendly energy efficiency index, ecological responsibility needs to be taken to the next level. Hence through providing incentives for companies to engage in ecological practices on the business platform we are able to push further the agenda for ecological preservation.

PROTECTION OF MARINE AREASSingapore is far more than garden city, we are actually 64 tropical islands and islets. Being an island city our seas and its marine life are an integral part of our identity and life. Our marine and coastal areas have often suffered from neglect and have oftentimes been relegated to an issue which is of lesser importance. We have or had 73 patch reefs and 35 fringing reefs in the southern islands and some of the richest coral diversity in the world, despite all this, there is yet to be a marine conversation area in Singapore. Hence suggestions include the need to establish an official agency that would be responsible to look into matters concerning marine conversation

BIODIVERSITY PROTECTIONMost Singaporeans might come to the conclusion that given our limited land space, the range of biodiversity might be meager; however what remains unknown to many is that Singapore is home to a rich source of species, already 150 new species of flies and 2 new mangrove species have been discovered within the range of a year. Given our vantage point as a regional hub for sciences and research, providing legal protection and economic incentive in the arena of biodiversity is a win-win situation that could blossom into both positive ecological conservation and also economic opportunity.

Red mangrove swamp

CLIMATE CHANGEPerhaps the most pressing of global issues is the problem of climate change, a myriad of questions were fielded during parliament and all centered around the main question of, “What are we doing to prevent global warming”. Amongst the more pertinent issues highlighted is the need for the government to raise public awareness and change current mindsets and practices of consumers. Parallels were drawn to other countries where the issues of climate change greatly influence the outcome of national energy polices. Employing the use of cutting-edge trends and technologies such as the imposition of a carbon tax or even carbon trading are just a few examples of novel ways to tackle this global issue.

Source: Parliamentary notes of Dr Geh Min, Nominated Member of ParliamentBy “The Whistling Lark” Firdaus Salim


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Kek-kek kek-kek kek-kek Koel! Koel! Heads up! You’ve just been welcomed by two of *Sungei Buloh’s most vocal residents. A blaze of turquoise and white announces the arrival of a Collared Kingfisher, whose kek-kek laughter will accompany you throughout your stay here. High in the foliage, a blood-red eye regards you contemptuously. Alas, visitors are not of much interest to this male koel. Unimpressed he takes off, complaining in loud glissading tones about the arrival of yet another bunch of crazy unfeathered two-leggers. Stand still and take a deep breath. Smell those rotten eggs? That would be the signature eau-de-mangrove produced by courtesy of anaerobic sulphur reducing bacteria that thrive in the thick mangrove mud. Don’t jump when the bushes beside you rustle and a Malayan Water Monitor emerges to swagger arrogantly across your path. Like every schoolyard bully, his bossy this facade quickly crumbles when confronted. Such encounters usually end in his undignified scuttle into the surrounding mangroves. Still, walk softly. This is no zoo, botanical garden or safari, where animals and plants are put on display to await your pleasure. This is Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, one of the few surviving mangrove forests in Singapore; and her residents will show themselves to you at their own pleasure, not yours. Be patient. Wait. You will not be disappointed.

Once a collection of fish and prawn farms, this 87 ha wetland site was destined to be converted into a series of agrotech farms. Salvation came in the form of a group of dedicated bird watchers from the then Malayan Nature Society who chanced upon it in 1986. With the Society’s report and with input from the then Parks & Recreation Department (now National Parks Board), Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust from the United Kingdom and the Worldwide Fund for Nature, Sungei Buloh became a Nature Park and was officially opened in 1993. In 2002 she was officially gazetted as a nature reserve comprising 130 ha, protected for its mangroves and biodiversity. Today it is an ASEAN Heritage Park, and an internationally important site for shorebird conservation as a member of the East Asian-Australasian Shorebird Site Network.

Notes from the

Now why all that fuss? The answer lies in the thousands of weary travelers who congregate on the mudflats of Sungei Buloh each year from September to March. Lying on the East Asian/Australasian Flyway, Sungei Buloh serves as part of a series of important refueling and resting stops for hoards of waders, some of which hail from as far as Alaska, Russia and China. Their journey will take them to wintering areas in South-east Asia and, Australia, where they will wait out the winter months before returning to their breeding grounds in North Asia. Some species may cover up to 5,000 km on a single non-stop flight and up to 24,000 km in total. Rest stops are of paramount importance to complete this odyssey and Sungei Buloh is just what the doctor ordered. Using a series of sluice gates, the water levels in various tidal ponds in the reserve are controlled such that, irrespective of the tide, some mudflats will always be exposed allowing the waders to feed. Other ponds will remain tidal with the tides, bringing in various tid-bits such as marine or bristle worms and fish that remain behind when the pond is emptied. Bon Appetit!

Collared Kingfisher

Bamboo River

Oriental Magpie Robbins

Dillenia suffruticosa or commonly known as Simpoh Ayer in Malay

By Iris Li

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So favorable are the conditions that, besides common waders such as Redshanks, Greenshanks and Mongolian Plovers with their sweet Aasian eyes, some rare birds like the Asian Dowitcher have been spotted at Sungei Buloh. Local birds like the Copper-throated sunbird, Grey and Purple herons and Oriental Magpie Robbins are residents here. In fact this haven for the hungry serves even free-flying freeloaders from the Jurong Bird Park. Spotted in one of the mud flats is are a group of elegant Milky Storks who have started to fly in for a free lunch before winging home to the Bird Park to roost. Their beauty at least compensated in part for their bad manners.

Unfortunately Sungei Buloh’s coastal location is less then ideal. During the 14th International Coastal Clean-Up Singapore in 2005, 285 volunteers cooperated to clear 400m of coast in the Kranji-Buloh Mangroves. The result – a staggering 266 trash bags were filled. Their combined weight tipped the scales at 2,320 kg. Interestingly, this haul included diapers, bras, a bike light, a plastic heart model, a motorcycle seat, a steering wheel, a wallet and cushions. Fishing nets and PVC pipes probably originated from fishermean and farms dumping their trash directly into our the sea.

The problem of flotsam is a serious one. Consisting largely of non-biodegradable items such as plastic bags, bottles, wrappers and styrofoam boxes, these items could accumulate at the high water mark or within the mudflats. This will kill off invertebrates and benthic organisms, effectively destroying the food source of other mangrove residents. Plant dispersal and growth could also be disrupted. Larger animals and birds risk injury and death when entangled by discarded nets and lines.

Sungei Buloh’s anti-trash strategy involves vigorous and frequent clean-up programmes by staff, students, volunteers and other organizations. After many years of sweaty and muddy work the reserve has been rewarded with a cleaner coastline and healthier mangroves.

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Bamboo River

Unfortunately, the labour of so many can be easily negated by the inconsiderate actions of a few. The goal now is to reach out to these few via public education. Hopefully, they will learn that just as the leftovers of an estuarine crocodile or the scat of an otter do not belong in our living rooms, our trash does not belong in the mangroves.

*Sungei Buloh means Bamboo River

ReferencesSungei Buloh Wetland Reserve – a decade of wetland conservation. National Parks Board 2003A Guide to the Mangroves of Singapore 1. PKL Ng and N Sivasothi. 2002http://coastalcleanup.nus.edu.sg

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By “Titun” Lee Xi Xun

THE ENVIRONMENT AND TECHNOLOGY:

One telltale sign that the modern world indeed relies a lot on technology is the fact that, given a choice, I would type this essay on a computer, rather than write it in black and white. It is not a mark of rebellion, but rather an act of habit. Likewise, the modern world has progressed from a primitive society where Man once foraged for food using simple tools like the bow and arrow, to a society that relies heavily on machines. It is this technology that Man is increasingly obsessed with, to the point where we are oblivious to problems arising from its dependence. In general, all types of technology need raw material to provide energy, and fossil fuel is one major source of energy. By burning fuels, we enable technology like computers, cars and aeroplanes to function, but we also contribute to the negative effects of technology. One might argue: We can still care about the environment even though we depend heavily on technology to carry out our everyday lives. We could continue to carry out the 3Rs: Recycle, Reuse and Reduce, and respond positively to the government’s call for preservation of primary rainforests, etc. However, caring for our environment requires wholehearted devotion and co-operation, and by over-looking the negative impacts of our over-reliance on technology, we have failed to protect our environment wholeheartedly. It is hence my contention that the modern world relies too much on technology without working as hard to reduce its negative consequences.

Notwithstanding the conveniences and advantages that advances in technology have provided, the modern world is increasingly fraught with environmental problems that scientists attribute to the over-reliance of technology in everyday life. Take, for instance, the Columbia River Crisis in the 1890s. The Columbia River in the United States extends east-west from Oregon to Idaho and Washington, and the river also crosses the Canadian border. At that time, dams were built so that the early settlers could tame the impassible waters and tap hydroelectric power (HEP).

Location of Columbia River BasinPicture from: http://www.nwd.usace.army.mil/ps/colbsnmap.htm

Now, you might argue that HEP is a cleaner alternative energy source. However, this new technology created unforeseen detrimental consequences for the environment. Salmon, a valuable resource found abundantly in the rivers, dwindled in numbers due to the dams, and the river ecosystem was severely affected. In utilizing technology to better the livelihood of people along the river, the settlers failed to take possible side-effects into proper consideration.

CAN WE USE TECHNOLOGY WITHOUT HURTING THE ENVIRONMENT?

Dams of Present day Columbia River BasinPicture from: http://www.nwcouncil.org/library/2004/2004-1/default.htm

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Today, in keeping up with population explosion and increasing affluence around the world, Man burns more and more fossil fuels to power machines and create conveniences, which in turn generate more and more pollutants, and trigger a barrage of environmental problems to which he is blatantly oblivious. The imminent problem of global warming is continuously aggravated by increased combustion of fossil fuels to power computers and highly mechanised processes in the more developed countries. Till today, the US has refused to sign the Kyoto Protocol, whose objective is the "stabilization of greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system", according to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Similarly, less developed countries also consume great amounts of fuels in the unrelenting quest for mass production of affordable goods. The marked increase in fuel consumption to sustain technological processes without simultaneously protecting our environment is a worrisome problem for our current and future generations.

As a result of over-production of air pollutants from factories that rely heavily on fossil fuels to power new technologies, forests in European countries like Norway and Sweden have suffered for decades from the harmful effects of acid rain, a phenomenon caused by the mixture of air pollutants like sulphur dioxide and oxides of nitrogen with rain. Natural disasters like Hurricane Katrina, which raged through the US early September last year, have also been attributed by some scientists to Man’s own doing. It is this over-reliance that unleashes the fury of Mother Nature on Man. In comparison, the primitive society was almost void of such man-made troubles

In the economic sense, the modern world has also revealed its limitations without technology, which leads us to wonder, what would we do when disasters strike and power to our machines is cut off? When Hurricane Katrina struck and oil refineries and major factories in many US states were forced to shut down, oil prices soared and industries around the world suffered due to the higher cost of operating their machinery. Pull the plug on the machines and you probably pull the plug on our sustenance. Imagine a modern world without technology; that would bode ill for the livelihoods of everyone, and we might even revert to our roots to hunt for food! A balance must thus be struck between reliance on technology and the alternatives we can turn to in its absence.

Fortunately, we have begun to learn from the painful lessons of the deterioration of our environmental health, and we have been embarking on efforts to sustain our environment for the future. Today, we see legacies of pioneers championing this cause: cleaner, more natural alternatives to fossil fuels, like natural gas and liquid hydrogen fuel, and greater efforts to conserve energy, including calls from governments and world organisations like the UN, to reduce fuel usage. Although technology plays an important role in Man’s development, we need to draw the line before over-indulgence in technology draws us to self-destruction.

In conclusion, technology is a double-edged sword: this sword may drive our efforts to create a sustainable environment for our future generations, or it may slash us if we abuse its power. It is this ability to discern the right use of technology from wrong, and whether the effects of technology are detrimental or not, that will hopefully prevent us from experiencing the painful consequences of over-reliance on technology in the future. May the force be with us.

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China - 190 million tons of municipal solid waste in 2004. Japan - 50 million tons of waste, which is equivalent to 1 kg of waste per Japanese per day. Manila, Philippines - 6,000 to 8,000 tons of waste per day. San Francisco, USA - 1.8 million tons of waste per year.

Are you able to work out which nation or city is the biggest waste producer? One man’s waste is another man’s ‘treasure’? Not true. We just can’t afford to be complacent and let the ‘karung guni’ turn our waste into his ‘treasure’. We all contribute to waste in our lives, hence we all have to do our part to minimize the detrimental impact waste has on Earth. How is this to be done? Recycle, reuse, reduce, recover, reintegration – these Rs, unlike our 5Cs – are our mantra for sustainable living, be it in any part of the world.

To Waste Or

ManilaIncineration is a common method of dealing with waste in most parts of the world. Interestingly, the Philippines is the only country in the world to have banned incineration. More surprisingly, though, its population actually makes a living from garbage.

“Smoky Mountain” – this is the name of an infamous mountain of garbage in Manila. Hundreds and thousands of families eke a living out of rummaging through monstrous piles of garbage. Unfortunately, an avalanche occurred in “Smoky Mountain” recently, which killed more than 300 people. The subsequent international and local pressure led to its closure. The authorities were only able to extract about 60 bodies in the aftermath, as most bodies disintegrated almost immediately due to the high level of toxic content in the garbage dump. A memorial erected at the site contains the names of the dead. Yet, many families still live in shanties on top of this former garbage. The toxic gas emitted and the toxic fluids seeping into the ground continue to cause tremendous harm to these “mountain inhabitants”.

After the disaster, NGOs have stepped up their efforts to educate citizens about the waste that they produce. Mother Earth Foundation, a NGO in Manila, has been in the forefront of such efforts. The Foundation has adopted the slogan ‘you are responsible for your waste’, and it has conducted many workshops to teach city dwellers to recycle, reuse, recover and reintegrate their waste. Grassroots organizations, together with local politicians, have carried out successful waste management programs and have derived huge savings from them. For example, bio-centres have been set up to recycle kitchen waste with coconut and turn it to compost, which is sold as fertilizers. The money generated from these programs is channeled back into the society to fund various projects, such as building gyms and even a mini zoo.

Not To Waste

ChinaChina‘s huge success in industrial development and its phenomenal economic growth amaze the rest of the world. But there’s a heavy price to be paid. China is one of the worst and fastest contributors to waste and pollution in the globe. Its voracious consumption of coal and natural gas contributes unequivocally to its role in harming the sustenance of the environment.

The Chinese government has ambitious plans for renewable energy production, mainly in wind, solar and biogas energy sources. The Chinese government aims to derive about 10% of China’s total energy consumption from renewable energy by the year 2020. As its water supplies are dwindling during to water pollution in its rivers, China is now turning its attention to recycling waste water. It is also pumping lots of money into reducing all types of pollution. Nevertheless, lack of coordination between the policy makers and scientists over issues concerning waste disposal remains a great concern for environmentalists.

Fortunately, hope is in the air for environmentalists and everyone else. With Beijing 2008 around the corner, China is bent on hosting a green Olympics. Solar energy will be relied upon to provide much of the electricity required for the event; while rainwater harvesting will water grass and flush toilets. The air-conditioning systems used will also be eco-friendly.

“Smoky Mountain”

By “Guhan” Kala M Kuppusamy

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USAZero waste and nothing less – this is the mantra for, if not all of USA, at least for San Francisco. San Francisco rightly played host to the 2005 Wor ld Envi ronment Day. This city of sunny California enjoys great collaboration between citizens, politicians and local bus inesses. I t aims not only to create zero waste but also to inculcate responsible

behavior at all levels of the society – and this has been the key for the city’s success.

Companies in San Francisco do not just clamour to rake in profits with scant regard for the environment. On the contrary, corporate responsibility has been remarkable, in that, some companies have achieved 95% waste reduction. That is an amazing feat in a country where its government has steadfastly refused to ratify the Kyoto Protocol. This goes to show that one does not have to wait for the government of the day to spell out what is good and bad for the people. Unlike individuals, governments come and governments go (though there are exception to this rule). The onus should always be on individual citizens of a country to make the difference in their lives and in the lives of the generations to come.

So, how are people in San Francisco achieving the goal of zero waste? One way – 3 carts with different colours are placed in each household to classify waste. The Blue cart is for recyclables – bottles, cans, paper. The Green cart stores food waste. The Black cart takes care of other general household rubbish. The waste from blue carts is sent to hi-tech generators, which have state-of-the-art facilities to sort and separate recyclables. Waste from green carts is brought to yards where they are turned into compost fertilizers. Landfills is the end of the line for the waste from black carts. In addition to this system of waste classification, financial incentives are also offered to encourage purchase of environmental friendly goods, while toxic waste is banned.

JapanAs a country of islands that houses many hotspots for earthquakes and tsunamis, Japanese have sought the easy way out to dispose of their waste - Incineration. In fact, 70% of the world’s incinerators are found in Japan.

The ill-effects from incinerators are well documented. Incineration produces many pollutants, such as dioxins, that have been found to cause cancer and congenital defects in babies. Yet, the central government of Japan still subsidies the construction of new incinerators at a cost of billions of yen to fight the waste disposal battle. However, awareness is growing gradually among the Japanese in understanding the need to be not wholly dependent on incineration and to rely on other means of waste disposal. The national policy focus has shifted

Not To Wastefrom ‘How to recycle’ to ‘How not to produce waste’. To this end, major environmentally friendly endeavors have been undertaken by all levels of society.

One fine example of the success of such projects is how a city in Japan has improved its waste management record from the worst to the best within a decade. Its Mayor’s commitment played a significant part in turning the table around. Rubbish bins were removed from every household and, in their place, bags were given to store household waste. The cost of garbage collection works out such that the more the number of garbage bags, the more one has to pay for garbage disposal. Such a simple change in waste management made a huge difference and the lessons learned are invaluable.

ConclusionEnvironmentalists consider consumerism as one of the curses of the 20th and 21st centuries. A cursory glance around us will show how much we are enveloped by consumerism. Sometime last year, I watched a documentary at BBC. Two professors of consumerology, the study of consumerism, asserted that “90% of what we buy are purely unnecessary for our daily living”.

Think about it. We are bombarded daily with advertisements that infuse in us the urge to buy the latest gadget, even though we can live perfectly without them. This is a tactic that manufacturers and retailers use to exploit the ‘weak’ and undiscerning amongst. But we pay a heavy price – I am not only referring to the price paid for the products, but the ‘price’ paid, unwittingly or not, by all of us in terms of environmental harm. To preserve the environment that we all share, we cannot depend only on Burn or Bury – but we have to develop best practices in waste disposal with true passion to bring about any real significant change in the world we live in.

I will end this short article with my recollection of a yesteryear practice in Singapore – my family will dispose of our food waste in a bin placed in front of our flat, which will be collected on alternate days. The bin has to be tightly covered, otherwise the foul smell emitted, needless to say, will be unbearable. And what do we get for doing this? A few dozens of chicken eggs! How I wish the good old days would visit upon us again – but wait with the onset of avian flu, hand, food and mouth disease, etc, it may not, after all, be such a pleasant visit. Hmmm, makes me ponder what have we done to ourselves…

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By “Miss Green” Jill Yong

AN INTERVIEW WITH MR JACK SIMTHE TOILET AFICIONADO:

Jack Sim is Singapore’s first Social Entrepreneur of the Year. The 49 year old father of four, who was dubbed “Crusader for better loos” by The Straits Times, is the founder of the World Toilet Organisation. He is also the president of the Restroom Associat ion of Singapore (RAS), which promotes clean toilets and better toilet designs by doling out star ratings to toilets which have met certain

criteria. Jack’s latest projects include building water sanitation facilities at the tsunami-ruined Banda Aceh. In Singapore, he recently helped push for a revised code of practice for environmental health, which now requires all new buildings to have as many, if not more, toilets for women as for men.

Reporter: Hello Jack, before we begin with the interview, let us here at ECO congratulate you on winning the prestigious title of Social Entrepreneur of the Year 2006 by the Schwab Foundation. It must have been inspiring and encouraging to be the first recipient of this award. So tell us, how do you feel about achieving this honour?

Jack: The award gives legitimacy to our work in pushing for better toilet standards and this award is its greatest contribution. The award also gives permission to people to feel that toilets are not a taboo topic and I truly believe that, eventually, it will not be taboo to discuss toilets anywhere.

Why don’t you tell us a little about what your organization does?WTO is 6 years old now. We unite the world on the subject of toilets both on urban and rural issues. We also dabble with urban slums toilet issues. G loba l l y , we have 50 member toilet organizations, many of which are also

government agencies.

WTO aims to share knowledge, resources and expertise on all issues pertaining to toilets with the rest of the world. World Toilet Summits have been held in Singapore, Seoul, Taipeh, Beijing, Belfast, Shanghai, and WTO will be meeting our counterparts in Bangkok

and Moscow this year. In addition,

WTO has started various programmes to build capacity in Ecological Sanitation (ECOSAN) in Sri Lanka, Aceh and East Timor, and I predict that the World Toilet College (WTC) is the next big thing for WTO.

What are some limitations that face groups like WTO in achieving the goal of proper water sanitation for the world?The Millennium Development Goals (MDG) for Sanitation targets to reduce the number of people without access to clean water and proper water sanitation facilities from 2.6 billion currently by half to 1.2 billion by 2015. However, the current capacity for ECOSAN is very limited in achieving this target. The only solution, in my opinion, will be to develop a viral “pyramid” training method, where graduates of the WTC share their expertise with trainees in a pay-it-forward manner. This geometrical progression will lead to mass coverage and rapid capacity building. We must expect a mixture of failures and successes in this programme but eventually, the momentum will have a life of its own and become unstoppable, and only then can we attain the target set by the MDG.

I understand that you have just returned from Banda Aceh. What were you doing there?We surveyed the grounds, met many water sanitation experts from various NGOs and UN agencies. BRR (the official tsunami rehabilitation authority) and many NGOs are now requesting for the training and expertise of our organisation. We also intend to build a series of public toilets in mosques, schools, community halls, etc.

What do you hope to achieve in, say, ten years? In ten years, I hope that ECOSAN will become a widespread design philosophy for all sanitation projects; WTO will have full global representation in all countries; and most importantly, people will acknowledge the importance of toilets and discard the stigma or taboo attached to the topic of toilets.

I also hope that the World Toilet College will become a strong engine for humanity by sharing toilet management know-how… perhaps, even by implementing a Degree programme. Perhaps in the future, someone more resourceful may take over WTO and bring it to a much higher level than I did.

Well, ECO thinks that you have done a marvelous job with WTO! With your expertise, could you informally rank Singapore’s toilets and water sanitation facilities?Singapore has the reputation of a Clean and Green Garden city. The people of Singapore are more law-abiding than that of many countries. On hindsight, it is possible for Singapore to be the first country in the world with completely clean toilets, something which is unprecedented.


However, we should also note that some toilets in coffee shops and other public areas where toilets are still extremely unhygienic and dirty. To reform that will take some 10, 15 years. But it definitely can be done. We hope that, subsequently, other countries will follow suit. Toilets are the competitive edge of a nation. All enlightened governments should realize that.

Now, let’s take things a little more to a personal level. Many associate toilets with filth, and generally the “toilet” is a taboo subject which is best left not talked about. We are all interested to know, why did you choose this occupation?It is such a joy for me to discover a cause so close to the human life that has been neglected for thousands of years. Therefore, precisely because of its taboo nature and how work has yet to be done, and how it is important that someone do something about it, I decided to choose this occupation. Things can only get better, never worse. To touch the world in my own little way certainly motivates me.

Can you tell us how your family members react to your unusual and somewhat esoteric choice of job?(laughs) The truth be told, my wife loves me like a son and is extremely supportive of my job. However, it must

be said that she isn’t into the nuances of the occupation. My children are not of age to feel the sensitivity of the toilet issue, and thus they love the exciting nature of my job.

My mother and siblings are all proud of me, and want me to be happy and satisfied, regardless of whichever career path I choose. As for my friends, many of them started out teasing me about dealing with toilets, but now – they have all eaten their words.

My business compatriots all suspected that I was into this only for financial reasons, or maybe to thrust myself into the limelight. They jokingly suspected that I wanted to become a Minister of some sort. Even till today, some critics still doubt my sincerity, and question if I am in this for fame.

Any last words for our readers? The greatest fear I possess is to live a useless life. An average Singaporean male lives till he is 77.6 years. If this piece of statistic holds true, I will expire at 2034. Even if I don’t spend the time meaningfully, I will still expire on 2034.

That’s too philosophical!

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Timber company with a heart of goldLHT Holdings Limited is a company in the timber industry with a difference — it is a recycling company with a heart for the environment. Located at 27 Sungei Kadut Street 1, the company’s operations centre on recycling of wood waste into usable products — technical wood as it is known in the industry. It collects wood pallets used for packing and transport from all over the world, which would otherwise have been thrown away, and grants them a new lease of life. Far from a militaristic approach of rigorously recycling products, LHT Holdings is more concerned with environmental friendliness as a whole. Therefore, despite ostensibly being a recycling company, LHT does take into accounts the other two tenets of the green triangle — reuse and reduce. An example of this can be seen in the most preliminary of their recycling practices; upon receiving the discarded wood pallets, LHT will first sort them to see which can be salvaged — REUSE. The processing of unusable wood pallets produces waste like sawdust which, instead of being thrown away, is used as fuel to drive other parts of the recycling process on the wood fibres, in order to reduce waste production — REDUCE. Lastly, and perhaps most obviously of all, LHT recycles otherwise unwanted wood waste.

LHT’s environmental friendliness is seen in its entire work process — even the thermostats in its meeting rooms are taped with the reminder to set temperature at 24 degrees Celcius so as to avoid unnecessary power consumption. Furthermore, what is perhaps even more striking is the fact that LHT does not mind sacrificing monetary profit for the benefit of the environment at large — as marketing manager Mr Terence Chuah told us, even additional capital expenditure is justified so long as the

By Yvonne Poon, “Lizard” Tan Jia Ni & “Titun” Lee Xi Xun

THE COMPANY THAT MADE A DIFFERENCE TO OUR ENVIRONMENT:

company avoids the “solve one problem, create another” cycle in which so many inevitably find themselves. This philosophy can be seen in the use of sawdust to power the processing of the waste wood fibres; a project which costs a considerable sum. Mr Chuah, however, feels that this is a justifiable and perfectly reasonable course of action, as LHT’s target is to recycle in all aspects. Easygoing and eminently approachable, Mr Chuah answered our questions with a ready sincerity and sound grasp of the various aspects involved in his work. He gave us a clearer understanding of exactly how LHT Holdings functions and how the National Environment Agency (NEA) and Singapore Environment Council (SEC) saw fit to commend its admirable efforts to stay eco-friendly in all aspects of its labour by awarding LHT the SEC-Senoko Power Green Innovations Award in 2005.

Recipient of the SEC Snoko Power Green Innovation AwardTo provide some background of the award, in 2005, SEC formed a partnership with the Experiment, Commercialise, & Innovate in a Test-Bed Experience (EXCITE) programme, launched by the Jurong Town Corporation (JTC) and Economic Development Board (EDB). The EXCITE programme welcomes individuals and companies to test-bed, showcase and commercialise ideas and innovations in the areas of Connectivity, Energy, Lifestyle and Mobility. SEC enhances its relationship with EXCITE by highlighting and awarding environment-friendly innovations.

As part of the EXCITE programme, the SEC-Senoko Power Green Innovations Award is established with the aim to encourage companies and individuals to create or improve upon products that are innovative and eco-friendly. This award is only given to products that have successfully passed the stringent assessment of EXCITE.

Doors made of technical wood

LHT Holdings Limited

AN INTERVIEW WITH LHT

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LHT is the winner of the 2005 SEC Senoko Power Green Innovation Award, for its development of a series of recycled wood products, including flooring and door systems, using environmentally-friendly “Technical Wood” as core materials under the brand Greenflo. Its products have been used in places such as Novotel Apollo, Warren Golf & Country Club, and various restaurants and boutiques at major shopping malls including Plaza Singapura, Great World City, Wisma Atria, and Petronas Twin Towers. Since the invention, LHT has recycled 15,000 tonnes of waste wood and produced 14,000 m³ of Technical Wood annually. The project has saved approximately 25,000 trees and money otherwise spent on importing raw materials and disposing of waste wood.

The commitment that LHT has shown towards the care of the environment is certainly remarkable and commendable. Winning the award was not all luck. LHT has put in a lot hard work to maintain its civic responsibility to the environment.

The Environmental Friendly Process of Production (Recycling of Waste Wood)

Waste Wood ConsolidationVarious types of waste woods are collected from different industries.

Shredding and StorageDifferent sizes of waste wood are shredded into wood chip and stored for further processing.

Environmental Friendly Step!Random flying sawdust is sucked into a machine, which then sends it to the incinerator to be used as fuel to generate electricity.

DryingAfter metal objects are separated from the wood, moisture within the wood chips is removed by means of a drying and a suction fan, powered by burning of the sawdust.

Final ProductThe wood chips are mixed with glue and molded into the final product — LHT Technical Wood. Steaming is conducted to make the product resistant to pests and fungi.

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By Yvonne Poon & “Lizard” Tan Jia Ni

INTERVIEW WITH MR TERENCE CHUAH, MARKETING MANAGER OF LHT HOLDINGS LIMITED

How did you go about saving energy in the company? Well, the company fully utilizes the byproducts of the recycling process, using sawdust as fuel for the pressing machine. The sawdust created by the shredding of waste wood is sucked up by machines which then send it to be burnt.

Is it cost effective for the company to be environmental friendly? It is costly to set up the machines required initially, with the entire project costing around 12 million. However, in the long run, the outlay would be partially justified. The target here is to have a holistic approach towards recycling — not merely shortsighted recycling of wood. To recycle waste wood, sawdust formed as a byproduct would cause air pollution. It would not do to end up creating more waste even as we are trying to reduce waste itself. Hence, the solution would be to reuse that waste sawdust as fuel. As for the cost of our final product, technical wood, it is similar to that of virgin timber from plantation trees that take around 7 to 8 years to mature, and is therefore able to compete effectively. For comparison with older trees around 50 years of age which produce high-density wood, technical wood would prove to be much cheaper, around 20% of the former’s cost. Hence, I would say that it is cost effective for the company to be environmental friendly — although injection of capital is necessary; the outcome is a desirable one.

What do you think was the most difficult part of conservation in your company?I must say that it is the sorting of rubbish into recyclable and non-recyclable piles. A lot of logistics are involved and also, many people put the wrong things into recycling cans — many of which cannot be recycled. There is a need for Singaporeans to be educated in this area.

Why does your company still use virgin timber in the manufacture of goods when there is the strong alternative of technical wood?Virgin timber will be used to make parts of industrial packing. However, the main goal here is to reduce the dependence on virgin timber. For example, a product could be made of 80% technical wood and 20% virgin timber. The wood chips shredded from waste wood are only 2-3 cm long per fibre and so they are too short to create long viable wood lengths or recycled timber. Hence, virgin timber is used to maintain the length of the wood planks. Besides, virgin timber has a beautiful natural wood grain unlike the uniform pattern of technical wood, so it is employed for cosmetic purposes. For example, the inside of a wooden plank could be made of technical wood with the outside finished with natural wood. Actually, any form of recycled wood is actually wood fibre obtained from waste wood which is in turn obtained from virgin timber.

Looking from a broader perspective, what do you think is the most pressing environmental problem faced by Singapore?I f e e l t h a t t h e m o s t pressing environmental problem here today is that the loop of recycling is not continued. Yes, things are

recycled — but we do not have people eager to use recycled products! We got to encourage people to buy recycled, use recycled and ultimately recycle recycled, in order to be in the loop of recycling. Right now, people are recycling, but they are not buying recycled products. Consumers are buying products made of new materials and recycling them. instead

What do you think is the best way to address that problem?The Green Label is a good idea coined to encourage people to be more environmentally conscious or friendly. Perhaps, there could be future provision of incentives to encourage use of goods made of recycled materials.

Floorings made from technical wood

Mr Terence Chuah

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CapsuleKnowledgeWhere does our disposed waste go?In Singapore, about 90% of its waste is incinerated and the remaining non-incinerable waste goes to land fills. Currently, we have five incineration plants in Singapore at Ulu Pandan, Senoko, Tuas, Tuas South and Pulau Semakau, the last being Singapore’s only offshore landfill. Ironically, Tuas South Incineration Plant is one of the largest in the world, despite our “puny” land area. Isn’t it amazing how a small country like Singapore would need such an enormous incineration plant? The former landfill grounds Tampines Dumping Ground, Choa Chu Kang Dumping Ground, Kok Sek Lin Dumping Ground, Lim Chu Kang Dumping as well as the Lorong Halus Dumping Ground have far outgrown their capabilities to contain non-incinerable waste. Hence, we have to barge our non-incinerable waste and incineration ash to Pulau Semakau via the Tuas Marine Transfer Station everyday. (Source: http://app.nea.gov.sg/cms/htdocs/article.asp?pid=1459#1)

How much waste is disposed of everyday?We disposed of 13,939 tonnes of waste in 2005 each day; that is the equivalent of 2,323 African male elephants! According to data and statistics taken from the National Environment Agency of Singapore, only 49% are recycled.

Data and Statistics Waste Statistics and Recycling Rate

Includes 23,000 tonnes used as fuel in cogen plant(Source: http://app.nea.gov.sg/cms/htdocs/article.asp?pid=2706 )

Considering the vast amount of waste we conveniently get rid of everyday, it makes us wonder how much land will be available in 10 years’ time.

Waste Statistics and Recycling Rate for 2005Waste Type Waste

Disposed of (tonne)

Total Waste Recycled

(tonne)

Total Waste Output (tonne)

Recycling Rate (%)

Food waste 495,000 36,500 531,500 7Paper/Cardboard 558,100 540,500 1,098,600 49Plastics 588,800 86,100 674,800 13Construction Debris 27,200 465,300 492,000 94

Wood/Timber* 149,300 90,000 239,300 38Horticultural* Waste 98,500 101,000 199,500 51

Ferrous Metals 69,200 749,100 818,300 92Non-ferrous Metals 14,700 74,700 89,400 84

Used Slag 83,500 298,900 382,400 78Sludge 98,300 - 98,300 -Glass 58,800 3,800 62,600 6Textile/Leather 85,000 4000 89,000 4Scrap Tyres 6,000 10,800 16,800 64Others (stones, ceramics & rubber 216,400 8,800 225,200 4

Total: 2,548,800 2,469,400 5,018,200 49

What happens if waste is not disposed of properly?Singapore has a relatively good waste disposal strategy but, if garbage disposal were not handled properly, toxins and other poisonous chemicals like mercury and lead will be emitted into the air we breathe everyday. These toxins are potent enough to cripple our respiratory system if inhaled in large quantities. Likewise, waste also creates harmful effects to our environment, polluting our clean and green city. In mixed or inseparable waste, including kitchen and garden refuse, there is a diverse range of other materials, some of which are potentially hazardous. For instance, batteries from watches or handphones may contain heavy metals like mercury, nickel, cadmium, etc. Therefore, every individual should protect our environment by minimizing waste. We can play our part by recycling, reusing and reducing waste. For instance, using recycling paper can reduces air pollution by 74% and water pollution by 35%. Each ton of paper recycled could also save 17 small trees. I’m sure none of us would like to have our “clean and green” tag changed to “dirty and black” Singapore. Source: http://app.nea.gov.sg/cms/htdocs/article.asp?pid=1459#1, http://www.naturegrid.org.uk/rivers/gt%20stour%20case%20study-pages/plln-lfll.html

By Dumb + Dumber

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What can we do to help minimize waste? We have to admit it, how many non-biodegradable plastic bags we use each day? Many times, I hear customers yelling at cashiers in the supermarkets for not separating their purchases and for placing all their purchases in one bag. Does it matter if you have bath soap in the same bag as cornflakes? They are all properly packaged in their individual containers! Below is the key to the 3Rs Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle:

REDUCE· Say NO to over-packaging, double wrapping or to excess bags.

· Say no to plastic bags - keep plastic or cloth bags in the car.

· Buy products that have the ‘Environmental Choice’ label.

· Only buy what you need.

REUSE

· Reuse scrap paper and envelopes.

· Use rechargeable batteries.

· Use lunchboxes, paper wrap or paper bags for lunches. Paper wrap/ bags can be composted after use.

· Buy products that are designed to be used for multiple times (eg. coffee cup or cloth napkins)

· Buy high quality, long lasting products that can be repaired, rather than cheap disposable ones.

· Reuse plastic bags.

RECYCLE

· Separate your waste and recycle paper, plastic, cans and glass.

· Buy products that are recyclable or made from a recycled material.

· Sell or donate items such as clothing, household goods, furniture, left over paint to second hand shops, garage sales, school fairs, community groups, schools/ kindergartens instead of throwing them out.

· Borrow, rent or share items - like magazines and newspapers - with friends and neighbours.

· Buy recycled oil - ask about oil recycling at your local garage.

· Use recyclable containers instead of plastic wrap for freezing food.

Likewise, you can make a difference at work by making efforts to:

· Reuse any scrap paper or old envelopes for writing notes

· Keep a box by each desk and photocopier to collect used paper - you can store more by keeping it flat rather than screwing it up

· Reduce the amount of paper you use by sending documents electronically, store/ retrieve information on your computer file and if you have to print, do it on double-sided printer.

· Use refillable pens.

· Bring your own mug and ask the canteen if they can use reusable cutlery and crockery rather than paper or Styrofoam cups. Coffee tastes much better from a real mug!Source: http://www.zerowaste.co.nz/default,361.sm

Location of Incineration plant

Year Construction Cost Capacity (Tonnes/Day)

Ulu Pandan 1979 $130 million 1,100 Tuas 1986 $200 million 1,700 Senoko 1992 $560 million 2,400 Tuas South 2000 $900 million 3,000

How much does it cost to build waste disposal facilities?It is expensive to construct, operate and maintain incineration plants and landfills. The plant at Tuas South cost about $900 million. Moreover, some $610 million was also spent to construct the landfill at Pulau Semakau.

Table 1: Construction Costs of Incineration Plants

(Source: http://app.nea.gov.sg/cms/htdocs/article.asp?pid=1459#1 )

Just imagine paying billions for a huge rubbish bin. The huge amount of money is spent on huge rubbish trucks that make us cover our nose every time they pass by us. Wouldn’t you rather have such money spent on building houses and institutions instead? Not only does it cost dearly in financial terms, it is extremely expensive for land-scarce Singapore to “squeeze” some land for incineration plants and landfills. Think of the opportunity costs.

Pictures taken from http://www.rsi.sg/english/assignment/view/2004111010148/1/.html

Refuse Collection Vehicles unloading the refuse into the bunkers at the reception hall

Refuse in the bunker being fed by refuse cranes into the incinerator

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Volunteering Opportunities at ECO:We are looking for volunteers to become a part of our team in the following positions;Volunteer Marketing OfficersVolunteer Human Resource OfficersVolunteer Liaison OfficersVolunteer Staff WritersVolunteer Forum CoordinatorsVolunteer AdministratorVolunteer Web Designers

Visit our website to find out more about us, and be sure to come down for our induction program before you start your volunteer journey with us at “Buzz the Bus”. This induction program is conducted monthly! The aim of this program is to align both our expectations of each other and be able to have a better experience together.

Drop us an email at [email protected]

Environmental Events/Activities Coverage:We are starting to cover local environmental activities in our publication so that more people can participate. If you have an event, please contact us one week in advance so we can try to schedule our volunteer journalists to cover it. Should you have your own write up, please feel free to email us for editorial arrangements.

The publication team can be contacted at [email protected]

Knowledge Capsule:This column covers environmental issues in a “question & answer” format. Readers that write in can choose to disclose their names or stay anonymous. We will provide and include any pictures or illustrations if possible to make the column more informative. We will use “layman” instead of technical terms for readers to understand specific environmental issues better. If needed, we will include explanations for technical terms used. We will use games and interactive approaches to aid readers in remembering and understanding the issues raised in the questions.

Drop your questions and feedback to [email protected]


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ECO EXPRESS! 03

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