Annual spring-cleaning (de-cluttering and deep-cleaning our homes) is a chore that many dread. This is the time of year when our trash chutes see the most action, but it’s time to change that.

While many items have outlived their usefulness to you and your family, there are many families and charities around the island that would love to receive your items. Moreover, many items that we are too quick to throw away can now be recycled in new recycling programmes that are sprouting up around us.

Below are a few of the charities that are in need of our used goods, new(ish) recycling programmes, and a great online site that helps people find a new home for almost anything.

1. The Salvation Army

This charity has been in Singapore since 1935 and their programmes help children, families and the elderly in need. They accept items that are in good condition and then sell them in their retail shops to raise money for their various programmes. You can drop off clothing, furniture, household goods, electronics, toys and books to a number of locations around the island. If you would like to donate large items that are in good condition, they will even come and pick them up from you, but please consider the (optional) donation of SGD$60 to cover their costs.

2. HOME (Humanitarian Organization Of Migration Economics)

This organisation works to help migrant workers in Singapore, some of whom have been victims of human trafficking or forced labour. You can donate household items, such as food (rice, cooking oil, condiments, coffee, etc.), cleaning products, laundry detergent, and towels and toiletries to help migrant workers living in the HOME shelters. They also run HOME Academy, which provides vocational skills courses for migrant domestic workers. HOME is always looking for items that can be used during training, such as computers, healthcare equipment and household appliances.

3. Funan Digitalife Mall Waste Programme

If you are like me and have that one junk drawer in your home that is filled with old cell phones, out-dated point-and-shoot cameras, and a massive ball of old electric cords, then this is the recycling programme you have been waiting for! The Funan Digitalife Mall e-waste (e-waste stands for electrical and electronic waste) programme accepts everything from electric cords to laptops. All you have to do is drop off your items to the customer service counter on Level 1. I stopped by to ask them more about their programme and they confirmed that they also accept single use batteries (the stack of AAA batteries that power your air-con remote, etc.). I’ve spent the greater part of four years trying to find a battery-recycling programme in Singapore, so this was a huge score and, yes, there was a bit of a happy dance!

4. The Renew Programme

If Funan Digitalife Mall isn’t a regular destination for you, maybe the RENEW (REcycling Nation’s Electronic Waste) programme will be a better fit. The programme is sponsored by Starhub, TES-AMM (an e-waste recycling company) and DHL, who handle the logistics of collecting the e-waste. You can recycle almost any electronic item with this programme and you don’t have to be a Starhub customer to participate. The only catch is that your items must fit through the bin’s slot, which is 470mm by 120mm. The great news is that there are currently 234 RENEW bins in 180 locations around the island. Check out Starhub’s website to find out more about the programme and look under “List of RENEW Bin Sites” to find a drop off point near you.

For other e-waste programmes in Singapore, check out the NEA’s list of e-waste recycling programs on their website. There is even a programme that accepts used ink and toner cartridges called “Project Homecoming”.

5. Sgfreecycle

Sgfreecycle is a great example of how social media can help us be environmentally-savvy. This is a Facebook group where you can give almost anything away for free. I’ve even seen stacks of old magazines, mooncake boxes and shoelaces find new homes. There are also generous families giving away electronics, beautiful furniture and many more fantastic items. It’s a non-profit site that is all about ‘re-use’ and no item is too big or too small. All items must be free and most items are marked as “self-collect”.

Give your trash chutes a rest and donate your goods to people in need, or add some green to your life and recycle.

<sub>This post was originally published on My Pure Earth Blog and has been reposted on Executive Lifestyle with the permission of the author.
Edited by Nedda Chaplin
Image credit: mother teaching her little boy about the importance of recycling from Shutterstock
Sources:
http://www.salvationarmy.org/singapore/dik_fts
http://www.home.org.sg/donate/
2016. http://www.nea.gov.sg/docs/default-source/energy-waste/recycling/funan-e-waste-recycling-poster.pdf.
"E-Waste Recycling". 2016. Nea.Gov.Sg. http://www.nea.gov.sg/energy-waste/3rs/e-waste-lamp-battery-recycling/e-waste-recycling.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/sgfreecycle</sub>

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