Kent Ridge Hall, one of the 6 Halls of Residences from the National University of Singapore, has implemented measures to gradually reduce, and later completely remove the use of Styrofoam boxes. It was a tough decision, but we went ahead with it nonetheless. Now, we can proudly claim that Kent Ridge Hall is Styrofoam-free, and is still taking active steps to conserve our environment.
One can often see disposable plastic containers and Styrofoam boxes used for takeaways in food outlets around us. Without any doubt, such disposables have brought us a great deal of convenience. But have you ever stopped to wonder about the amount of waste and damage that they generate?
In October last year, Kent Ridge Hall decided to take steps to curb this wasteful habit. Our Environment Committee held a Bring Your Own Container campaign, inspired by the Bring Your Own Bag campaign in supermarkets. It was aimed at encouraging residents to bring their own reusable and washable containers when they pack their hall meals from the dining hall, thus reducing the use of Styrofoam boxes.
Styrofoam boxes were banned on Tuesdays of the week, and residents who had to pack their meals brought their own reusable containers. The Environment Committee also sold reusable containers at cost price so as to make such containers easily available. Together with the implementation of a ten cent charge for each Styrofoam box, the campaign was successful in reducing the number of Styrofoam boxes used daily.
Then in March 2009, we phased out the use of Styrofoam boxes completely and made it mandatory for residents to pack meals using their own reusable food containers. Kent Ridge Hall is the first Hall of Residence to have taken such a step to conserve the environment and this was in response to the University’s call to combat climate change. Such a move was difficult as it brought about a certain degree of inconvenience. The unpopular decision faced some negative responses from residents. Yet, the hall management was firm in its decision, and it was indeed a move in the right direction. The hall gave each of the 500 Kent Ridgeans a reusable container each, to ease them into life without Styrofoam. Currently, residents are growing accustomed to this more environmentally friendly lifestyle. From an estimated 150 Styrofoam boxes used daily in the past, to none at all, I must say that this is indeed a big step we have taken in our bid to do our part for the environment. |
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Uncle Ah Seng encourages students to bring their own reusable containers, and uses HealthyPack Microwave Packaging if they request to takeaway. |
Even our supper stall has completely stopped using Styrofoam boxes. We have recently introduced the use of HealthyPack from M/s Microwave Packaging (S) Pte Ltd, which won the Singapore Environmental Achievement Award, if there is indeed a need for takeaway.
Styrofoam is non-biodegradable, takes 900 years to breakdown, creates toxic wastes and damages our ozone layer. Yet, the decision to remove Styrofoam is not a purely environmental one. Harmful compounds may migrate from Styrofoam packaging into food, which accumulate in our bodies and attack tissues and our nervous systems.
In addition to the above, our Environment Committee also held an inter-block competition, with the 5 blocks judged on the amount of energy consumption, number of drink cans recycled, and results of random spot checks to ensure that unused appliances were switched off. We received support from the hall management, which kindly sponsored the cash prizes for the winning blocks.
Kent Ridge Hall couldn’t have implemented all the above without a supportive hall management, enthusiastic student environmentalists, and responsive residents. We all know that there is a need to start conserving the environment, and we have to start somewhere. By incorporating little changes into our daily lives, we can all make a difference. We just need to take the first step.
