By Anil Mathews (ScrapMonster Author)
August 30, 2016 10:14:09 PM
BEIJING (Scrap Monster): Singapore-headquartered CapitaLand-one of Asia’s largest real estate companies, has announced its decision to expand electronic waste collection and recycling initiative across its malls and offices. This follows the success of the pilot programme launched earlier in 2014. CapitaLand is a pioneer in waste-recycling efforts, already offering recycling bins for paper, metal and plastic in all its Singapore properties.
According to CapitaLand, the program will be launched in 10 shopping malls in Singapore, where recycling bins will be placed to promote e-waste recycling among shoppers. Also, it will organize e-waste collection drive in eight of its office premises to ensure participation by tenants. The collection drive, in partnership with StarHub, will run from this month through December 2016 at Capital Tower, CapitaGreen, Six Battery Road, One George Street, Raffles City Tower, Twenty Anson, HSBC Building and Wilkie Edge office properties. The event will allow office staff to conveniently and safely dispose of their personal and corporate e-waste.
It must be noted that CapitaLand had initially launched a pilot programme for e-waste collection and recycling at Funan DigitaLife Mall in May 2014. According to estimates, the programme has successfully collected nearly 32 tonnes of e-waste during the two-years period that ended in June 2016. The enormous success of the programme has prompted the company to expand the initiative to malls and offices.
Tan Seng Chai, CapitaLand's group chief corporate officer and chairman of its sustainability steering committee noted that it has decided to expand e-waste recycling efforts due to serious environmental and health concerns caused by improperly handled e-waste. He assured that CapitaLand’s association with established recyclers will ensure that all collected items are properly dismantled. All recyclable materials will be extracted for future use. Also, unrecyclable materials will be disposed of in a controlled environment, added Tang Seng Chai.
Meantime, Ong Soo San, Director of the Waste and Resource Management Department at Singapore’s National Environment Agency (NEA) stated that the e-waste volume is likely to multiply with new models of electrical and electronics devices soon replacing the existing ones. The reuse of serviceable items by selling them to secondhand traders will help to conserve resources and reduce waste. Consumers must pledge to dispose of items that cannot be reused into recycling bins as the ones provided by CapitaLand, said Soo San.
According to 2015 Sustainability Report, more than 3,800 tonnes of recyclable waste was collected from 96 properties in 16 countries. It also achieved more than 50% reduction in paper usage per employee when compared with 2009. During the year, nearly 11 tonnes of used paper were collected from CapitaLand corporate offices for recycling. In addition, the company has set long term targets to reduce carbon emissions intensity by 23% by 2020, reduce energy intensity and water usage by 20% each by 2020.
About CapitaLand
CapitaLand is a real estate company headquartered and listed in Singapore. Its diversified global real estate portfolio includes integrated developments, shopping malls, serviced residences, offices and homes. CapitaLand also has one of the largest real estate fund management businesses with assets located in Asia.
