Free home recycling box ‘Bloobox’ available for collection from Mar 19

Every household in Singapore will be able to collect a free home recycling box, known as a Bloobox, from vending machines located islandwide from Sunday (Mar 19), 9am until Apr 30.

Vending machines have been deployed at more than 140 locations across Singapore in places such as Community Clubs, selected bus interchanges and other common spaces.

A pilot phase was run in late 2022 and included five constituencies – Fengshan, Sembawang West, Tampines North, Yio Chu Kang, Tampines North and Yuhua. 

Collection can be made by scanning the barcode of a Singapore-issued identification document, such as NRIC, FIN card or SingPass Digital NRIC. Alternatively, residents may also key in their NRIC or FIN number at the vending machines.

This is part of the National Environment Agency (NEA)’s efforts to encourage the habit of recycling at home. The initiative also forms part of the national Recycle Right campaign, which aims to help households recycle right and reduce the contamination rate in the blue recycling bins (40 per cent).

Designed in collaboration with a team of students from the Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT), the Bloobox is foldable and can hold up to 5kg of paper, plastic, metal or glass recyclables, or e-waste. The Bloobox can be washed and reused.

The Bloobox has instructions printed on it to help households identify what can and cannotbe recycled. For example, it explains that paper, metal, plastic, and glass can be recycled. However, Styrofoam and food-stained items should not be recycled. Food or liquids should also not be placed in the Bloobox.

Additionally, there is a removable divider, for users to create a separate compartment for small e-waste items. When the Bloobox is full, the recyclables can be placed in either a blue recycling bin or recycling chute.

Deputy CEO of NEA, Mr Ram Bhaskar, said that for Singapore to achieve our national target of a 70 per cent overall recycling rate by 2030, everyone needs to get into the habit of recycling.

“We should also recycle right so that we do not contaminate the recyclables and unwittingly undermine our recycling efforts. Each of us has a part to play to reduce waste and, together, we can make a difference.”

Before collecting the Bloobox, households are encouraged to check the locations of the nearest vending machines and stock levels. Members of the public may contact NEA for assistance.