Spring Cleaning

Spring Cleaning in Singapore

Where to donate all your old stuff

Written by Helena A. Cochrane

Chinese New Year and Clean-up

As I write this, Chinese New Year fervor is building here in Singapore, and this year, the period between January first and the Lunar New Year is a hefty six weeks. After carving all our resolutions for 2021 in stone, we have a long stretch to commit to making the world a better place and making room for the prosperity, health and longevity that the Year of the Ox can bring us. In 2021 in particular, since we spent so much of the last ten months indoors, and many of us have dim hopes of traveling anywhere any time soon, we can turn inward and make our homes the bright clean havens that they need to be now more than ever. We have clothing, furniture, books and electronics that don’t serve us any longer, and we want them out of the house. But perhaps they can help someone else. We would not have to look far to find people in need of the things that we’ve stopped wanting. And even more, we can form part of the closed recycling loop by donating goods instead of tossing them. In Singapore, many organizations, and some businesses, accept donations of items in good condition. Do note though, that the items you donate must be clean, free of mold, and properly bagged or boxed in order for you to be able to donate. According to the HoneyKids Web platform, it’s important to think before you donate: Donate meaningfully. Learn the mission of an organization, and tailor your donations to it. Donate appropriately. Before you give your things away, consider whether you would purchase them at a second-hand store. The donation center may have to throw away items that are torn, stained or unrepairable. The cost of disposing masses of unusable donated goods is a serious financial burden for these centers. Donate efficiently. Help make the volunteers’ jobs easier by taking a few extra minutes to organize and pack things in groups that go together. The following is a quick reference to help get your organizing under way.

Greensquare

Co. provides a free textile collection service. Consult their Website www. greensquare. com.sg to make arrangements.

H & M Group Sustainability Effort accepts donations of clean, unwanted clothing of any brand at any H & M store in Singapore. They partner with I:CO to process items that are wearable, and to create new textiles from those that are not. www.hmgroup.com Uniqlo stores in Singapore accept donations of clean, used Uniqlo clothing to be processed or repurposed. www.uniqlo.com/en/re-uniqlo Junk To Clear is a company that takes your goods off your hands for a fee, in case you need a hand to dispatch quickly with the contents of your home. 6749 2306 junktoclear.com.sg NEA E-Waste Management explains “Most electronic or electrical items, including PCs, laptops, mobile phones, electric desk fans, radios, kettles, electric irons, etc.” can be disposed of at several sites listed on the NEA Website. Salvation Army is a robust organization here in Singapore. You may drop off clothing, furniture, electronics, and books, at their Donate-in-Kind centers located around the island, or arrange for a pickup. www.salvationarmy.org Dignity Mama Stall operates from four hospitals in Singapore. They have been overwhelmed since

COVID-19 hit, with donations of books, though they expect to resume collection of books in March of 2021. dignitymama.sg | 8189 7678 Be sure to follow up with your chosen foundation or company, to make sure they are able to accept your donation. Ministry of Health Singapore Phase 3 reopening guidelines may be updated to reflect a dynamic situation.

Since moving from Philadelphia in 2018, Helena has been active with AWA's Walking with Women, Writers' Group and International Choir as well as with Urban Sketchers of Singapore.