Still Have Ang Baos Lying Around? Drop Them at These Recycling Bins

This year has allowed us to meet more of our relatives for the Lunar New Year, thanks to the further relaxation of COVID-19-related border measures around the world. It has been a long three years, but we’re glad it became possible again.

This celebration, though, also meant that giving red packets (or “ang baos”) has come back in full swing. While the notes we had to put in is a separate discussion, one thing that we have to be concerned about is what we’re going to do with all those used packets. It seems like a waste to just throw them away, right?

Whether you have used ones lying around or extras you weren’t able to use, it’s best to not throw them away like regular trash and donate them instead. Red packets may be challenging to recycle because of their materials, such as the ink and gold stamping, but there’s an initiative that can recycle and give them a new life.

Singapore electricity provider Geneco is bringing back its ang bao recycling programme for a third year. The company has partnered with 30 retail and office locations to place recycling bins where the public can drop their used red packets until March 31. Dubbed as “Green for Prosperity,” the initiative can be found at CRU, IUIGA, REFASH, OTO, and Wisma Atria Shopping Centre. You can also visit the Geneco office at Alexandra Road. See the complete list of participating locations here.

All red packets will be sent to Tay Paper Recycling where they’ll be recycled into paper products, such as boxes and toilet papers. Last year, Geneco collected more than one kilo of used red packets.