Curtain Falls on the Iconic Tzu Chi Eco-Awareness Centre

Disclaimer: All activities depicted in this article were conducted in compliance with the COVID-19 restrictions at that point in time.

Tzu Chi volunteers posing for a photo at the Centre’s entrance. (Photo by Li Fumin)

Officially inaugurated in 2014, the Tzu Chi Eco-Awareness Centre has been a cornerstone of the organisation’s environmental mission since it first opened. As Singapore’s only eco-point which operates six days a week, it has helped to bring about a paradigm shift in the public’s perception of waste disposal over the years.

Demarcated into two main areas, the Centre consists of the exhibition and recyclables sorting zones. Upon stepping through the doors, one would be able to witness the multiple eye-catching exhibitions situated alongside several metal cages and containers meant for the sorting of different recyclables.

In the exhibition zone, there are numerous informative posters and interactive features available for the public’s viewing. Having undergone a major revamp in 2018, the Centre has been able to offer an engaging and immersive experience for both the old and young. In particular, it has helped drive many youths towards visiting the Centre over the years, including members from Youth Corps Singapore as well as various other schools.   

As for the recyclables sorting zone, volunteers of various age groups, including several silver-haired senior citizens, can often be seen meticulously sorting through the recyclables. It is no mean feat, given that there are often hordes of recyclables transported from all over the island to the Centre. But these volunteers never seem daunted and can be considered recycling experts in their own rights.

Veteran Environmental Staff

One of the key personnel who has been responsible for transporting recyclables to and fro from the Centre over the years would be veteran environmental staff Mr Feng Theam Fook. Having been with Tzu Chi since 2006, in terms of environmental work, he has seen it all.

From the organisation’s first Eco-Centre at Eunos to its relocation to Jing Si Hall and eventually to Woodlands, Mr Feng has been a constant throughout. He would often drive around the island in his lorry, dropping by various factories, schools and offices to collect the different recyclables that were specifically left behind for him. After loading them on, he would either transport them to recycling companies or back to the Centre for further sorting.

Given that recycling is a never-ending task, his job is one that is physically demanding. There are approximately 20 places which Mr Feng alternates between to collect his recyclables, making it a rather tedious process. It was even more hectic back in the pre-pandemic days, with as many as 30 locations involved. This resulted in Mr Feng putting in long hours, sometimes working on the weekends as well. But he has never once felt that his job was tough, casually brushing off any concerns about the difficulties he might have faced.

“A job is a job, why would it be challenging?” the 69-year-old quipped. “We just have to plan properly and it will be fine. However, Master (Cheng Yen) did tell me to be careful when doing environmental work as it can be quite dangerous moving things up and down. With her blessings, I’m grateful that I have been safe all this while.”

With the closure of the Centre, it also spelled the end of Mr Feng’s lengthy involvement with environmental work as he will be re-designated to other duties within the organisation. After spending so much time devoted to the environmental cause, he is undoubtedly sentimental about the Centre’s closure.

“I will definitely miss doing environmental work as time passes very fast when I’m going around collecting the recyclables,” explained Mr Feng. “I do feel somewhat helpless but with fate and the right opportunity, another eco-centre could still open in the future.”

Heartwarming Stories

Besides Mr Feng, other volunteers and staff also had their own heartwarming stories to tell. Some recounted the impact the Centre had on their lifestyle while others spoke about the challenges that they had overcome to facilitate the smooth reopening of the revamped Centre in 2018.

As a volunteer leader driving the environmental mission in the community, Mr Sin Yuen Fook is another one of those who have had a long history with the Centre. He had been involved with the organisation’s environmental efforts since 2007, first starting out with mainly recycling before being elevated to greater responsibilities such as the planning and education components. He was also part of the team of volunteers behind the launch of the refurbished Centre in 2018. And after this extensive period of involvement with the Centre, Mr Sin felt that the impact left on him has been nothing but positive.

“I learnt to be grateful here. I came from a place where I didn’t know anything and now I have learnt how to cherish all the items around me,” the 51-year-old shared. “I used to take things for granted but now I try to influence the people around me to protect our environment. For example, when buying takeaways, I would always bring my own lunchbox and also encourage the people around me to do the same.”   

Other than the impact left on an individual level, it was perhaps the ability of the Centre to influence the wider society that was even more crucial. In the early days of the organisation’s environmental mission, volunteers were more inclined to just doing recycling without giving much thought to the real purpose behind. However, with the educational capabilities of the Centre, the volunteers have been able to enrich themselves, and in turn share the knowledge with the wider community as well.  

“The Centre has reached out to many different kinds of people,” explained Ms Susan Tan, who is Tzu Chi’s environmental sustainability manager.

“We have connected with the schools, community and more recently, we have even been able to reach out to the government agencies such as the National Environment Agency (NEA) and Youth Corps. Many have recognised the importance of our Centre and that gives us a lot of satisfaction.”

According to Ms Heng Yu Ping, a volunteer from Youth Corps Singapore Sustainability Cluster, the Centre had indeed left a meaningful impact on their youths.

She shared: "The Eco-Awareness Centre was a gem! It had meaningfully curated stations covering the various environmental causes of concerns, from climate change to food waste, fast fashion to marine litter. Most importantly, the gallery provided insightful takeaways for youths to understand how our actions can play a part in the larger environmental efforts."

 Mr Sin Yuen Fook (left) guiding a member of the public on where to place his recyclables. (Photo by Lin Chun Hwey)

 Members of the public visiting the exhibitions at the Centre. (Photo by Wong Siew Kuen)

Community and Camaraderie

Beyond the educational and recycling roles of the Centre, the sense of community and camaraderie created among the volunteers and staff would be another big miss. They would often gather together to celebrate various occasions such as birthdays and reunion dinners. Thus, the Centre has become akin to a home, and feelings of sadness were apparent among many of them upon knowing of its closure.   

However, despite this unmistakable sense of loss, it remains comforting to know that the Centre has fulfilled its role and maximised its potential throughout the years. Thus, there is plenty to be optimistic about going forward.

Ms Tan said: “Having gone through different phases of growth, the Centre has done well in its eight years of service. At this point, we have finished training the core team of volunteers who are well-equipped to share their knowledge on environmental subjects with the public.

“We have done our best over the years so I don’t think that the closure is a pity. It’s the right time for a different outreach approach.”

Added Mr Low Swee Seh, CEO of Tzu Chi Singapore: “Wherever you have been, you will leave a trace. The Centre has been a very important part of Tzu Chi’s history and everyone have left their footprints in this journey.” 

 In alignment with the current COVID-19 restrictions, an online appreciation ceremony was organised on 30th September 2021 to mark the closing of the Centre. (Photo by Wong Sin Hwa)

As the curtain falls on the iconic Tzu Chi Eco-Awareness Centre, it has been nice taking stock of how far the Centre has come since its early days. While its closure might seem like a setback on the overall progress of the organisation’s environmental mission, the reality is that the arduous task of protecting the environment should never be solely dependent on the availability of a single place. When one door closes, another will open. As long as the resolve to do our part for the environment remains, opportunities will always present themselves in the end.

Stay tuned for more updates on the next step regarding Tzu Chi’s environmental mission. Meanwhile, the monthly Tzu Chi Environmental Sustainability Day will continue at the Eco Points island-wide, subject to the COVID-19 situation.

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