The World Of Tzu Chi(Vol.116)

eature Education the hard way “A hhh! A dead rat!” An ear-piercing scream broke the silence surrounding the Taman Desa Recycling Centre, rousing the curiosity of the volunteers preoccupied with sorting recyclables. Crowding around the source of the alarming commotion, the volunteers discovered the carcass of a rat amongst the assortment of recyclable and non-recyclable waste stuffed into a plastic bag deposited at the recycling centre. The dead rat was merely the tip of the iceberg. In the process of sorting waste, the volunteers have had to endure the unpleasant odour released by soiled diapers and glass bottles that had not been rinsed clean. The foul smell repelled the residents of the neighbourhood. The dismal state of the recycling centre evoked volunteer Francis Tan Hui Kiat’s sympathy for the elderly volunteers, who were ever willing to serve at the recycling centre rather than spend time with their families at home. He was also concerned that the noxious emissions and unhygienic conditions would pose a hazard to their health, causing their families to worry. As he was tidying up the recycling centre with the volunteers, Master Cheng Yen’s advice to educate the public the hard way came to mind. When Francis first attempted implementing the approach, he was not only mocked and criticized by detractors; some volunteers alleged that his unconventional ways have deterred the residents from setting foot in the recycling centre. However, his efforts paid off; the elderly volunteers at the recycling centre no longer have to work excessively long hours sorting recyclables during peak periods. Purification at the source In 1990, Master Cheng Yen introduced Tzu Chi’s environmental conservation mission – which enters its 30th anniversary next year – by appealing to all volunteers to focus their efforts on recycling work. The Master envisioned that the mission would continue to flourish, hence she initiated a guiding principle for all recycling efforts: “purification at the source”, ensuring that waste is treated at the source to enable the best possible conditions for recycling. Otherwise, the collected waste would remain filthy and disorganized or even become a breeding ground for pests, affecting the cleanliness of the environment. Moreover, recycling volunteers shouldbe treatedwithdue respect, insteadof being expected to clean up after those who discard their waste indiscriminately at the recycling centres. On a tour around Taiwan in 2014, Master Cheng Yen noticed that non-recyclable waste was being deposited at the recycling centres by some members of the public. This observation compelled the Master to call for intensified efforts to educate the public on environmental conservation, including rejecting non-recyclable refuse when necessary. The Master has since urged for improvements in the standard of Tzu Chi’s recycling processes, besides stressing the significance of recycling practices in protecting the environment. She also expressed her hope for the public to learn to clean their recyclables to enable them to be utilized to their full potential. Clean recyclables also fetch a higher price when traded in and are processed into recycled materials of higher quality. Francis’ emphasis on the educational role of the recycling centres stems from personal 2019 • 11 14