'Just let them take': Netizens divided on video of man raiding recycling bin

A video of a man climbing into a textile recycling bin in Sengkang on Feb 16 and passing donated items to a woman has sparked debate online - not about theft, but about whether anyone should even care.

Shared in the sgfollowsall Telegram group, the clip showed the woman casually collecting bags of items from the man inside the bin before sitting down to sort through them.

She picked out clothes and a pair of shoes while keeping an eye on her surroundings. After about 10 minutes, the man squeezed himself back out of the bin as the woman filmed his exit.

While some might see this as blatant theft, others had a different take - justifying the pair's actions.

Some netizens felt it wasn't a big deal at all, with one saying: "They want to take, then take, they didn't harm anybody, right?"

Another said: "You see the situation like they are criminals, but I see it as desperate people not harming individuals."

One netizen even called out those criticising the pair's actions, saying: "No point arguing with people with no human empathy and emotion."

On the other hand, some netizens were quick to condemn the pair's actions.

"It's called theft," one person bluntly stated.

Another commented: "If you're talking about green public bins, I don't care. But bins owned by a company for the means of recycling or donating shouldn't be stolen from."

One netizen pointed out that Cloop isn't a free-for-all charity but a business with operating costs.

"The company is financially responsible for maintaining the yellow bin meant for collecting donations from the public. Each item stolen results in a chain of financial losses not only for the companies involved, but also for the individuals who donate and earn points."

In response to media queries, a Cloop spokesperson confirmed it was aware of the incident and said similar cases had occurred before. The organisation works with its recycling partner, Lifeline Clothing, to prevent such activities.

To curb theft, Cloop has implemented several measures, including installing surveillance cameras in high-risk areas, positioning bins near existing CCTV cameras, and collaborating with the community to monitor suspicious activity.

Residents who witness such incidents are encouraged to note the date, time and bin number, and report it via Cloop's website or WhatsApp at 80338220.

"Cloop deeply appreciates the community serving as our eyes on the ground, caring for and safeguarding the textile recycling bins in their neighbourhood," the spokesperson said.