The ANZA member keeping SG’s environment clean

Georgia (right) on her sustainability mission

A love of the beach is in the DNA of most Aussies and Kiwis, and that care doesn’t stop when we live overseas. Singapore’s shores may not rival those back home, but it’s still heartbreaking to see thousands of tonnes of litter wash up each year. The National Environment Agency reports that 97 per cent of plastic waste on recreational beaches on the red dot comes from offshore, carried by wind and currents, while the island generated 6.66 million tonnes of solid waste in 2024, with an overall recycling rate of 50 per cent. It’s a stark reminder of why grassroots action matters. While many locals are developing incredible sustainable initiatives island-wide, ANZA member Georgia Mor, Co-Founder of One Planet Singapore, is also playing a massive part in protecting the environment. From two people picking up rubbish, she has built a thriving community movement, proving small actions can make a very visible difference.

Please tell us a little about yourself and what first brought you to SG?
Like many expats, I came to Singapore with my family for my husband’s job. We’ve been here for just over seven years, with our two teenage children and a dog. In my former life back in Sydney, Australia, I was a Chartered Accountant.

What is One Planet Singapore?
We’re a social group that organises regular clean-ups across the island. We clean beaches, streets, parks, and reservoirs, and I also encourage others to organise their own clean-ups. While most volunteers are trailing spouses, everyone is welcome.

How did the One Planet initiative come about?
I haven’t always been eco-conscious, but when I first moved to Singapore and started travelling around Southeast Asia, I was shocked by what I saw. I’d watched documentaries about polluted oceans, but seeing them in real life was something else entirely. In 2019 I started doing small clean-ups around town with a like-minded friend, but it quickly became clear that two people wouldn’t make much of a difference. We decided to get more people involved, and the rest is history.

How has One Planet Singapore evolved?
It has grown beyond my wildest dreams! Seven years on we have a Facebook community of more than 1,200 people, I’ve organised over 175 clean-ups, and we’ve collected more than 19 tonnes of rubbish.

How often do you clean up?
I run several clean-ups every month. East Coast Park and Pasir Ris are regular spots and need attention, and we head to other parts of the island when those beaches are in better shape. A few times a year we get on our kayaks and clean Marina Reservoir.

What results have you seen along the way?
I’ve organised clean-ups with Australian and New Zealand Commissioners, international and local schools, social groups including ANZA, Friends of the Museums, the Public Hygiene Council, corporates, and several local community organisations. Reaching our tenth tonne of rubbish in March 2023 was a huge moment for me. Now we’re closing in on 20 tonnes, I’m even more excited.

Left: East Coast Park

How do you bring people together for clean-ups and sustainability initiatives?
You might be surprised to hear this, but not everyone wants to pick up rubbish in their spare time! It’s taken real effort to inspire people to get involved. Over time, I’ve developed a winning formula. I advertise in a few key places, choose clean-up spots near good coffee, keep sessions short, and use a reward system to promote repeat attendance. More than 25 people have attended at least 10 clean-ups, and two have joined over 50. So something is working!

As an expat, how tough is it to get a project like this off the ground?
It takes a lot of time. I plan every clean-up, book the beaches, manage social media, talk to sponsors, organise equipment, handle enquiries, and more. Collecting the rubbish is the easiest part! I’m not a natural salesperson and social media doesn’t come easily to me, so learning how to promote both myself and One Planet Singapore has been a challenge. And this can be a heartbreaking hobby. Cleaning a filthy beach, only to see it just as bad the following week, can be disheartening. I have to keep reminding myself that it all makes a difference.

“It’s lovely how often people stop to say thank you while we’re cleaning”

Beyond the environmental impact, what other benefits have you seen?
I’m proud of the rubbish we’ve collected, but I’m even prouder of the community I’ve built. I’ve met people from all over the world, formed wonderful friendships, and seen connections grow between people who might never otherwise have met. It’s also lovely how often people stop to say thank you while we’re cleaning – sometimes they even bring us cold drinks or snacks. On a personal level, once you start collecting rubbish, it changes your own habits. You think twice about straws and plastic bottles when you’ve seen how many wash up on our beaches.

Looking ahead, what are your hopes for One Planet Singapore?
I only have a few years left here, and I’m really hoping we reach 20 tonnes of rubbish collected before I go – we’re very close. I don’t claim to have solved any of the world’s big problems, but I truly believe we’ve done something special with One Planet. I’m eternally grateful to everyone who has volunteered their time to help collect rubbish and make Singapore a better place. Everyone is welcome to join a clean-ups and people are also encouraged to organise their own and share them in the One Planet Facebook group. I’m always happy to offer advice and can lend out equipment too.

one_planet_singapore
One Planet (Singapore)