(Photos provided by Project Seas-the-Trash committee)

Singapore is known for being a clean and green city, but how clean is it really? That was the question a group of NUS Nursing students sought to answer—only to be shocked by the sheer amount of litter hidden in plain sight. 

On February 23, students from the NUS Nursing Sub-club organised a beach cleanup at East Coast Park. What was meant to be a morning of covering ground quickly turned into an intense effort focused on a single spot amid the sprawling sands. 

“Even though at first glance the beach looked quite clean, it was actually littered with broken styrofoam, cigarette butts, and plastic wrappers inconspicuously hidden around,” said Cheok Xin Lin, Year 3 BSc Nursing student at NUS and Project Director of the initiative. “We barely covered any distance because we were stuck in the same area, trying to pick up as much trash as possible.” 

Launched under the Nursing Sub-club, Xin Lin and Housemaster Chloe Ngai Ling Xin (Year 2 BSc Nursing) led the initiative, collaborating with the National Environment Agency (NEA) and National Parks Board (NParks). 

Cleaning requisites provided by NEA and NParks.

The cleanup even inspired other beachgoers to join in and take action. “One interesting thing that happened was when an uncle, who was just there to relax on a Sunday morning, approached us with the dangerous glass shards he found while playing in the sea. He even joined in the cleanup for a while,” Chloe recounted. 

The experience reinforced a critical reminder: every small action counts. 

“If everyone were to dispose of their trash in its designated receptacles, over time, the need for such cleanings would become obsolete,” Xin Lin reflected. 

“This domino effect can be started even at the individual level, when one starts this habit and proceeds to influence the people around them to follow suit.” 

Project Seas-the-Trash is just one of the numerous student-led volunteer projects flourishing at NUS Nursing. Students actively organise and lead community projects that make a tangible difference—from  smaller-scale local efforts to Overseas Community Involvement Projects (OCIP) that extend their impact beyond our shores. 

Learn more about the other projects and opportunities: https://medicine.nus.edu.sg/nursing/our-people/our-students/community-involvement-projects/