SINGAPORE — All households in Singapore will be able to collect up to 500ml of free zero-alcohol hand sanitiser from next Monday (March 23) until April 5 provided they supply their own reusable bottle.

The initiative was unveiled on Tuesday (March 17) by Temasek Foundation, the philanthropic arm of investment firm Temasek in a partnership with the People’s Association, and various community organisations, unions, corporations and universities.

“Helping the community to be well is part of the DNA of Temasek so we are very happy to have this opportunity to do something with the community to help people overcome this Covid-19 epidemic,” said Temasek chairman Lim Boon Heng, who was speaking at a briefing held for the media at Pasir Ris Elias Community Centre (CC).

Zero-alcohol sanitiser is being offered because it does not pose a fire hazard, is non-toxic and safe for children to use, Temasek Foundation said in a media statement. It contains a disinfectant approved for use against coronaviruses by the authorities.

HOW TO COLLECT THE SANITISER

Close to 1.5 million households here will receive a collection pamphlet in their mailbox in the coming days, the statement said.

Each pamphlet will entitle them to collect up to 500ml of free hand sanitiser from a CC or participating mall.

Residents should note the specified collection date on their pamphlet and produce their pamphlet to collect their free sanitiser at any collection centre.

• From March 23 to March 29, households are invited to go to any of the 109 CCs located around the island to collect the sanitiser.

• They may also collect the hand sanitiser at 16 participating CapitaLand malls from March 23 to April 5. The malls include: Bedok Mall, Junction 8, Plaza Singapura and Westgate.

• Residents may collect the hand sanitiser between 3pm and 9pm on weekdays and between 10am and 9pm on weekends.

A total of 25,000 volunteers and partners from corporations, community organisations and universities will help to prepare and distribute the hand sanitiser over this period.

If residents miss their collection date, they may still collect their sanitiser from any of the participating malls from March 30 until April 5.

To support the nation’s green drive to reuse and recycle bottles, and reduce waste, interested households must bring along an empty and clean bottle to any of the collection points.

The recycled bottles may be an empty shampoo bottle, a glass bottle, or plastic bottle. Residents may also bring up to five smaller bottles, so long as each bottle has at least 100 ml of capacity.

The bottles and their caps or pump should also be clean and dry. Any existing labels should also be removed.

No bottles will be provided at the collection points.

Volunteers will place a special label to each bottle, before residents fill their own bottles with 500ml of sanitiser solution.

The bottle of sanitiser should be stored properly in a cool, dry place, and kept away from children and other consumables.

Mr Lim said that there will be markers in place at collection points to facilitate social distancing to avoid people from infecting others.

He said that he did not expect a rush for the free hand sanitisers as Singaporeans can still buy hand sanitisers from supermarkets and pharmacies.

WHY ZERO-ALCOHOL HAND SANITISER

Temasek Foundation said that while the World Health Organization has recommended regular handwashing with soap to prevent the spread of viruses, hand sanitisers are useful when hand washing facilities are not available.

Apart from alcohol-based hand sanitisers, there is also a safe broad spectrum of non-alcohol based sanitisers which can be considered for use.

Based on interim guidelines from the National Environment Agency (NEA) and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, 0.05 per cent of benzalkonium chloride (BKC) is one of the non-alcohol disinfectants that can be used against coronaviruses.

As such, Temasek Foundation is supplying 0.054 per cent BKC sanitiser in this project.

As it is a water-based zero-alcohol hand sanitiser, it is not flammable and is not a fire hazard in places like kitchens.

Residents who need assistance may call 1800 738 2000 between 9am and 9pm from March 16 to April 5.