Designing Recycling Systems for Local Communities: Paper, Metal, Plastic and Beyond

Bay Meng Yi is the Director for Sustainability of the Singapore Environment Council (SEC), a non-government organization that catalyses action towards environmental sustainability via certification and policy advocacy.

Meng Yi oversees SEC’s green certification programmes and sustainability initiatives, supporting companies and communities in integrating sustainable practices into their operations and daily lives. He also leads policy research and international collaborations, advancing SEC’s work on sustainable consumption, circular economy and green trade.

Prior to joining SEC, Meng Yi spent over a decade in the public sector, where he was involved in the development and implementation of recycling and circular economy policies. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from the National University of Singapore, and Master’s degrees from Columbia University and Tsinghua University.

My Sustainability Goals for 2026:

• Sustainability is not merely about protecting the environment; it is about building resilient systems that allow people, communities and economies to prosper for generations to come.
• My goal is to build resilient, people-centric recycling systems; they are built not just on technology, but on people. I would like to help communities co-design solutions that make recycling accessible and efficient for everyday life.
• Recycling does not begin at the bin; it begins with design. I hope to create systems to incentivize products and packaging to be designed for recovery, reuse and recycling.
• I hope to support SMEs in integrating practical sustainability approaches into their operations, from resource efficiency to better waste management, so that sustainability becomes both achievable and value-adding for smaller businesses.

Ir Dr. Michael Ching, Head of Climate Technology and Innovation at the Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC), is a leading expert in energy efficiency, sustainable development, and climate technology. With over 20 years of experience in computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling, building ventilation analysis, retro-commissioning, and carbon/energy/waste auditing, he has pioneered innovative solutions that bridge academic research and commercial application. Michael leads a multidisciplinary team to deliver high-impact consultancy services, driving advancements in green technology and decarbonization strategies for industries and governments. His work spans policy research, stakeholder engagement, and the development of scalable strategies to reduce environmental footprints.

A respected academic and industry leader, Michael holds an Honorary Adjunct Assistant Professorship at The University of Hong Kong and serves on the Chemical Discipline Advisory Panel of The Hong Kong Institution of Engineers (HKIE). His professional credentials include registration as a Professional Engineer, and member of the Chemical, Mechanical, and Environmental disciplines in HKIE, alongside certifications as a Registered Energy Auditor, BEAM Professional, RCx Professional, and Certified Carbon Auditor. As a seasoned project manager, he has overseen the delivery of over 3,000 numbers of energy audit, managing large-scale initiatives that have significantly advanced energy savings and carbon reduction across sectors.

Iris Lee is the General Manager, Hong Kong and Macau at The Coca-Cola Company, where she leads end-to-end franchise performance across commercial strategy, frontline marketing, and system execution. She partners closely with bottlers and key stakeholders to accelerate sustainable growth, strengthen brand leadership, and deliver world-class marketplace execution across Hong Kong and Macau. As the senior system integrator for the market and General Manager of the Hong Kong oFice, Iris connects global strategy with local insight to unlock shared value for customers, consumers, and partners.

Iris is an accomplished business executive with nearly two decades of experience driving commercial success for global FMCG leaders, including The Coca-Cola Company, Mars Wrigley, Johnson & Johnson, and L’Oréal. With deep operational roots in both Mainland China and Hong Kong, Iris brings a nuanced understanding of the regional complexities required to manage diverse business environments. She has successfully overseen portfolios reaching $250M USD, with core strengths in P&L optimization, disciplined commercial strategy, and category revitalization through market expansion and executional excellence.

Central to Iris’s leadership philosophy is the integration of strategic customer collaboration with a people-first organizational culture. She excels at building high-value partnerships that balance corporate ambition with market realities to deliver sustainable growth. An advocate of authentic leadership, Iris focuses on developing high-performance teams grounded in trust, accountability, and empowerment. By fostering a culture where people feel ownership and pride in their work, she enables both business results and talent to thrive in highly competitive markets.