Estate worker helps Choa Chu Kang resident find phone accidentally thrown down rubbish chute

A woman mistakenly discarded her mobile phone in the trash, but successfully retrieved it later thanks to a town council worker.

Choa Chu Kang resident Carnis, 35, told AsiaOne that her mother was clearing out some unwanted kitchen items and had unknowingly wrapped her phone with a table cloth.

Several minutes after the items were thrown down the rubbish chute, the woman realised her phone was missing.

"She was worried if we couldn't find it or if it's not in usable condition...she'd lose important contacts and photo memories," the content creator shared.

Carnis said she found the incident "amusing", and laughed with her mother "that such things could happen".

They tried searching for an estate worker below their block but did not see anyone. Carnis then called the town council for help, which sent a worker to open the chute.

Told that they would have to find the phone themselves, Carnis and her mother even donned gloves in preparation. 

In a video posted to TikTok on Aug 12, the conservancy worker is seen pulling out the refuse chute bin as Carnis' mother stood beside.

The folded cloth containing the phone was laying at the top of the bin, and the worker unwraps the bundle to reveal tje device tucked within.

He passes the phone to the overjoyed woman, who thanks him and excitedly waves to Carnis.

The estate worker and Carnis' mother also snapped a selfie together: the picture was so that the woman could later write in to the town council to compliment the conservancy worker.

@shalzsaidwhat Just another Tuesday afternoon with my family 😂😭🫠 But honestly these workers are so under appreciated and unseen. I wonder if masks are provided for them as I’ve never seen them wearing one considering the level of pollution & harm they’re exposed to. The least we can do is greet & respect them as humans. The pic taken was to write him a compliment to Town Council. Thank you bhaiya, unfortunately I didn’t get his name! #sgfyp #sgtiktok #justanotherday #singapore #sghome ♬ Funny - Gold-Tiger

Carnis explained that the rubbish chute was shared between her unit and another.

"My mum was very touched with (the worker's) kind demeanour," she told AsiaOne. "He barely spoke, but was all smiles while helping."

"We presented him a small gift of appreciation which he declined but then accepted after we insisted," Carnis said, adding that they have sent a compliment to the town council.

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lim.kewei@asiaone.com