Grace Fu Hai Yien
Singapore
“The Government takes a multi-pronged approach to address the disamenities from second-hand tobacco smoke. The National Environment Agency (NEA) works with Government agencies, Town Councils and community leaders to promote considerate behaviour and strengthen social norms.”
“The Government recently announced land-use changes in Lim Chu Kang to optimise our scarce land to meet our growing and evolving needs. We are at the initial planning stage and agencies are still working out the detailed development proposals.”
“Public Waste Collectors and Town Councils have trialled the collection and treatment of segregated food waste from households. However, participation rates are poor despite regular engagement and reminders.”
“The quality of incense offerings and the practice of burning incense are not regulated by law. Instead, the National Environment Agency (NEA) works with stakeholders, such as Town Councils, agencies and religious organisations, to encourage responsible burning of joss paper and incense.”
“The National Environment Agency (NEA) monitors public cleaning contractors through regular physical audits and remote monitoring, complemented by video analytics. NEA also regularly assesses the cleaning quality and outcomes of public cleaning contractors.”
“This question has been addressed in the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment’s combined answer to Question Nos 15 to 18 on the Order Paper for 7 July 2026. [Please refer to "National Recycling Rates, Plans and Targets", Official Report, 7 July 2026, Vol 96, Issue 32, Oral Answers to Questions section.]”
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“As part of the further relaxation of safe management measures (SMMs) from 29 March 2022, coffeeshops and canteens can either choose to accommodate up to five persons dine-in without at-entry Vaccination-Differentiated Safe Management Measures (VDS) checks or accommodate up to 10 persons dine-in with at-entry VDS checks. When VDS at coffee shops and canteens was first introduced in November 2021, the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) received feedback from operators on their difficulties in implementing at-entry VDS checks. The layouts of some coffee shops were not amenable to access controls, and the additional manpower would come at additional costs. Operators suggested to implement time- and/or area-bound VDS at their premises. This was introduced on 7 March 2022. Operators who now wish to operate at 10-persons dine-in can continue to choose across any of the VDS options to best suit their operating models. Operators will have to submit their plans to SFA and will receive a response within seven working days. As of 29 March 2022, there are 237 coffee shops and canteens implementing the 10-person VDS. SFA and Safe Distancing Ambassadors will continue to conduct regular checks at coffee shops and canteens to ensure that VDS requirements are strictly adhered to. The Government will also be providing a one-off cash support to Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) that have been most affected by the COVID-19 restrictions and measures over the past year, including the F&B sector, under the Small Business Recovery Grant.”
“Mr Speaker, may I have your permission to take the next two questions together?”
“There have been no cases where action was taken under section 43 of the Environmental Public Health Act (EPHA) for second-hand smoke drifting from homes to public corridors or public areas. As explained in this House previously, section 43 of the EPHA comes under Part 5, which was enacted in the 1960s to provide for quick mitigative actions to arrest public nuisances from specific industrial activities. It is not the EPHA's purpose to deal with smoking prohibition.”
“I thank the Member for that question. The Eco Fund is actually designed to allow very broad-based participation and it is made very inclusive for different types of groups. Individuals, businesses, community, grassroots organisations or charities can participate. Actually, it allows groups to participate in a wide area of interests. It stretches across all the five pillars of the Singapore Green Plan. The key indication that we are looking for in all these groups is whether they are able to mobilise the community around them. That is the key that we are looking for.”
“And this is what the Green Plan is about – it is a movement, a collective movement towards a shared vision. It is a living plan that evolves as we engage and participate fully as a nation and as new technologies and solutions present us with new options. It is my hope that the Green Plan will spark new possibilities that were once thought to be unattainable. That it will pave the way for a greener, brighter future. That when it is time to hand the torch over to the next generation, we will be remembered as faithful stewards of our island nation, who made the right and difficult choices. In good time. This push towards a low-carbon future heralds a new phase in Singapore's sustainable development. Just as how we have transformed Singapore into a modern metropolis, our future will be even brighter as we work together to build Singapore into a city of green possibilities. [Applause.]”
“Prof Koh Lian Pin suggested that sufficient time must be set aside for the public to learn about the issues and share their views. I agree fully. Under the SG Together movement, we created many opportunities for Singaporeans to participate and contribute actively to sustainability. Depending on the issue at hand, different approaches and modalities are adopted to engage stakeholders and we endeavour to share the insights gathered from these consultations with the public. Across the Public Service, we are also growing capabilities to engage well and consistently, through shared frameworks, case studies and ongoing training. For instance, the disposable carrier bag charge was developed after more than one year of extensive consultations and engagements with the industry and the public, including a Citizens' Workgroup. MSE and NEA released our response to the recommendations by the Citizens' Workgroup in 2021. For the Lim Chu Kang Masterplan, we brought stakeholders together over six months to discuss how the Lim Chu Kang area could be redeveloped to become our agri-food production hub of the future. The full report covering the whole engagement series has just been finalised and will be published soon. I thank the participants for their valuable contributions. These consultations and engagements enable participants and stakeholders, including the Government, to hear and understand diverse views. Participants go away with a better appreciation of different perspectives and the rationale for policies, and the Government goes away with better-informed and considered decisions. There is a sense of unity and shared responsibility in shaping the collective future of our society.”
“Some of the recipients in the second grant call are: Earth School Singapore, which has launched a new experiential education programme for Primary school students; U Farm, a social enterprise farm, which will train and employ persons with disabilities and host environmental programmes for the public; Mr Neo Zhi Xuan and his team, who will develop a web application to educate the public on where and how to recycle different household items. Our applicants have diverse interests and goals, reflecting the reach of the grant. We will work with our grant recipients to maximise the impact of their projects and co-create relevant environmental and community engagement targets. SG Eco Fund will also explore new partnerships to rally more people to contribute to the Green Plan. Our local communities are also responding to the call to action. Mr Don Wee asked about the progress of Eco Towns. In Tampines, Semula, a social enterprise, will be conducting plastic collection drives at F&B outlets and shopping malls and involving the community to process the collected plastics into art pieces. In Nee Soon South, the grassroots organisation is setting up a Black Soldier Flies composting hub. In Chua Chu Kang and Hong Kah North, grassroots leaders have organised hackathons with residents to co-develop an Eco Town plan for the district. We intend to provide more support, including capacity building workshops, to help more communities in Singapore plan and develop sustainability initiatives in their towns. This will complement HDB's Green Towns Programme to enhance the sustainability of estates. We will continue to consult and engage the public on environment and climate issues, including our net-zero ambition, as Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean has explained.”
“For example, NEWRI has developed technologies with local and global applications in areas, such as biomimetic membranes for desalination and anchored investments from global companies in Singapore. Science and technology will also inform our policies and interventions to keep Singapore liveable in the face of climate change. As Mr Leon Perera pointed out, rising urban temperatures is a major concern for our compact and dense city. The Government already incorporates urban planning measures to keep neighbourhoods cool. For example, weaving nature more intensively into our built environment, which Minister Desmond Lee will touch on later. The Government is also piloting the use of cool paints in 130 HDB blocks in Tampines, under the Green Towns Programme. We are also working with MOH, MOM and the Workplace Safety and Health Council, to ensure that guidelines on managing heat stress at workplaces are regularly updated. 12.45 pm Third, partner. We need to involve the whole-of-society in the sustainability movement and develop a shared ownership of our environment. Ms Nadia Ahmad Samdin and Ms Hany Soh asked for an update on the SG Eco Fund. We have seen great interest since its launch in November 2020. As we wrap up our second grant call, I am happy to share that we will award $2.9 million to 68 projects. This includes 42 smaller projects under the new Sprout category, which has a simpler application process. In total, 105 individuals and organisations have been awarded $6.6 million in funding thus far.”
“The plant is just one of the many projects that are supported under our national Research, Innovation and Enterprise (RIE) 2025 plan. As Mr Gan Thiam Poh, Ms Poh Li San and Prof Koh Lian Pin have pointed out, science and technology are important enablers for the Green Plan. Under RIE2025, the Urban Solutions and Sustainability domain will strengthen our capabilities in addressing climate change, advancing energy transition, promoting liveability and transforming our built environment. I am pleased to announce that the Government has allocated $220 million for R&D in resource circularity and water technologies. Eighty million dollars will be allocated to Closing the Resource Loop, to develop sustainable resource recovery solutions for key waste streams, such as e-waste, plastics and food. It will support the development of useful and safe applications for treated waste residue and low-carbon waste treatment options. This will build on the $45 million Closing the Waste Loop under RIE2020. Under this funding initiative, NEA has funded 15 R&D projects, with seven garnering commercial interest. Another $87 million will be allocated to the Centre of Excellence Programme to support water and membrane research at the Nanyang Environment and Water Research Institute (NEWRI) and the Separation Technologies Applied Research and Translation Centre. The remaining budget was allocated to the Competitive Funding for Water Research programme last year. Our investments will go towards developing high-impact solutions for our national water needs. But beyond that, research and innovation will also be an engine for green growth, spurring private sector R&D spending, job creation and technology spin-offs in the water industry and adjacent sectors.”
“His vast experience in troubleshooting electrical components and circuit boards from his previous work experience allowed him to quickly render professional support to other engineers. He has also provided in-house training to the mechanics in his company, furthering their knowledge. We are also encouraging households to embrace sustainability. NEA and PUB launched the Climate-Friendly Households Programme in 2020 to help 1-room to 3-room HDB households reduce energy and water consumption. Eligible households can redeem $225 worth of e-vouchers to offset costs for energy-efficient refrigerators, LED lights and water-efficient shower fittings. The vouchers are valid till 31 December 2023. I urge eligible households to use these vouchers when your appliances are due for replacement. Making the switch can help households save on utility bills. Second, we will continue to invest in science and technology to unlock possibilities for a low-carbon future. Our water story is a good example of the critical role R&D plays in Singapore’s development. In our decades of patient and persistent investments, over the years, we have created two of our national taps, NEWater and desalinated water, and raised Singapore’s profile as a leading global hydrohub. Our research objective now is to bring down the energy requirement through science and technology. In 2023, a Desalination Integrated Validation Plant will be commissioned to trial promising technologies to reduce the energy consumption of desalination to less than two kilowatt hours per cubic metre (kWh/m3) of water. This will pave the way for the technologies to be implemented in full-scale desalination plants.”
“NEA’s Energy Efficiency Fund (E2F) helps SMEs in the manufacturing sector to defray the cost of adopting energy-efficient technologies. Kawarin Enterprise Pte Ltd, a local steel manufacturing company, has benefited from the Fund. By upgrading their old air compressors to more energy-efficient ones, they enjoyed annual cost savings of more than $30,000 and abated about 48 tonnes of carbon annually. To help the manufacturing sector mitigate the impact of higher carbon tax, I am happy to announce that from 1 April 2022, we will raise the Energy Efficiency Fund’s maximum grant support for investing in energy-efficient technologies, from 50% to 70% of qualifying costs. This will help companies invest in energy-efficient equipment, such as lighting, air-conditioning, boilers and air compressors. We will simplify the grant application and disbursement process. I urge companies to take advantage of the higher support level early. The green transition will present new opportunities for our economy and workforce. We hope to anchor emerging green industries in Singapore to create good jobs. We are growing a new industry in agri-tech. Minister of State Desmond Tan has shared this in his speech. Mature industries, such as the environmental services industry, are poised for transformation, catalysing higher demand for green skills. We will support our workers to develop these skills. Mr Eu Leng Pheng, who began his career in the chemical and marine industry, took a leap of faith and entered the waste management industry in 2017, as a Facilities Manager in LHT Holdings to support wood waste recycling operations. To make the transition, he took part in a professional course offered by the Waste Management and Recycling Association of Singapore.”
“Since then, we have committed over $75 million to support businesses to implement energy efficiency improvement and carbon abatement projects. SMEs deserve our attention. They are at the heart of our economy, supplying products and services to many sectors and employing a significant proportion of our workforce. While many of them are nimble, dynamic and creative, they often lack resources to invest in energy-efficient technologies or make changes to their business. Earlier in the Budget debate, Mr Don Wee and Ms Denise Phua called for more support for SMEs. Over the years, we have built on our support for SMEs to achieve greater energy efficiency. ESG launched the $180 million Enterprise Sustainability Programme to support Singapore companies in their sustainability journeys. Last year, NEA and ESG supported the Carbon Pricing Leadership Coalition Singapore’s LowCarbonSG initiative to help companies build capabilities in measuring, monitoring and reducing their carbon emissions. NEA and the Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) set up an Energy Efficiency Technology Centre (EETC) in 2020. It provides SMEs with low-cost energy assessments to help them identify opportunities to improve energy efficiency. The Centre also develops the workforce by training students and practitioners in industrial energy efficiency. NEA is working with SIT to strengthen the Centre’s capabilities in the next phase. Enhancements will include setting up a training-and-simulation centre to enable learners to practise their craft in a realistic, yet safe environment. With the enhancements, the Centre will be able to assume a more prominent role in Singapore’s transition to a low-carbon economy. More details will be announced when ready.”
“Across the economy, we must move boldly to transform and capture the opportunities from the green transition. As a nation, we must thoroughly debate the trade-offs and come to a consensus on the right balance to strike. Today, my colleagues and I will give an update on how the Government is preparing for the transition to a low-carbon future, anchored around the Green Plan. Minister Gan Kim Yong will elaborate on our efforts to grow our green economy and decarbonise our energy sector. Minister S Iswaran will speak about measures to further reduce carbon emissions in the transport sector. Minister Desmond Lee will share about our progress in greening our built environment and in transforming Singapore into a City in Nature. Minister Chan Chun Sing will give an update on how we are nurturing the next generation to be stewards in environmental sustainability and how our Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs) are driving skills training, research and innovation in sustainability. Let me share about my Ministry’s efforts to empower, invest in and partner companies, people and communities to move towards a low-carbon future. First, empowering businesses, workers and households. Improving energy efficiency is one of the primary ways that businesses can lower their carbon emission. We will provide targeted support to help every sector decarbonise. BCA will support the built environment sector; EMA the power generation sector; and EDB and NEA, the manufacturing sector. Prof Koh Lian Pin asked about the Energy Efficiency Fund, which is part of an enhanced package of support launched in January 2019 to help industries become more energy efficient and lower their carbon tax.”
“They have participated in initiatives, such as the OneMillionTrees movement, Green Plan Conversations and the Youth Action Challenge. The private sector is adopting sustainability practices and committing resources to secure an early foothold in the green transition. The Maritime and Aviation sectors are trialling the use of cleaner and lower-carbon fuels. SIA and Scoot will begin a pilot to use blended sustainable aviation fuel at Changi Airport. To accelerate the decarbonisation of the Built Environment sector, more than 80 organisations have signed an embodied carbon pledge launched by the Singapore Green Building Council. Global firms, such as McKinsey, Bain and Company, and PwC, have established sustainability hubs and centres in Singapore, to serve the region and beyond. Civil society, community organisations and youths are galvanising a social movement on sustainability, empowering action and advocacy from the ground. At last year’s Climate Action Week, over 60 partners from the 3P sectors organised more than 130 wide-ranging activities, a record for the event. To mark Youth Day at the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference, a group of Singaporeans and youth-led environmental and climate organisations, such as Ho Xiang Tian and FiTree, released a statement with wide-ranging recommendations on tackling climate change. I am inspired by their passion to drive change and encourage our youths to continue to advocate and act for change. As we step towards a greener and low-carbon future, we will need to build a new social compact to prepare for changes in the way we live, work and play. As citizens, we must reflect on the changes we are willing to make to our lifestyles.”
“One year ago, we launched the Singapore Green Plan 2030 to catalyse a nationwide sustainability movement to move towards a greener future. Since then, the international momentum for climate action has increased. Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean spoke about the greater urgency and resolve internationally to take decisive action and why Singapore will raise our climate ambitions to achieve net-zero emissions by or around mid-century. He explained how carbon pricing will be pivotal in spurring Singapore's green transition. Singapore must catch and ride the green wave to thrive in a low-carbon future. This is key to our continued relevance as an international hub for transport, business and finance. The sustainability movement in Singapore is growing and inspiring action across all segments of society. Ms Poh Li San and Ms Rachel Ong will be heartened to hear that we have made progress in many areas under the Green Plan, including the following. Two consortia have been awarded tenders to install more than 600 EV chargers in carparks across Singapore. This year, we will begin trialling the import of electricity from Malaysia and Laos and we are seeking proposals to import low-carbon energy from beyond our shores. 12.30 pm GreenGov.SG was launched to steer the public sector towards ambitious sustainability targets. Organisations, such as Sentosa Development Corporation, Nanyang Technological University and Khoo Teck Puat Hospital, have drawn up their own sustainability plans. We have been engaging our partners from the people, private and public, or 3P sectors, to make the Green Plan a reality, as raised by Ms Janet Ang. Green Plan Ministries have engaged more than 25,000 stakeholders over the past year, including corporates, youths, NGOs and the community.”
“Thank you, Chairman. I think this will be part of ongoing effort by PUB to reduce inland flooding. As I mentioned in my speech, we have been spending huge investments in improving our infrastructure. We do that systematically in three ways: we look at the source, we look at the passage and we look at the receptor. So, we look how we can, for example, slow down the flow of flood water. We build detention tanks, we have built one at, for example, Stamford Canal. We have also required building owners, for example, to have detention tanks within their properties. Really, all ways to slow down the movement of water. We have also improved drainage. We are going to invest significantly over the next few years in order to improve our drainage system, including Bukit Timah. And we will look at how we can improve our flood responses on the ground. But the challenge is this. I would like to inform Members is that climate change is telling us – all the signs and data are telling us – that we are going to expect more intense rainfall. We are going to also expect rainfall that did not used to collect in places that we are used to. So, we are starting to see some areas that did not used to be flood-prone have now becoming more flood-prone partly because we have already worked on some areas and, therefore, the water will its way towards the lowest point now and we have to continue to improve our infrastructure. But more importantly is that we cannot prevent the possibility of a single flood event in Singapore. And for that, we will have to really get community to be aware, to have the ability to manage and the ability to be resilient towards such an event.”
“And for the supermarket operators, if we are minded about it, you can always work with your charities around you, or the social service agencies around your community to give back and help the low-income family in other forms, whether it is food vouchers or whether it is low-cost food. This is really our way to extend assistance to everyone at this time, a very difficult time. So, short answer is yes, they are required to and I would like to really see them doing their bit for the environment and also for the social causes in the area where they operate. 6.45 pm”
“Thank you, Mr Chairman. I would like to thank the Member for these clarifications. On the first point about possibility of profiteering, right now, even without this latest legislation proposal, some shops are already collecting a bag charge for environmental reasons. It is for good reasons. You can look at it as a motive for profit, but actually, it is really putting a cost on it. I would like to remind Members and also all members of the public that this is a cost that can be entirely avoided, you do not have to pay the bag charge if you carry a reusable bag or you put it into your carrier bag. That is the kind of habit that we would like all Singaporeans to cultivate over time, that when you are going out, please have a collapsible, reusable bag in your bag, or carry along with you in your car, so that you can avoid having to pay the bag and do not let any companies make any profit out of this. Second point about whether we would make it mandatory to apply their proceeds to environmental and social causes. The answer is yes, but we are not requiring them to put it into specific charities or specific causes. The supermarket operators will have the choice of how they want to apply, maybe as part of their CSR and ESG programme. The idea is, I firmly believe, that this action for climate, action for environment, is not restricted by income segmentation. Whether it is a low-income, high-income family households, everyone has the capacity to contribute to reducing waste and to be environmentally friendly. So, I would like to encourage all households, regardless of your income level, think about how to reduce wastage.”
“Thank you, Chairman. I thank Member Louis Ng for his supplementary question. I would like to assure Members that we do look at his suggestions very carefully and I think that for the issue on disposable bag, this is indeed an important step that we have taken. Having thought through all the considerations and also positions that we have taken in the past about how relevant plastic bags are in our daily lives, we need to make this change, it is important for us start cultivating that habit and let us see what happens after that. We may encourage more businesses to come on board, which we have already been doing, and I would like to see a lot more businesses, individuals, taking this as part of their habit. When you have that as part of your habits, then I think we do not need to use the lever of legislation. So, I am keeping it open for now. We will see what is the response by the people and by the business community, and we will review it over time.”
“Building owners must do their part in protecting their properties by installing effective flood protection measures. In July last year, PUB trialled the automated flood barrier at the entrance of Fortune Park Condominium leading to the basement carpark. The automated barrier uses approaching floodwaters to buoy itself up and block floodwaters from entering the premises, without the need for any human or mechanical intervention. It is a viable and cost-effective solution for flood protection, and we encourage building owners in low-lying areas to implement these automated barriers. Mr Chairman, as a small island city-state with no natural resources, we have weathered many crises together as a people and as a nation. We have overcome these crises and seized the opportunities to develop into a clean, green and liveable city that we see today. Climate change is the defining crisis of our generation. Together, let us build a resilient Singapore, for a sustainable future. [Applause.]”
“In May last year, the Government passed the Significant Infrastructure Government Loan Act (SINGA) to allow the raising of loans to finance major long-term infrastructure such as coastal and drainage infrastructure. Even as we plan long term for the challenges of sea level rise, we are already seeing more extreme weather patterns today. We see more flash floods from more intense rains. Ms Poh Li San and Ms Nadia Samdin asked what PUB's plans are to mitigate inland floods. The Government has invested significantly with almost $2 billion spent on drainage improvement works since 2011. This includes the Stamford Diversion Canal, Stamford Detention Tank and the Bukit Timah First Diversion Canal. We have set aside another $1.4 billion to carry out further improvements to the drainage system till 2025. 5.45 pm While we systematically improve our drainage system across the island, it is not possible to expand our drains to cater to every extreme rainfall event as it will mean less space for housing, parks or roads in land-scarce Singapore. Hence, it is important to strengthen community resilience and our collective response to flooding incidents. PUB has been enhancing its early warning systems to provide more timely updates to the public, including launching a dedicated Telegram channel last November. PUB has also expanded its fleet to 13 flood response vehicles that are able to stream real-time flood conditions and drive through higher floodwaters. This allows PUB to provide timely assistance during any heavy rain event. PUB cannot do it alone. We urge Singaporeans to be on alert for weather events, by subscribing to PUB’s flood alerts for timely updates on heavy rains and potential flood risk locations.”
“Coastal protection is a long-term endeavour and we have started planning ahead. In May last year, PUB, the national coastal protection agency, embarked on a site-specific study at the coastline of City-East Coast. We are starting site-specific studies at other parts of our coastline. This year, JTC and PUB will commence studies at Jurong Island and the North West coast respectively. Singapore has a varied coastline of over 300 kilometres. Hence, our site-specific studies allow us to understand the characteristics of these different segments and develop coastal protection solutions accordingly. Take the northwest coast as an example. First, there are four coastal reservoirs – Tengeh, Poyan, Murai and Sarimbun. We will study how to reinforce the dykes and dams for these important water sources to protect them from seawater intrusion. Next, we will study how best to dovetail coastal protection solutions with upcoming developments such as the future Sungei Kadut Eco-District and Lim Chu Kang high-tech agri-food cluster. There are also sections of mangrove habitats at the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve and the Mandai Mangrove and Mudflat Nature Park. We must take care to minimise environmental impact in these biodiversity-rich areas. PUB will explore hybrid coastal protection solutions that combine nature-based elements with hard engineering measures and will also work closely with NParks and stakeholders to conduct environmental studies, minimise impact and enhance existing ecosystems. These studies are expected to take a few years. To ensure that coastal and flood protection measures are adequately resourced, we established the Coastal and Flood Protection Fund in 2020 with an initial injection of five billion dollars.”
“It is a seed of hope for a better world – the first step on a journey towards sustainability and the beginning of a change in how we treat the environment. Ms Ng Ling Ling asked how we can encourage and support families and communities to recycle more. Applying an idea from the Recycle Right Citizens' Workgroup to encourage right recycling behaviour, we recently piloted the use of transparent recycling bins in Hong Kah North and East Coast Group Representation Constituency (GRC). The residents' response was positive. To encourage recycling at every home, NEA is collaborating with the Singapore Institute of Technology to design a compact recycling container to better sort out and collect recyclables at home. These containers will be made available to households later this year. To minimise wastage, NEA will only distribute to households that want them. Our individual actions will determine the collective outcome of Singapore. Together, our zero-waste efforts will bring us closer to achieving our waste-to-landfill targets and extend the lifespan of Semakau for as long as possible beyond 2035. Next, I will touch on climate resilience. Ms Poh Li San, Ms Nadia Samdin, Dr Lim Wee Kiak and Mr Sharael Taha asked about our progress in shoring up our coastal and flood defences. Sea level rise poses an existential threat for a low-lying island nation like Singapore. The Centre for Climate Research Singapore has projected that climate change could cause mean sea level rise of up to one metre by 2100. If there should be a confluence of extreme high tides and storm surges, some projections suggest that sea levels could be as high as four to five metres. This is high enough to potentially flood one third of Singapore.”
“We are starting with the larger supermarket operators who have extensive market coverage. We will not extend the charge to smaller convenience stores for now, as suggested by Mr Louis Ng. During our consultation, concerns have been expressed about supermarket operators potentially profiteering from the charge. We strongly encourage supermarket operators to channel the proceeds obtained from the bag charge to environmental or social causes and consider initiatives to support lower-income families. To ensure accountability, we will require supermarket operators to publish information on the number of bags issued, amount of proceeds collected from the bag charge and how these proceeds would be used. The public will then be able to see how the supermarket operators are using their proceeds. Over time, we hope that the charge will encourage Singaporeans to adopt sustainable habits and bring our own bags when shopping at supermarkets and other stores. At this point, I would like to quote Ms Liu Yining who eloquently expressed on the need to reduce the use of plastic disposables in a recent commentary in Lianhe Zaobao. In Mandarin, please, Mr Chairman. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] On 4 March, Ms Liu Yining wrote a commentary in Lianhe Zaobao titled "Charging for disposable carrier bags sows a seed for de-plasticisation", She wrote that "the moment people take an extra plastic bag, they will have to think about whether they really need it or not, and at that point in time, a seed of happiness and kindness is sowed in the heart, and it is a seed of hope for themselves, the country and the world." (In English): The larger purpose of the bag charge is to make all of us pause and think if we really need the next bag before we reach for the bag.”
“We should show our care for the environment in the choices we make every day. By making the cost of the bag visible to consumers, the intent of the bag charge is to nudge people to consider what they really need instead of taking bags freely. The charge is not a ban. It will not remove the public's access to disposable bags. It is a nudge to every one of us to develop the habit of bringing a reusable bag when shopping for groceries and more and to reduce the use of disposables, an essential feature of sustainable living. Dr Lim Wee Kiak asked about our consultations in developing the bag charge framework. We have conducted extensive consultations over the past year, including with supermarkets and members of the public. Close to 6,000 stakeholders were consulted through focus group discussions, industry and public consultation sessions and surveys. We have heard diverse views in our consultations and have considered these views carefully. Ms Yeo Wan Ling and Dr Lim also asked for details on the bag charge. Let me share with Members about the framework. We will introduce a charge of at least five cents per bag for purchases made at the supermarket outlets. This will be applicable to all disposable carrier bags. We have kept the minimum charge low to moderate the cost impact on shoppers, including on low-income households. Charging per bag is equitable and effective. The more bags we take, the higher the amount we pay. Charging from the first bag would also encourage shoppers to bring their own bags from the outset. The charge will take effect in mid-2023. It will apply to operators of SFA-licensed supermarkets with an annual turnover of more than $100 million, which will cover about two thirds of all supermarket outlets.”
“We convened a Citizens' Workgroup in September 2020 to co-create solutions with the public in the spirit of Singapore Together. The workgroup came up with recommendations on how we can reduce the use of disposables such as carrier bags, food containers, cutlery and packaging. Implementing a charge for disposable carrier bags at supermarkets was one of the recommendations of the workgroup. After careful deliberation, we announced last year that we would work on an appropriate model for a disposable carrier bag charge at supermarkets. We did not decide on this lightly. Our earlier considerations for not implementing a disposable carrier bag charge in Singapore are still valid. Plastic bags are used by many households to bag our garbage before throwing it down our rubbish chutes. Unlike many other countries, we do not directly landfill our disposables but incinerate them. Hence, we do not face the land and water pollution issues that plague those countries. Climate action and environmental protection are gaining pace internationally and locally and we cannot continue with business as usual. A bag charge is becoming commonplace in jurisdictions around the world and closer to home such as in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Malaysia. There is broad recognition that we can reduce wastage of plastic bags. In Singapore, an increasing number of retailers have voluntarily implemented a charge on disposable carrier bags, which has shown to be effective in encouraging the use of reusables. For example, FairPrice's "No Plastic Bag" initiative has saved more than 30 million plastic bags over two years, with seven out of 10 customers willing to bring their own bags. More importantly, we want Singaporeans to be a part of the shift towards a green Singapore.”
“EWR2 is a local e-waste recycling company that recycles large household appliances and ICT equipment and was set up in response to the increasing demand for e-waste recycling services driven by the EPR scheme. It operates a highly automated recycling facility that can recover up to 95% of materials used to make the appliances, of which about 80% is being recycled. We are also pursuing chemical recycling of plastics that converts plastic waste into pyrolysis oil, which can be used as feedstock for the manufacturing of chemicals and plastics. NEA commissioned a feasibility study on the development of a plastic recovery facility last year to extract plastics from our waste for chemical recycling. The facility will harness advanced plastic waste sorting capabilities and improve our plastic recycling rates. We are finding other new innovative ways to turn waste into resource. [Deputy Speaker (Mr Christopher de Souza) in the Chair] Semakau Landfill, for example, can potentially be mined for its landfilled materials. NEA and the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore are carrying out a feasibility study to use such materials in its reclamation for Tuas Port. If feasible, this will prolong the lifespan of Semakau and at the same time, reduce the amount of reclamation materials to be imported. Our transition to a Zero Waste Nation will require everyone to play their part. To be a nation known for sustainable development, care for the environment must be reflected through our daily practices. Our personal and societal values drive the actions and choices we make daily. The use of disposables is an issue that many Singaporeans care about. While disposables have become an everyday convenience, they create large amounts of waste and use up finite resources.”
“NEA will continue to broaden engagement with the public and industry in the coming months, to co-design a cost-effective and suitable Beverage Container Return Scheme for Singapore. As we strive towards a Zero Waste Nation, we need to continue to ensure the sustainability of essential waste disposal services, while encouraging waste reduction to conserve Semakau Landfill. Over the years, the operational costs of waste disposal have increased. To keep pace with rising costs, we will revise the refuse disposal fee for incinerable waste from $77 to $88 per tonne. This fee is paid by public waste collectors and general waste collectors to dispose of incinerable waste at the waste-to-energy plants. We will also revise the refuse disposal fee for non-incinerable waste from $97 to $124 per tonne. This fee is paid by general waste collectors and toxic industrial waste collectors to dispose of non-incinerable waste at Semakau Landfill, such as treated toxic industrial waste and sludge. 5.30 pm The revised fees will take effect on 1 January 2024, two years from now. NEA will issue notification letters to the industry to allow the industry sufficient lead time to adjust. We encourage all businesses to adopt sustainable practices to generate less waste and recycle more and play their part in the shift towards a greener and zero-waste Singapore. As we put in place a comprehensive regulatory framework to encourage recycling, we also need to build capabilities in our local industry. A thriving local recycling industry can generate economic value, job opportunities and exportable solutions for the global green demand.”
“Since the scheme started in July last year, ALBA, the appointed scheme operator, has collected around 3,500 tonnes of consumer e-waste, which is three times the amount collected annually under NEA’s previous National Voluntary Partnership programme. This accounts for approximately 8.5% of the consumer electronic and electrical equipment supplied in 2020. The e-waste collected includes large home appliances like refrigerators and air-conditioners, and ICT equipment like mobile phones and laptops. Members of the public can drop off e-waste at more than 500 e-waste recycling bins nationwide, at convenient locations such as community centres, supermarkets and electronics stores. ALBA also works with Town Councils to organise quarterly collection drives at housing estates and collection of bulky e-waste. For a fee, members of the public may contact ALBA to arrange for doorstep collection of e-waste. Efforts are also ongoing to develop an EPR for packaging waste, starting with a return scheme for beverage containers. Under such a scheme, a deposit is included in the price of the pre-packaged beverages. Consumers will receive a refund upon returning the used beverage container. To facilitate development of this scheme, NEA formed a stakeholder group comprising key industry, academia and civil society representatives in December last year. Over the past two years, NEA has engaged more than 100 large and small producers, which make up about 80% of the pre-packaged beverage market. This included industry briefings, surveys and one-on-one engagements with individual companies and trade associations. Other stakeholders consulted included retailers, waste management companies and members of the public.”
“This is no mean feat, but we have shown that it can be done. We have closed the water loop by reclaiming used water to become NEWater, allowing us to reuse every drop of water endlessly. Minister of State Desmond will share how we are strengthening the resilience of our food and water supply. Ms Nadia Samdin and Miss Cheryl Chan have asked for an update on our waste reduction efforts. Our Zero Waste Masterplan was driven by the need to reduce carbon emissions, boost resource resilience and conserve landfill space. We set a target to reduce waste-to-landfill per capita by 30% by 2030. Under the Singapore Green Plan, we will frontload efforts to achieve a 20% reduction by 2026. In an increasingly resource-constrained world, we need to shift to a circular economy, where trash is turned into treasure and reused endlessly. As we strive to become a Zero Waste Nation, we need to: encourage sustainable production, build capabilities to maximise resource recovery and collectively adopt sustainability as a way of life. Let me elaborate. One key upstream measure to encourage sustainable production is the Extended Producer Responsibility, or EPR scheme. EPR requires producers, such as manufacturers and importers, to be responsible for the collection and proper treatment of their products at end-of-life. We implemented the e-waste EPR last year to ensure the proper handling and treatment of e-waste. This reduces our waste to landfill and allows us to recover valuable resources like gold and copper from e-waste, for use in manufacturing new products. Ms Yeo Wan Ling asked for a progress update.”
“Thank you. COVID-19, climate change and income inequality. These are among the biggest threats confronting the world today. The pandemic has laid bare the fragilities of global supply chains, the vulnerabilities of healthcare systems and the cost of being underprepared. The effects of climate change could be far worse. The latest IPCC report underlines how climate change has resulted in increased frequency and severity of extreme weather events, especially heat waves, droughts, and floods. Climate change will adversely impact economies and livelihoods, as well as security of essential resources such as water, food and energy. COVID-19 has taught us the importance of resilience and this has relevance in the way we deal with climate change. Whether a disruption is brought about by extreme weather events, or a global pandemic, we must take action today to assess our risk exposure, prepare our people and put in measures that will enable us to bounce back from disruption. In this COS, Senior Minister of State Amy Koh, Minister of State Desmond and I will share how MSE is strengthening our resilience across three areas: resource resilience; climate resilience; and public health resilience. First, resource resilience. As a globally connected economy with no natural resources, we are vulnerable to external shocks and supply disruptions. This has been made abundantly clear by the COVID-19 pandemic. As our demand for resources continues to grow, so will our exposure to such fluctuations. Excessive consumption of resources also generates waste and emissions, worsening the climate crisis. We must reduce waste and maximise resource efficiency. We also need to diversify our supply sources and promote circularity to reuse and recycle resources.”
“Mr Chairman, I thank the Members for their questions. May I have your permission for MSE to address these cuts and take clarifications from Members after Senior Minister of State Amy Khor, Minister of State Desmond Tan and I deliver our speeches. And thereafter we will have Members deliver their cuts on the joint segment on the Singapore Green Plan 2030 which will be addressed by Senior Minister Teo and several Green Plan Ministries, including clarifications that may arise.”
“Both casinos in Singapore have implemented smoking restrictions as part of their house rules. Smoking and non-smoking gaming areas in the casinos are separated. Measures are taken to mitigate the potential impact of second-hand tobacco smoke, such as maintaining negative air pressure in smoking gaming areas to prevent second-hand tobacco smoke from drifting into non-smoking areas; improving exhaust air flow rates to reduce accumulation of smoke; and the installation of ionisers within the casinos. The casinos also inform potential hires that they will be working in a smoking environment. We will continue to review the smoking prohibition regulations from time to time.”
“Since 2019, NEA has actively reached out to companies obligated under the Mandatory Packaging Reporting (MPR) framework. This has been done through multiple channels such as electronic and hard copy notifications, publications in major newspapers, media releases as well as virtual and physical engagement sessions. NEA has also worked with various industry associations and groups, such as the Singapore Chemical Industry Council, Singapore Association of Pharmaceutical Industries, Singapore Manufacturing Federation, and the Food Industry Association, to reach out to their members on the MPR obligations. NEA has conducted more than 150 industry briefings, as well as sector-specific and one-to-one consultation sessions for companies. Some of these are held under the Packaging Partnership Programme (PPP), an industry-led capability development programme for sustainable packaging waste management by the Singapore Manufacturing Federation in partnership with NEA. The PPP also organises training sessions for companies on the MPR requirements and how companies can develop 3R (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) plans for packaging. NEA will send out final reminders to companies prior to the submission deadline of 31 March 2022 and will also continue to work with industry stakeholders to reach out to companies.”
“ALBA W&H Smart City Pte Ltd (ALBA W&H) took over as the appointed Public Waste Collector for the Woodlands-Yishun sector on 1 January 2022. The initial delays in refuse and recyclables collection in some areas within this sector were due to inadequate manpower and vehicle resources. Supply chain disruptions arising from the COVID-19 situation had also affected the arrival of specialised waste collection vehicles in Singapore. Moreover, the new collection crew were not yet fully familiar with the collection routes and points. Service quality progressively improved after the first week, as ALBA W&H augmented its fleet and manpower with the support of other service providers and extended its operational hours in the affected areas. NEA is working to introduce additional safeguards in the licensing conditions so as to ensure smoother transitions in future.”
“The National Environment Agency (NEA) monitors the contamination rate of recyclables collected in the blue bins and recycling chutes. Based on data collected in 2018 and 2020, about 40% of the items collected cannot be recycled. These are treated as general waste after being sorted at the Material Recovery Facilities and disposed of at waste-to-energy plants for energy recovery. The remaining 60% is sent to recyclers, who will process the recyclables and use the materials for new products or send them to other recycling facilities for further processing and recycling.”
“The Clean Tables Campaign was launched in February 2021 to raise public hygiene standards at public dining places and encourage tray and crockery return. Even as diners clear their used trays and crockery, cleaners remain essential in maintaining the general cleanliness and hygiene of dining places. The National Environment Agency (NEA) and the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) have been working with stakeholders, such as the Environmental Management Association of Singapore, cleaning companies, coffeeshop and food court operators, to revise their table-cleaning workflow by having split cleaners to sort and clear used crockery at tray and crockery return points, as well as to wipe and sanitise tables. The COVID-19 pandemic has, in fact, increased the demands on cleaners, with the heightened requirements to ensure higher levels of public hygiene. NEA and SFA have been reminding cleaning contractors and operators that cleaners play an important role in the revised cleaning workflow. The Clean Tables Campaign is not a valid reason to lay off cleaners.”
“To strengthen the deterrent effect and signal the Government’s zero-tolerance for litterbugs, the maximum Court fines for littering were last raised in 2014 from $1,000, $2,000 and $5,000 for the first, second and third or subsequent conviction, to $2,000, $4,000 and $10,000 respectively. Recalcitrant offenders may also be issued a Corrective Work Order (CWO). My Ministry has no plans to increase the penalty for littering for now.”
“No smoking is allowed within five metres of certain smoking-prohibited places, such as bus stops and entrances and exits of public buildings. The five-metre buffer distance specified under the Smoking (Prohibition in Certain Places) Regulations was determined with reference to local and international standards for the intake of ambient air into building ventilation systems or building openings. This distance is also similar to buffer distances implemented overseas. Given Singapore’s dense urban environment, five metres is a reasonable and realistic buffer distance to protect the public from second-hand tobacco smoke at certain smoking-prohibited places commonly accessible to the public. Nevertheless, my Ministry will review the smoking prohibition regulations from time to time.”
“In Singapore, our residents do need disposable bags for bagging rubbish to ensure public hygiene. This will prevent pest infestation in our bins and chutes. The proposed bag charge will not remove the public’s access to disposable bags. Disposable bags will still be available from supermarkets, including those for the bagging of fresh produce, such as fish and meat, as well as from other non-supermarket retail outlets and wet markets. The intent of a disposable carrier bag charge at supermarkets is to discourage excessive use, which is unsustainable as it uses up resources and adds to carbon emissions when incinerated in our waste-to-energy plants. We hope that the bag charge will encourage people to be more mindful of how they consume disposable carrier bags and build environmentally-friendly habits.”
“I thank the Member for the supplementary question. As I have mentioned, this Packaging Partnership Programme is something new that we have launched in 2021. At the moment, we have conducted 12 events, including sessions of workshops, two webinars, five training sessions for the companies. They are across the entire packaging supply chain from packaging, manufacturing and logistics service providers to retailers, such as supermarkets. This is something new. It is for sustainable packaging, and we hope that more companies will come on board and we hope that the programme, through its time, will bring about more sustainable packaging practices into the market. 2.00 pm”
“Supermarkets and businesses can preserve the quality of their products through more sustainable packaging models, such as reusable and refillable packaging. The Singapore Manufacturing Federation and NEA launched the Packaging Partnership Programme in 2021 to support companies in adopting sustainable packaging waste management practices through workshops and resources. I encourage businesses to minimise waste in their use of packaging and consumers to avoid the excessive use of packaging.”
“Thank you. The transition to a sustainable and greener economy is necessary for Singapore to thrive in a carbon and resource-constrained future. Consumers are increasingly demanding sustainable products and services. Consumers are also choosing to buy from businesses with more sustainable practices. Businesses have responded by adopting more sustainable practices and introducing greener goods and services. The pricing of these products and services is part of this commercial decision. In some cases, products and services may cost a bit more. But in a competitive market, businesses will compete to provide consumers with the most value-for-money products and services. As sustainable products and services become more mainstream, economies of scale could bring down costs. There could also be cost savings from going green. For example, energy-efficient products may cost more upfront but provide savings over their life cycle. Packaging waste is one of our main waste streams and a priority area for waste reduction for my Ministry. We have required large producers of packaged products and retailers, including supermarkets, to report annually the amount of packaging they introduce into Singapore, as well as their plans to reduce, reuse or recycle packaging. This Mandatory Packaging Reporting framework focuses companies’ attention on the packaging that they are placing on the market and encourages them to reduce packaging use. It also lays the foundation for an Extended Producer Responsibility scheme for packaging waste eventually. Packaging serves an important function of reducing damage, minimising cross-contamination and enhancing the shelf-life of certain food types, thereby reducing wastage of food products.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, may I have your permission to take the next two questions together?”
“Agencies typically plan ahead and increase deployment of Safe Distancing Ambassadors (SDAs) and Enforcement Officers (EOs) during festive periods or major events. Agencies also step up enforcement checks around specific hotspots. While agencies proactively work with stakeholders to plan the necessary safe management arrangements, it is not possible to prevent crowds from forming spontaneously. When unforeseen crowding takes place and agencies are alerted, SDAs and EOs will respond to the site and act to disperse the crowds. Where circumstances require, the Police will be brought in. Everyone must continue to do their part to be socially responsible. Agencies will continue to take firm enforcement action, including prosecution, against individuals and groups who do not comply with safe management measures.”
“About 113 million self-test kits have been distributed or sold in Singapore since the start of the pandemic. These include Antigen Rapid Test kits which the Government distributed to households and workplaces, to individuals who received Health Risk Warnings, as well as kits sold in retail outlets and pharmacies. COVID-19 self-test is an important part of our public health strategy to manage the spread of the virus. The Government's priority has been to ensure that self-test kits are adequate, safe and effective. The disposal of used test kits is governed by guidelines that are driven by the need to minimise exposure to and cross contamination from these used kits. We will work with MOH to monitor the development of more environmentally-sustainable self-test kits and consider adopting them when they are available.”
“Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, cleaning staff in both healthcare and non-healthcare settings have worked tirelessly to maintain public cleanliness and hygiene. We thank our cleaners for their hard work and contributions and will continue to take care of them as we emerge stronger from the COVID-19 pandemic. There are several existing awards to recognise the contributions of our cleaners. The Clean and Green Singapore (CGS) Awards have been organised annually since 2003, where outstanding cleaners working in the community are recognised with CGS Best Cleaners Awards. To recognise the exceptional contributions of our frontline workers in the Environmental Services (ES) industry, the National Environment Agency has organised the ES Workforce Day annually since 2018 with the support of tripartite partners, including the Environmental Management Association of Singapore, the Waste Management and Recycling Association of Singapore and the National Trades Union Congress. Exemplary individuals from the cleaning services sector are awarded the ES Star Award and Certificates of Excellence. In addition, we will uplift the skills, wages and progression pathways of our cleaners through the Progressive Wage Model for Cleaning. With the six-year schedule of sustained wage increases released in May 2021 by the Tripartite Cluster for Cleaners, a General Cleaner can look forward to a monthly baseline wage of more than $2,400 by 2028, a 90% increase, compared to today.”
“When there is persistent high-rise littering feedback at a block of HDB flats, the National Environment Agency (NEA) will work with the Town Council to first issue advisories to residents in the block. Should the issue persist, surveillance cameras with video analytics will then be deployed. In the last five years, on average, high-rise littering incidents would be detected in about 40% of surveillance camera deployments. Of the high-rise littering cases detected by the cameras, the offender could not be identified from our investigations in about 3.5% of cases.”
“Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) are greenhouse gases that are often used as refrigerants in refrigeration and air-conditioning (RAC) equipment. To reduce HFC emissions and support Singapore’s climate action efforts, the National Environment Agency (NEA) mandates the recovery and proper treatment of spent HFC refrigerants in household refrigerators and air-conditioners, and commercial water-cooled chillers. This requirement does not apply to air-conditioners in motor vehicles, as most vehicles are exported at the end-of-life. NEA is studying the feasibility of extending HFC mitigation measures to other RAC equipment, including those used in motor vehicles. This will be done in close consultation with relevant stakeholders and agencies.”
“On this note, I support the Motion and call on the whole of nation – corporates, civil society and the community – to join us as we embark on this exciting transition. [Applause.]”