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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“Marsiling residents in Woodlands Town are currently served by Marsiling Mall Hawker Centre, Kampung Admiralty Hawker Centre and Blk 20/21 Marsiling Lane Market and Food Centre. Besides hawker centres, there are other eating establishments, such as coffee shops and food courts, nearby that cater to the dining needs of Marsiling residents. With these options available to residents in the vicinity, there are no immediate plans to expand the Marsiling Lane Market and Food Centre.”
“This question will be addressed in the next Sitting on 8 January 2025, together with similar Parliamentary Questions, for a more holistic reply. [Please refer to "Deployment of Surveillance Cameras to Catch High-rise Littering and Trial of Other Technologies to Supplement Present Efforts", Official Report, 8 January 2025, Vol 95, Issue 149, Oral Answers to Questions section.]”
“The National Environment Agency (NEA) regularly publishes information on the water quality at popular recreational beaches on NEA's website and the myENV mobile application. These include advisories indicating whether a beach is suitable for primary contact activities, i.e., swimming, during pollution incidents which might impact the water quality at our beaches. Such advisories take into account the possible presence of pollutants related to the pollution incident. In addition, when necessary, NEA places physical signages advising the public against swimming at affected beaches. We encourage the public to check the NEA website or the myENV mobile application for the most updated information on the water quality of recreational beaches.”
“The Member may refer to written Parliamentary Question No 11 answered on 12 November 2024's Sitting, on the oil spill incident which occurred on 28 October 2024. [Please refer to "Impact on Local Wildlife and Environment from Oil Spill off Changi on 28 October 2024", Official Report, 12 November 2024, Vol 95, Issue 146, Written Answers to Questions section.] For more details on measures that have been implemented by agencies to reduce the risk of oil spill incidents, the Member may also refer to the response by Minister of State for Transport, Mr Murali Pillai, to Parliamentary Questions on the recent oil spill incidents at the 11 November 2024 Parliament Sitting. [Please refer to "Adequacy and Effectiveness of Oil Sighting and Alert Mechanisms, and Maritime Incident Response and Mitigation Strategies", Official Report, 11 November 2024, Vol 95, Issue 145, Oral Answers to Questions section.]”
“Between 2021 and 2023, the National Environment Agency's (NEA’s) dengue inspection officers inspected 600,000 homes on average each year. NEA takes a risk-based approach to prioritise the deployment of dengue inspection officers to dengue cluster areas. Generally, the islandwide average accessibility rate is around 40%. In areas with large dengue clusters, NEA was able to inspect more than 90% of the homes, based on 2023 data. When initial inspection attempts are unsuccessful, NEA officers will return for inspection at another time and, if necessary, serve a letter to the resident to arrange for another date to inspect the unit. If NEA's dengue inspection officers are still unable to gain access despite repeated visits, NEA will serve notices under the Control of Vectors and Pesticides Act 1998 (CVPA) to require residents to make their homes available for inspection. When the dengue situation is very serious and the homes are vacant or continue to remain inaccessible even after NEA has made repeated attempts, including through neighbours and grassroots, and issued legal notices, NEA may exercise its statutory authority under section 36 of CVPA to gain entry to these premises to conduct vector inspections to mitigate public health risks. From 2021 to 2023, 129 inspections were carried out under section 36 of CVPA. Operational protocols are in place to ensure that such entries are conducted safely and under strict supervision.”
“On 28 October 2024, an estimated five tonnes of oil was reported to have overflowed into the sea off Changi during a bunkering operation. While there was no oil sighted at sea nor in the vicinity of the incident and ashore, the National Environment Agency (NEA) and other agencies had taken precautionary measures, including the deployment of containment and absorbent booms at key areas, such as East Coast Park. Thus far, the National Parks Board (NParks) has not observed any oil at biodiversity-sensitive areas. NParks has commenced long-term monitoring of the ecological impact on our marine habitats and biodiversity and is working with the scientific community to conduct research to better understand the long-term impacts.”
“From January to October 2024, about 800 acts of high-rise littering from more than 400 residential units were captured by surveillance cameras deployed by the National Environment Agency (NEA). Of these, NEA has concluded investigations and taken action for more than 150 cases. The remaining cases are still under investigation. NEA and Town Councils share information when investigating high-rise littering offences. If there are eyewitness accounts, NEA will conduct investigations, including interviews with relevant parties, to collect evidence. Members of the public may also submit video evidence of high-rise littering acts to NEA for investigation.”
“The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) inspects and tests both imported and locally produced vegetables to ensure compliance with food safety requirements, including standards for microbiological and chemical contamination. These standards are periodically reviewed to align with Codex, the international food standards body established by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations and the World Health Organization. Where standards are not prescribed in Codex, SFA will take reference from standards adopted by major developed countries. SFA also conducts inspections on licensed food businesses and samples food to test for microbiological and chemical contaminations, including pathogens. Food businesses of higher regulatory concern, such as those with records of past infringements, are subject to stepped up surveillance.”
“On average, in 2023, PUB received about four cases of feedback per day pertaining to tap water quality and PUB responds to every case promptly with laboratory testing to confirm that the water is safe for consumption.”
“Maintenance of water pipes in Housing and Development Board estates is a shared responsibility between national water agency Public Utilities Board (PUB), Town Councils and home owners. PUB continually monitors its network of potable water pipes with sensors. PUB also conducts yearly leak detection checks on its network of pipes, with more frequent inspections for pipes located near construction activities and those that had previously experienced leaks. In addition, PUB has a pipe replacement programme based on an assessment of the condition of the pipes, to minimise leaks and ensure a reliable water supply around the clock. Town Councils are responsible for the maintenance of water storage tanks and water pipes on the common property of public housing estates. The water storage tanks must be inspected, cleaned and disinfected annually by a licensed plumber to ensure that they meet safety and hygiene standards. Home owners are responsible for the maintenance of pipes and fittings of individual units and are advised to engage licensed plumbers for the maintenance of these pipes and fittings when necessary. All water produced by our plants is tested daily to ensure that it meets our stringent water quality requirements before being supplied to customers. The daily tests include samples collected from across the water distribution network, including household taps. The quality of our tap water complies with the standards stipulated in the Environmental Public Health (Water Suitable for Drinking) Regulations and is well above the World Health Organisation Guidelines for drinking water quality. Singapore’s tap water is perfectly safe for drinking directly from the tap without any further filtering or treatment.”
“SFA has also compiled market reports and import requirements of different countries and regions into a Library of Export Market Requirements on SFA’s website to support farms looking to export their produce and works closely with other Government agencies to facilitate Singapore’s food trade flows and to support businesses in gaining market access. While the Government will do its part, the viability of our local agri-food sector also depends on consumer demand for their products. Consumers can play a part by choosing to purchase local produce which can be easily recognised by the red SG Fresh Produce logo or dine at food businesses under the FTTRP. Local produce is fresher, lasts longer and incurs less transport miles as it need not travel long distances or for long periods of time before reaching consumers. SFA will continue to explore initiatives to scale demand offtake for local produce. Together, we can continue to safeguard Singapore’s food security.”
“The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) has been supporting the industry in achieving greater offtake for local produce through various initiatives. This includes incorporating a criterion in Government procurement to give additional points to businesses who have undertaken sustainability initiatives, such as being recognised under the Farm-to-Table Recognition Programme (FTTRP), for procuring locally grown produce. The additional points increase their chances of securing Government catering contracts, including those with key Government entities. Beyond working with suppliers on contracts with Government entities, SFA has also been working with the Singapore Agro-Food Enterprises Federation Limited (SAFEF) to facilitate long-term commercial contracts between farmers and food businesses. This provides producers with certainty of demand and pricing while providing food businesses with the convenience of access to a wide array of local produce from different farms, and constancy of supplies of good quality produce. In May 2024, SAFEF partnered FairPrice to launch a pilot to sell aggregated locally farmed vegetables and marine tilapia under the brands “SG Farmers’ Market” and “The Straits Fish” at 44 and 20 FairPrice outlets respectively. This helped our local produce gain more visibility among consumers and increased sales. SFA also works closely with our supermarket retailers to promote local produce through prominent in-store marketing materials and fairs to encourage shoppers to buy local produce and educate them on the benefits of local produce. Beyond the local market, farms can leverage the Singapore brand and our food safety recognition to export their products.”
“To make it convenient and sustainable for residents and volunteers to help keep our neighbourhoods and environment clean, PHC has a network of 21 CleanPods distributed around parks, beaches and housing estates that provides access to shared clean-up tools. A whole-of-society approach is needed to keep our public spaces clean. I urge everyone to play their part in keeping Singapore a clean, green and sustainable home.”
“The National Environment Agency (NEA) oversees the cleaning of public spaces, such as roads, pavements and certain private estates in Singapore, while Town Councils manage the cleaning of Housing and Development Board (HDB) estates. NEA does not track the total amount of litter collected from different areas, such as public spaces and recreational parks, as all types of litter and organic waste, such as leaves, are collected together when cleaning is conducted. The Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment (MSE) and NEA have been ramping up efforts and working closely with stakeholders to keep Singapore clean; especially this year, which we have designated as the Year of Public Hygiene. We adopt a multi-pronged approach that combines enforcement against litterbugs and partnership with the community. NEA has stepped up anti-littering enforcement, including more than 100 anti-littering enforcement blitzes at hotspots with higher offence rates and public feedback reports. In addition to enforcement efforts, NEA works with partners, such as residents, community leaders, Town Councils, schools and other organisations, to foster collective action and social responsibility to keep our public spaces clean. So far, this year, our partners have organised more than 130 activities that promote a stronger culture of cleanliness. There are also other initiatives, such as the Public Hygiene Council's (PHC's) annual Keep Singapore Clean campaign and CleanPods, which advocate the value of maintaining cleanliness beyond our own homes and fostering the habit of picking up after oneself.”
“Over the past five years, the Singapore Food Agency has been alerted to 11 cases of misrepresentation of thawed frozen meat sold as fresh meat. Enforcement action was taken against one case while the remaining other 10 cases were found to be unsubstantiated. Food establishments engaged in the sale of thawed frozen meat are required to label them accordingly. Consumers can look out for such labels before their purchases. Thawed frozen meat can only be identified through laboratory testing. Enforcement action is taken if misrepresentation is found after laboratory testing.”
“The National Environment Agency has introduced the Joint Operator Scheme since 2012 which allows eligible stallholders to appoint joint operators to share operating hours at their stalls. Stallholders are still required to personally operate at their stalls and ensure no overlap in operating hours with their joint operators, to prevent the possibility of subletting. This scheme allows hawkers to enjoy flexibility in their working hours while enhancing the vibrancy of markets and hawker centres at the same time. Eligible stallholders can also appoint their family members as nominees to operate the stalls on their behalf due to old age.”
“Various technologies, such as indoor air quality monitors, can detect volatile organic compounds and fine particulate matter, like PM2.5, which are emitted by cigarette smoke. However, such devices are unable to distinguish the source of such compounds, that is, whether they come specifically from cigarette smoke, and the location from which they originate. Elevated PM2.5 levels can be caused by many activities, including cooking or burning of incense, apart from smoking. While we continue to monitor technological developments and innovations in this area, mitigating second-hand cigarette smoke in homes ultimately requires everyone to play their part. I urge smokers to exercise social responsibility and refrain from lighting up where second-hand cigarette smoke can affect those around them, including neighbours living beside, above or below them. Families and friends of smokers, as well as the general public, can help reinforce these social norms.”
“Starting from 2025, carbon tax-liable companies can purchase international carbon credits (ICCs) generated from authorised projects to offset up to 5% of their 2024 taxable emissions. Singapore has signed Implementation Agreements (IAs) with Ghana and Papua New Guinea on Article 6 carbon credits cooperation. Operationalisation of the Singapore-Papua New Guinea IA is pending Parliamentary approval of its domestic framework required for participation in Article 6 cooperation. For the Singapore-Ghana IA, we launched the call for project applications on 30 September 2024 and are working closely with Ghana to assess the applications. When they are authorised by both Ghana and Singapore, these projects will be published online on Singapore’s Carbon Markets Cooperation website. ICCs generated from these projects can be purchased and used for carbon tax offset. We are also pursuing similar partnerships with more than 20 other countries, including Bhutan, Cambodia, Chile, Peru and Mongolia. The availability of ICCs will require active participation from the private sector, and the Singapore Government will continue supporting these efforts as more IAs are signed. For example, in July 2024, Minister of State Alvin Tan led an inaugural business mission to Ghana to facilitate the development of carbon credit projects under the Singapore-Ghana IA. The Economic Development Board has also established the Singapore Carbon Market Alliance to bring corporates together to foster a vibrant and trusted carbon market and facilitate companies’ access to Article 6-compliant ICCs.”
“Singapore reports our greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory in accordance with the reporting requirements for Parties under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Based on the UNFCCC reporting requirements, emissions from international transport (aviation and marine bunkers) do not accrue to the national GHG inventory of the countries providing bunkering but are reported separately as an information item. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the International Maritime Organization (IMO) lead the efforts on setting emissions targets for and decarbonising international transport. These organisations have set for their respective sectors a global ambition of achieving net-zero GHG emissions by or around 2050. As a member state of both ICAO and IMO, Singapore participates actively in discussions at the ICAO and IMO to decarbonise the civil aviation and maritime sectors. We are committed to contributing to these global ambitions collectively with other ICAO and IMO members. The Maritime Singapore Decarbonisation Blueprint, launched by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore in 2022, sets out our focus areas in driving the decarbonisation of the maritime industry. The strategies and initiatives will be reviewed and refined to respond to the dynamic developments in the global maritime decarbonisation landscape. The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore also published the Singapore Sustainable Air Hub Blueprint in February this year, outlining our initiatives to achieve net-zero for domestic and international aviation emissions by 2050.”
“Government Procurement Entities (GPEs) have adopted evaluation criteria to differentiate solutions or suppliers that are more environmentally sustainable. For large construction tenders, the criteria include suppliers’ climate-related disclosures, level or extent of decarbonisation practices in intended construction work processes and relevant certifications to demonstrate that the supplier is environmentally sustainable. For information and communications technology hardware tenders, the evaluation criteria include suppliers’ climate-related disclosures, environmental sustainability certifications for supplied products, and level or extent of sustainable packaging utilised.”
“As part of greenery intensification under the Housing and Development Board (HDB) Green Towns Programme, the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) and HDB tendered out 16 multi-storey car park (MSCP) sites in 2020 and 2021 to pilot commercial urban farming. All sites were awarded on three-year tenancies renewable for up to two additional terms of three years each. Although the production volume is relatively small, it brings local production closer to the community, thereby raising awareness and support for local produce. SFA and HDB consider multiple factors when identifying suitable MSCP sites for commercial urban farming. These include the utilisation rate of the MSCPs, the loading which the rooftops at each site can bear, the availability of water and electricity supply, waste discharge facilities, as well as the current and future development plans for the surrounding HDB blocks. SFA is monitoring the progress of the existing commercial MSCP farms before deciding on future tenders and whether to extend the tenancy duration. There are currently no immediate plans to launch new tenders for commercial farming at MSCP sites. In the meantime, entities that wish to take up longer-term commercial farming can consider participating in SFA’s land and sea space tenders which offer more space and longer leases to contribute to local production and food security.”
“From 2019 to 2023, the average annual early termination rate for cooked food stalls at NEA-managed hawker centres and Socially-conscious Enterprise Hawker Centres (SEHCs) were 3% and 8% respectively. The most common reason cited by stallholders for termination is poor business at their stalls.”
“Operators of Socially-conscious Enterprise Hawker Centres (SEHCs) are required to submit their audited financial statements for the centres under their management to the National Environment Agency (NEA) on an annual basis. Operators may generate operating surpluses in some years and deficits in other years. From 2019 to 2023, the average annual operating surplus was about $100,000. In accordance with NEA’s agreement with the SEHCs, those with operating surpluses have ploughed back at least 50% of them into programmes that benefit the hawker centres and/or their stallholders. These could include measures to raise footfall and business levels to benefit stallholders. Some operators had also tapped on their operating surplus to help the stallholders reduce their operating costs.”
“Since its formation, the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) has partnered local farms in various areas to improve their business viability. This includes efforts to increase demand offtake for local produce. With SFA’s support, the Singapore Agro-Food Enterprises Federation Limited (SAFEF) has been organising “SG Farmers’ Market” (SGFM) three times a year, where local farms showcase their freshly harvested produce at various heartland malls and locations across Singapore. To help farmers expand their distribution channels further, in 2020, SAFEF brought SGFM online by creating a one-stop e-SGFM page on Lazada RedMart. Such efforts seek to bring local produce from our farms directly to consumers in the heartlands. There are currently no plans to provide subsidised transportation for consumers to travel to farms. SFA will continue to work with SAFEF to explore impactful initiatives to scale demand offtake for local produce.”
“The statutory presumption provision for littering from residential flats came into force on 1 July 2023. From 1 July 2023 to 30 September 2024, over 30 acts of high-rise littering from 14 residential flats were recorded by surveillance cameras deployed by the National Environment Agency (NEA) in Fernvale constituency. Enforcement action has been taken against five offenders while the remaining cases are currently under investigation. Of the five offenders, one individual has been charged under the statutory presumption provision as the individual was unable to provide relevant information to rebut the presumption. However, NEA reduced the charges on compassionate grounds upon appeal by the individual. The remaining four offenders were charged based on their admission to committing the high-rise littering offence. From January to September 2024, NEA has conducted more than 1,500 camera deployments island-wide. NEA will continue to work with Town Councils to reach out to residents and raise awareness on the environmental and social consequences of high-rise littering. As it will not be sustainable to increase camera deployments indefinitely, NEA will continue to prioritise the deployment of surveillance cameras at blocks with persistent feedback on high-rise littering. Members of the public may also submit video evidence of high-rise littering acts to NEA for investigation.”
“There has been a declining trend in feedback on second-hand tobacco smoke from neighbours received by the National Environment Agency (NEA) through its online feedback system. NEA received 900 instances of feedback in 2021, 260 instances in 2022, and 120 instances in 2023. These form 2.6%, 1.2% and 0.6% of annual total feedback received via the platform. NEA’s online feedback system is intended for the public to provide information on issues regulated by NEA, such as littering, smoking in prohibited places and mosquito breeding. There is a general category for feedback on other environmental issues. There are no plans to create an additional category for second-hand tobacco smoke from neighbours.”
“The National Environment Agency (NEA) works closely with other agencies on the planning of new hawker centres by considering various factors, including residential catchments, availability of comparable food and beverage options and complementary facilities in the vicinity, as well as land availability and compatibility with adjacent land use. The Government will continue to plan for hawker centres and coffee shops holistically and is committed to ensuring that these places continue to provide affordable cooked food options for Singaporeans.”
“We currently have no plans to mandate that premises managers set up designated smoking areas at the outdoor areas of their premises. The setting up of designated smoking areas should be carefully considered as the proliferation of such smoking facilities needs to be balanced against the risk of inadvertently normalising smoking. We urge smokers to be considerate and socially responsible when smoking at public places.”
“The Singapore Government is learning from the experience of the Sumatra squall on 17 September 2024 and reviewing our practices and responses in preparation for more of such extreme weather events in future. First, in forecasting and providing early warning. While the Meteorological Service Singapore (MSS) can currently track the development of such squalls, MSS will invest more in forecasting their intensities and providing earlier warning to the public. MSS will also increase public education on early warning systems in preparation for more adverse weather scenarios in future. Second, to ensure the structural safety and resilience of buildings in Singapore against strong winds, the existing regulatory requirements for the design, installation and inspection of exterior features of buildings have taken into account the impact of wind forces. The National Parks Board also has in place a comprehensive tree management regime that enhances the resilience of its tree population against intense rains and winds. The Government will continue to update our regulations and practices where needed and strengthen our climate adaptation policies to ensure that Singapore remains resilient and prepared for such extreme weather events as they become more prevalent in the face of climate change.”
“There are currently no plans to mandate food and beverage (F&B) establishments to provide tap water free of charge for paying customers. Nonetheless, we encourage both F&B establishments and patrons to play a part in tackling plastic waste by reducing the excessive use of disposables.”
“Supermarket operators with an annual turnover of more than $100 million are required to charge a minimum of five cents per disposable carrier bag, regardless of material and size, provided at their supermarket outlets. For all other retailers, charging for disposable carrier bags is a business decision. There are currently no plans for the Government to introduce pricing guidelines for these retailers.”
“The National Environment Agency (NEA) adopts a pragmatic approach in identifying places where smoking should be prohibited and takes into consideration whether the places have high footfall, are frequented by families, or are air-conditioned or enclosed. To reduce the public’s exposure to the harmful effects of second-hand tobacco smoke, NEA has progressively extended the smoking prohibition to cover more than 49,000 places island-wide. This includes covered and underground pedestrian walkways, playgrounds and void decks. There are currently no plans to specifically prohibit smoking in areas under Mass Rapid Transit and Land Transport Authority viaducts. We encourage smokers to exercise social responsibility and be considerate when smoking in public spaces.”
“The National Environment Agency does not take enforcement action against persons who have genuine difficulties returning their trays due to frailty or physical disability. This is a pragmatic approach in view of the difficulties they may face. All relevant officers have been briefed on the enforcement approach for table littering and will exercise the necessary discretion based on their observations on site.”
“The exhalation of cigarette smoke to the open air outside of a Housing and Development Board flat is not a violation of the Smoking (Prohibition in Certain Places) Regulations when the individual is smoking within the flat, as smoking is not prohibited in residential homes. Nevertheless, we urge residents to be considerate of others, even when smoking within their own homes.”
“The Request For Proposal on Characterisation of Vehicular Emissions in Singapore was called in June 2023 and closed in September 2023. The project scope was revised to include additional pollutants under the new Euro 7 emission standards, which were introduced in April 2024. The research proposals received are currently being evaluated.”
“Not cleaning up after one's pet is an irresponsible behaviour that impacts public hygiene. Members of the public who fail to clean up after their pets defecate in public areas, can be fined under the Environmental Public Health (Public Cleansing) Regulations. In 2023, the National Environment Agency (NEA) received about 670 cases of feedback on pet defecation and urination in HDB estates. For feedback received, public education efforts were conducted, including putting up standees at prominent locations to remind pet owners to clean up after their pets. Due to the transient nature of the offence, enforcement is challenging. Over the same period, NEA took one enforcement action against a pet owner who failed to remove and dispose of faecal matter deposited by the pet. My Ministry regularly reviews the regulations and there are currently no plans to require pet owners to clean up pet urination. The main approach to tackling the issue of pet defecation and urination has been to foster a culture of responsible pet ownership. NEA and the National Parks Board work with community leaders and Town Councils to educate pet owners on the "do's and don'ts" of being a responsible pet owner. I urge all pet owners to be considerate and exercise care when walking their pets, so that we can keep our environment clean and hygienic.”
“As part of a multi-pronged approach to deter high-rise litterbugs, the National Environment Agency (NEA) undertakes public education to increase public awareness of the adverse environmental and social impacts and penalties associated with high-rise littering. These efforts aim to influence behaviour and cultivate good habits. They include, social media posts, news articles and cleanliness campaigns. NEA also works with Town Councils to deploy physical standees and posters at the Housing and Development Board blocks to highlight ongoing surveillance and statistics on high-rise littering offences. NEA also conducts targeted educational outreach to households in the stack of residential units that is affected by high-rise littering. NEA will continue to refine our educational materials and outreach efforts as needed and support our partners including Town Councils to do more to deter high-rise littering. High-rise littering is an antisocial and irresponsible act which affects public safety in addition to environmental hygiene. NEA will continue to encourage members of the public to exercise social graciousness and take personal ownership in keeping Singapore clean.”
“Under Recycle N Save, a joint initiative by the National Environment Agency (NEA) and Fraser and Neave (F&N) Foods Pte Ltd, 50 Reverse Vending Machines (RVMs) were placed at public locations and in schools across the island, to encourage Singaporeans to adopt an eco-conscious lifestyle by offering them a convenient way to recycle. Since its launch in October 2019, more than 16 million drink containers have been collected. Following the cessation of the Recycle N Save rewards on 31 July 2023, RVMs remain accessible at various locations, such as at partnering malls and sports centres, where the drink containers are collected by the location partners. F&N also continues to provide regular maintenance for RVMs to ensure that they remain in good working condition. When the beverage container return scheme commences in 2026, consumers will be able to return empty beverage containers at conveniently located designated return points and claim a full refund of the deposit.”
“Packaging waste, including plastics, is a priority waste stream under the Zero Waste Masterplan. My Ministry and the National Environment Agency (NEA) promote the recycling of packaging waste through regulatory measures and educational campaigns. One such example is the upcoming beverage container return scheme. In July 2024, NEA issued a licence to Beverage Container Return Scheme Ltd., a not-for-profit company formed by a consortium of beverage producers comprising Coca-Cola Singapore Beverages, Fraser and Neave (F&N) Foods and Pokka, to operate the beverage container return scheme from April 2026. Under the scheme, a 10-cent deposit will be refunded to consumers when they return their metal or plastic beverage containers for recycling. NEA also carries out regular campaigns to promote good recycling habits. As part of the Recycle Right campaign rolled out in 2019, tips are shared with business owners and consumers on how to identify, segregate and clean recyclables so that they can be properly recycled. Resources can be downloaded from the Clean & Green Singapore website (www.cgs.gov.sg). All types of non-reusable packaging, including those made from biodegradable materials, result in some form of environmental impact. Reducing the use of disposable packaging, regardless of material type and promoting the use of reusables are more sustainable approaches. To this end, NEA has been working with partners across both the retail and food and beverage industries to promote sustainable practices, such as bring-your-own-bag, food container and bottle, under the Say YES to Waste Less campaign.”
“Subject to the No-Work Rule on Sundays and Public Holidays, work is permitted at construction sites as long as the permissible noise limits stipulated in the Environmental Protection and Management (Control of Noise at Construction Sites) Regulations are complied with. To protect residents’ rest at night, more stringent permissible noise limits are applied after 7.00 pm and 10.00 pm respectively, and 9.00 pm is not used as a specific threshold in our regulations. More stringent limits also apply around residential buildings and noise-sensitive premises, for instance, hospitals, schools, institutes of higher learning and homes for the aged. Contractors should implement noise mitigation measures where necessary to ensure compliance with the applicable permissible noise limits. This may include utilising quieter construction equipment, such as electric machinery.”
“The National Environment Agency (NEA) does not have plans to ban the use of plastic wrappers for chopsticks. To tackle table littering, since 2021, we have made it mandatory for diners to clear their used trays, crockery and litter, including plastic wrappers for chopsticks, after their meals at hawker centres, coffee shops and food courts. As chopstick plastic wrappers tend to be very light, we would like to remind diners to take extra care that the wrappers do not get blown away and end up as litter. NEA has been working with various stakeholders, including the hawkers’ associations and our appointed operators, to reduce the use of disposables for dine-in meals at hawker centres. For example, the use of disposable crockery and cutlery for dine-in meals has been disallowed at new hawker centres since November 2016 and for all new stallholders in existing hawker centres since September 2018. Under GreenGov.SG, public agencies have been working with food and beverage outlets in public sector premises to phase out disposables for dine-in meals as far as possible.”
“The Government has no plans to mandate businesses to take up Environmental Impairment Liability insurance. Businesses should decide on their appropriate insurance coverage based on their specific needs, risk profiles and relevant regulatory requirements.”
“Since its establishment in 2020, the SG Eco Fund has completed four Grant Calls, with the fifth currently ongoing. The breakdown of the four completed Grant Calls is shown in the table below. Some projects were awarded in the year following their application. Reasons for unsuccessful applications include not demonstrating environmental benefit and/or involvement of community, and lacking a clear implementation plan. The SG Eco Fund works actively with borderline projects to strengthen their proposals, which may eventually be awarded funding. Grant Call results are released regularly on the SG Eco Fund website.”
“I thank the Member for his question. This question has been addressed in my reply to Parliamentary Question No 3 for Oral Answer on the Order Paper for 7 August 2024. [Please refer to "Update on Clean-up Work Following Pasir Panjang Terminal Oil Spill Incident", Official Report, 7 August 2024, Vol 95, Issue 139, Oral Answers to Questions section.]”
“I thank the Member for his question. This question has been addressed in the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment's written answer to Parliamentary Question No 19 on 6 August 2024. [Please refer to "Strategies to Boost Waste Recycling Rates", Official Report, 6 August 2024, Vol 95, Issue 138, Written Answers to Questions section.]”
“This will be addressed orally at the Parliament Sitting on 7 August 2024, together with similar Parliamentary Questions for a more holistic reply. [Please refer to "Progress of '30 By 30' Food Production Goal Given Recent Farm Closures", Official Report, 7 August 2024, Vol 95, Issue 139, Oral Answers to Questions section.]”
“Hydrogen sulphide emitted during tank cleaning works will be dispersed by wind with no adverse impact on the environment, flora and fauna in the area. To prepare for the upgrading of Choa Chu Kang Waterworks, which is expected to commence later this year, the Public Utilities Board (PUB) completed an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) in end-2021, which was released for public consultation in mid-2022. Measures recommended by the EIA as well as key feedback and suggestions made during public consultation, will be adopted once construction works start to mitigate the project's impact on the environment. PUB takes workplace safety and health seriously. Once the construction works commence, PUB will work with the contractors to ensure that measures relating to workplace safety and health requirements are adhered to and in place for all working on-site, including the management of work in confined spaces and the risk of exposure to toxic gases and chemicals.”
“It is too early to assess the amount of carbon credits that would be eligible under Singapore’s International Carbon Credit Framework. Internationally, there are still ongoing negotiations on Article 6 of the Paris Agreement at the United Nations Climate Change Conferences, to finalise and effect the framework for countries to cooperate on carbon credits. Meanwhile, Singapore continues to support the development of international carbon markets, such as facilitating capacity building under the Article 6 Implementation Partnership, developing high integrity markets for forestry carbon credits through the Forest and Climate Leaders’ Partnership, and enhancing transparency in carbon credit transactions through the Climate Action Data Trust. We are also pursuing Article 6 partnerships with more than 20 countries and have signed Implementation Agreements with Papua New Guinea and Ghana. We are actively working with our counterparts to further our collaboration and operationalise these partnerships. While we pursue these efforts, the successful scaling up of carbon markets will also require active participation from the private sector. The Singapore Government will support these efforts. For example, in July 2024, the Ministry of Trade and Industry organised an inaugural business mission to Ghana, comprising 22 Singapore-based project developers, traders, investors and carbon services companies, to spur the development of high-quality Article 6-compliant carbon credit projects.”
“The Garden of Peace (GOP) at Choa Chu Kang was designed with inland ash scattering (IAS) lanes for next-of-kin to scatter the ashes of their loved ones, as well as an area designated as the final resting place for ash soil. As scattered ashes accumulate over time and the IAS lanes become full, it is necessary to transfer ash soil from the IAS lanes to the final resting place within the GOP so that others can continue to use the IAS lanes. The design of the GOP, including the process of ash transfer, was developed in close consultation with religious leaders. The National Environment Agency (NEA) has been raising awareness of the IAS process, including the ash soil transfer, as part of the IAS lane maintenance works. This information is also available on NEA’s website and ePortal. NEA has recently introduced a three-month rest period after IAS lanes become full and are temporarily closed before the transfer of ash soil. This provides assurance to families that ash soil would not be transferred too soon after the ashes of their loved ones have been scattered. Currently, we have four IAS lanes. To ensure that there are always at least two IAS lanes in use, only two out of the four will be closed for the “rest period” or transfer works at any time. Going forward, NEA will be developing additional IAS lanes and reviewing the lane design at the GOP to provide more capacity for ash scattering. While periodic ash soil transfers from IAS lanes will continue to be needed, the capacity expansion will reduce the frequency of ash transfer works. NEA will continue to communicate the IAS process to applicants at the point of IAS application and will remind them of the ash soil transfer process and the “rest period” for IAS lanes.”
“I thank the Member for her question. This question has been addressed in my Ministry's written answer to Question No 19 on 6 August 2024. [Please refer to "Strategies to Boost Waste Recycling Rates", Official Report, 6 August 2024, Vol 95, Issue 138, Written Answers to Questions section.]”