Debated in Parliament on 10 May 2021.
Ms He Ting Ru asked the Minister for Sustainability and the Environment with the introduction of the new electronic waste disposal system on 1 July 2021, what progress has been made with the producer responsibility scheme (PRS) operator to work with informal waste collectors or rag-and-bone men in relation to the collection of e-waste.
Informal waste collectors or rag-and-bone men have a role to play under the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme for e-waste. NEA requires the Producer Responsibility Scheme (PRS) Operator to develop and operationalise a plan to integrate them into the overall e-waste collection system.
ALBA was appointed as the PRS Operator in February and is engaging companies that consolidate e-waste collected by informal waste collectors. ALBA will leverage such parties to collect, transport and sort e-waste, thereby tapping on the informal waste collectors’ knowledge and network.