Recycling and Energy Efficiency Efforts in Singapore

Asst Prof Tan Kheng Boon Eugene asked the Minister for the Environment and Water Resources (a) whether the participation rate in recycling and energy efficiency efforts in Singapore is low and, if so, why; and (b) what are the plans to promote and encourage the requisite behavioural changes to facilitate sustainable waste management and the reduction of carbon emissions.

Page: 1156

Singapore has achieved significant improvement in our recycling and energy efficiency efforts over the years.

Our recycling rate3 rose from 45% in 2002, to 59% in 2011. The proportion of households taking part in the National Recycling Programme also increased from 33% to 68% over the same period.

To improve these rates, we have been providing more recycling infrastructure to make it more convenient for households to recycle. Recycling bins are now more common in housing estates, shopping malls, hospitals and Government buildings. Since July 2011, the NEA has required all new Public Waste Collection contracts to provide one recycling bin for each HDB block and put in place incentive programmes for recycling. For example, Veolia Environmental Services has implemented the GRIN scheme (Grow your Recycling Incentives Now) in Pasir Ris-Tampines while Sembwaste has Cash-for-Trash in Bedok. NEA also provides co-funding to encourage companies to undertake recycling and waste reduction projects. We will also continue to promote good practices in communities and schools through initiatives, such as Clean and Green Singapore, Recycling Week, and the School Recycling Corner Programme. Our target is to achieve a 70% recycling rate by 2030, as set out in the Sustainable Singapore Blueprint (SSB).

Page: 1157

As for energy efficiency at the household-level, there has been higher adoption of more efficient household appliances. In 2011, about 70% of air-conditioner models and 90% of refrigerator models sold were of the generally more energy efficient 3- and 4-tick models. This is a significant improvement from the 50% level for both appliances in 2008, when the Mandatory Energy Labelling Scheme (MELS) was first introduced.

For companies, the Energy Efficiency National Partnership (EENP) has been successful in promoting energy efficiency through learning network activities, provision of energy efficiency-related resources, incentives and recognition. There are also about 200 projects that have been completed or are ongoing under various energy efficiency incentive schemes which reap energy savings. For example, the Design for Efficiency (DfE) scheme has identified potential annual energy savings of about 10% to 25% per project, while the Efficiency Improvement Assistance Scheme (EASe) and Grant for Energy Efficient Technologies (GREET) schemes have resulted in an estimated $58 million in annual energy savings.

Going forward, more will be done to improve energy efficiency. The Energy Conservation Act (ECA), which will come into effect in 2013, will require large energy users to implement energy management practices and report on their energy use. This data will help us develop targeted interventions to raise energy efficiency among companies. For households, the Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) for air-conditioners and refrigerators will be further raised in 2013, and the current Labelling Scheme is being reviewed to better enable consumers to make informed decisions when purchasing household appliances.

Page: 1157