Assessment of Environmental Impact of Beach Clean-up Activities, and Strengthening Coordination with Community and Volunteer Groups

Mr Jackson Lam asked the Minister for Sustainability and the Environment (a) how many beach clean-up activities have been supported or facilitated by the Ministry and its agencies in the past three years; (b) how their environmental impact is assessed; and (c) whether there are plans to strengthen coordination with community and volunteer groups.

To promote environmental stewardship and keep our shared spaces clean, the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment (MSE) supports its agencies and partners to carry out community clean-up activities. The Public Hygiene Council (PHC), for instance, has been working with community groups, schools and businesses to organise clean-up activities under the Keep Singapore Clean movement. Based on data tracked by PHC, more than 1,600 clean-ups were conducted at recreational beaches and surrounding park areas each year in the past few years. This includes clean-ups organised by PHC, as well as those coordinated and facilitated by PHC for communities and ground-up groups.

Community groups may apply to the SG Eco Fund for support to organise such activities. One such recipient, Stridy, has logged over a million pieces of litter picked in Singapore since 2023. To better assess the impact of their efforts, organisers are encouraged to quantify and track the amount of litter collected. MSE will continue to work with agencies and partners to amplify the reach and impact of clean-up activities.