Committee of Supply – Head L (Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment)

Mr Chairman, creating a Clean, Green and Resilient Shared Future for Singapore is a collective effort. During our Forward SG engagements, Singaporeans acknowledged that the whole society needs to work together to ensure that Singapore remains a clean, green and safe home. Our education efforts and campaigns over the years have paid off and Singaporeans are generally civic-minded. However, we continue to observe some persistent issues, that require us to go beyond just public education.

Public hygiene remains a top priority for MSE. Ms Rahayu, Mr Liang Eng Hwa and Mr Murali Pillai have asked about MSE’s efforts to enhance cleanliness. Minister Fu announced earlier that MSE will designate 2024 as the Year of Public Hygiene. This year, we will be working more closely with the community and ramping up our efforts to address persistent pain points, such as littering hotspots and dirty public toilets. The pandemic may be over, but Singapore needs a clean environment to be well-prepared to tackle future public health threats.

Based on our cleanliness surveys, many still believe that the responsibility to keep Singapore clean lies with the Government and our “army of cleaners”. Our cleaners are already busy cleaning up natural litter, such as fallen leaves, and accidental litter, such as spillages. Let us not add to their heavy workload with intentional litter by leaving or throwing our litter for them to clean up after us.

To tackle ongoing and persistent issues, we adopt a multi-pronged approach. Legislation and enforcement are critical to help us tackle the inconsiderate behaviour of a small number of people who are not as socially responsible, and to shape social norms for the wider population.

Ms Nadia Samdin asked about the Tray Return Initiative. This was launched in 2013 to encourage diners to return their trays after their meals. However, the Tray and Crockery Return Rate remained low despite public education efforts. By commencing enforcement in September 2021, we managed to cement new social norms and increase the return rate from 35% to over 90% today.

To Ms Nadia’s query, tray return is a key measure that helps tackle bird nuisance issues at hawker centres. NEA currently works with stakeholders such as Hawkers’ Associations and cleaning contractors to clear used crockery promptly and implement proper food waste management. NEA, together with the Town Councils, has also implemented anti-bird measures such as netting at tray return racks. Bird control efforts are also carried out where necessary.

To Mr Gan Thiam Poh’s query, we similarly use both public education and enforcement to curb high-rise littering. While we continue to educate the public on the dangers of high-rise littering, offenders, including first-timers, are sent to court and receive stiffer financial penalties and Corrective Work Orders (CWOs). In July 2023, we introduced the statutory presumption provision for littering from residential flats to hold the registered owners or tenants responsible. We also encourage residents to follow guidelines b HDB or Town Councils on proper placement of objects in open spaces. Any cases of potential killer litter, will be referred to the Police for investigation.

The number of feedback on ground littering from 2022 to 2023 has increased about 15% compared to the two years before the pandemic. To tackle littering hotspots, we will adopt a more targeted approach. NEA will increase the frequency and scale of anti-littering enforcement blitzes, targeting hotspots that have higher offence rates and public feedback reports.

This year, we plan to conduct around five times as many blitzes compared to 2023. These blitzes will be more visible by deploying uniformed officers to patrol these hotspots and putting up standees on the number of enforcement actions taken. We will also deploy non-uniformed officers to catch litterbugs.

Recalcitrant littering offenders will carry out CWO at high footfall areas like transport nodes, town centres and city locations. An average of around 500 CWOs are issued to offenders each year. They wear pink and yellow vests that clearly state "Corrective Work Order" while picking up litter.

Furthermore, we will quadruple the deployment of CCTVs at hotspots, which include HDB estates. This will improve NEA’s remote surveillance capabilities, facilitate efficient deployment of resources by enabling investigations into public hygiene offences, as well as deter would-be offenders.

However, even if someone is caught on camera, we are unable to follow up with enforcement action if we cannot identify the person. NEA will work with community stakeholders to identify these offenders. If there are still no leads, NEA will explore putting up images of these offenders at the places where they had littered to seek the wider community’s assistance in identifying them. We hope that this will invoke collective community ownership to keep the common spaces clean and also deter potential litterbugs.

Public toilets remain a bugbear of many Singaporeans. We have stepped up our enforcement efforts on unhygienic public toilets, including at food establishments. Since April 2020, first time offenders who fail to keep public toilets in their premises clean and in good working condition, are fined up to $400 instead of getting a warning letter. Implicated retail food businesses would also incur demerit points, and some have resulted in the suspension of licences.

Enforcement can only go so far. So, I agree with Ms Poh Li San and Ms Rahayu that users and the community need to be involved as well. We will continue to collaborate closely with our partners from the people and private sectors to address the problem of dirty public toilets holistically.

We will form a Public Toilets Taskforce to study and recommend solutions to improve the cleanliness of public toilets. Mr Andrew Khng, Chairman of the Public Hygiene Council (PHC) and I will co-chair this task force.

The task force will tap on the expertise of public sector agencies, Town Councils, premises managers, academia and trade and industry associations. The task force will: one, examine measures for adoption of good public toilet designs; two, promote responsible use of public toilets; three, advocate responsibility amongst premises owners for toilet cleanliness and maintenance; and four, strengthen community partnership to promote cleanliness.

The focus will be on toilets that consistently fare poorly in cleanliness surveys, such as those at coffeeshops and hawker centres.

We will incorporate new technology to improve the efficiency of our cleaning and vector control operations.

First, we will trial the use of thermal imaging cameras for rat surveillance. NEA will share relevant footage and data with premises operators so that they can conduct targeted interventions to eliminate potential rat nesting grounds.

Second, we will explore the use of artificial intelligence-powered video analytics to supplement performance audits of contracted cleaning companies. This will be productive than manual inspections in detecting cleaning lapses.

Many Singaporeans we engaged during the Forward SG conversations agreed that we cannot just rely on cleaners and cleaning technology to keep Singapore clean. Hence, MSE will further strengthen our partnerships with the community.

The PHC will launch the latest edition of the "Keep Singapore Clean" campaign next month to galvanise Singaporeans to do our part to uphold higher standards of hygiene and cleanliness. Last year, the PHC organised a workshop with residents and other community partners to brainstorm anti-littering interventions. As a follow-up to realise one of the ideas PHC partnered with Nanyang Polytechnic to develop a Smart Bin prototype, which was subsequently tested within the neighbourhood and now will be scaled up.

NEA is also working together with residents of 21 private estates, such as Jalan Wajek in Bukit Timah in an interesting initiative. Residents park their vehicles on just one side of the road on specified days to facilitate mechanical road sweepers cleaning the other side of the road. This achieved 50% to 80% of time savings compared to manual labour. NEA will like to double the number of private estates involved in this initiative. We look forward to more of such support from residents as we transition to using cleaning technology.

To reduce the public’s exposure to second-hand smoke, we currently prohibit smoking at more than 49,000 premises. Last month, NEA adjusted the Orchard Road No-Smoking Zone (ORNSZ) to include additional areas where smokers congregate. To Mr Louis Ng’s question, NEA will continue to monitor the situation and consult relevant stakeholders, before considering extension of non-smoking areas. To Mr Gan’s query, indeed, as smoking is prohibited at all covered areas, including buildings and retail food establishments, smokers may congregate in adjacent spaces where smoking is not prohibited. Stakeholders interested in setting up designated smoking points (DSPs) can refer to guidelines on NEA’s website and seek NEA's advice, if needed. These should be at least five metres away from the premises boundary and direct smokers away from the general public. The proliferation of DSPs needs to be carefully considered and balanced against the risk of inadvertently normalising smoking.

Mr Ng also asked about second-hand smoke within homes. In addition to working with other Government agencies and the community to issue joint advisories, we will continue to encourage smokers to practise greater social responsibility and facilitate conversations between neighbours. Based on NEA’s data from 2018 to 2022, about 95% of feedback providers did not give further feedback on smoking in homes within a year after advisories were issued. We remain open to innovative and practical solutions to reduce public exposure to second-hand smoke. Mr Chairman, I will now continue my speech in Mandarin.

(In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] As announced by Minister Fu, MSE has designated this year to be the Year of Public Hygiene. This signifies the importance of safeguarding public health and providing a green and thriving home for all. I will speak more about our efforts to maintain a clean environment.

During our ForwardSG engagements, Singaporeans acknowledged that keeping Singapore clean and green is a whole-of-society effort, and that we cannot rely only on cleaners and cleaning technology.

As part of our multi-pronged approach to keep the environment clean, we will intensify our efforts in managing hotspots. We will conduct larger scale blitzes at hotspots more frequently. We will arrange for recalcitrant litterers to undergo Corrective Work Order (CWO) at hotspots with high footfall.

We will also quadruple the number of CCTVs deployed at these hotspots to catch litterers. If we are unable to identify the offenders, we will work with community stakeholders to publicise the images of offenders at the neighbourhoods where they littered to get information of these offenders from members of the public.

(In English): Mr Chairman, public engagement is also one of the main levers to shape social norms and individual behaviours. Hence, MSE launched the inaugural Go Green SG campaign in 2023. More than 70,000 participants took part in over 300 activities organised by more than 160 partners from across the people, private and public sectors. There was a diverse slate of activities, including behind-the-scenes tours, workshops and other community events to help participants develop a deeper appreciation of Singapore’s sustainability efforts. Go Green SG will return this year, with a focus on public hygiene, with an expanded range of activities, to welcome more participants to build a cleaner and greener Singapore.

Our youths are deeply passionate about the environment and sustainability. It is essential to provide them with a better understanding of the relevant issues, so that they can contribute meaningfully to national policy discussions and efforts. Hence, the Government has several initiatives to strengthen our partnership with the youth community by raising awareness on climate issues and galvanising action amongst our youths.

Together with National Climate Change Secretariat and National Youth Council, MSE conducted an inaugural run of the Climate Youth Development Programme with 40 youths from July 2023 to January 2024. They had a fireside chat with Minister Fu and gained a deeper understanding of Singapore’s climate and sustainability considerations. Last year, they also participated in platforms such as the Earthshot Prize Awards, Singapore International Energy Week and COP28. This allowed youths to engage climate change negotiators, policymakers, businesses and non-profit organisations, and develop a more nuanced understanding of climate and sustainability issues.

To continue growing this community of young environmental advocates, we will be co-creating the second run together with participants from the inaugural cohort. We recognise the importance of co-creating policies with our youths, who will be most impacted by climate change. We have been supporting a group of passionate youths with a keen interest to make a positive impact through their involvement in the #GreenHacks Youth Panel. The Panel is targeting to share its preliminary findings and recommendations with regard to sustainable consumption in the second half of this year.

Thank you, Sir. I thank Senior Parliamentary Secretary for the reply on the second-hand smoke issue. I think he mentioned 95% of the feedback providers do not get back to us. I think one of the reasons they do not get back is because they realise there is not much we can do, other than issue advisories. So, could I ask again that the Ministry study what else we can do other than just issuing advisories?

Second, maybe we could set up a taskforce, like the Public Toilet Taskforce. We could set up one task force to study this issue of second-hand smoke as well.

Sir, I thank Mr Louis Ng for his enthusiasm on tackling second-hand smoke at homes.

As discussed, many times in this Chamber, there are practical challenges on legislating against smoking at homes. The cost involved in enforcing and the practicality of being able to enforcing such acts within the private spaces of homes is a big challenge that we have not had the solution yet.

Yes, I do encourage, if residents are still bothered by second-hand smoke, to continue giving feedback because based on data, indeed, 95% did not come back to us. I am not sure whether is it that all of them do not think that it is useful to continue giving us feedback. With data, we are better usable to assess and for us to see how else we can work on addressing this issue. So, I beg the Member's patience and understanding.

Chairman, I have two clarifications. One is to Senior Minister of State Amy Khor in relation to the climate-friendly vouchers. I understand that she has shared some figures. I would like to find out what are some of the possible reasons for its current low take-up rates and how will the Ministry intend to ensure higher public awareness, moving forward, and in turn, as a result, higher take-up rate for the enhanced scheme.

The second clarification is to Senior Parliamentary Secretary Baey, in relation to the Public Toilet Taskforce. I wonder how does that differ from the past campaigns and collaborations, for example, that NEA already had with Public Hygiene Councils? What is the key takeaway from the past collaborations that we really want to implement from this new public toilet taskforce?

I thank the Member for the clarification. First, I think households are more likely to utilise the vouchers if they need to replace their old or faulty fittings and appliances. And of course, many of these appliances would last a few years.

Under the current CFHB, the vouchers are limited to three different types of products. Firstly, the refrigerators; and then shower fittings as well as lamps. Each of them has a fixed quantum.

So, I think that does not allow a lot of flexibility. Although when we sized it, it was based on how we can offset some of the differential upfront costs, the higher upfront costs for the more energy-efficient types and these are the essential household appliances and fittings.

What we have done now is to expand this from three to 10 products. So, a wider variety of household appliances and fittings, including 5-tick air condition, as well as a direct current fan and so on. We are expanding it to beyond the 1- to 3-room-HDB households, to all HDB households. As well as the fact that now the $300 is not assigned to fixed products. There is more flexibility. They can use different denominations to purchase these products.

We hope that with the expansion in scope in terms of coverage of products as well as households, as well as more flexibility, we hope that utilisation rate will be higher. We are working with HDB, with People's Association, as well as with grassroots organisations and the retailers to reach out and raise awareness.

For past campaigns over the years, we look at general cleanliness of public toilets. And I would say that there have been improvements. In fact, based on surveys, the public does find that, for example, toilets at public transport nodes, shopping malls, especially at Changi Airport, these are places we actually have very high standards of cleanliness.

This task force will look at specifically on toilets in coffee shops and hawker centres, which have been found through surveys to be consistently at a very low level; in fact, some find it even dirtier than before. So, we will take a more targeted focus on these premises, and we will also have a better understanding with the involvement of the coffee shop associations to understand the challenges of coffee shop operators in maintaining the public toilets. Is it a matter of resources or is it the design of the toilet? So, we will look at all these aspects and hopefully we will be able to come up with some recommendations and solutions to make our public toilets in coffee shops and hawker centres cleaner.

I would like to ask Senior Parliamentary Secretary Baey, because I do not believe he has addressed my cut on the after-life arrangements. Specifically, my clarification is whether MSE will consider setting some proactive goals to convert Singaporeans to alternative ways of treating the remains, such as inland ash scattering instead of waiting for the numbers to grow organically? And whether MSE will channel some resources, or more resources to accelerating public conversations to ensure that the takeup rate will be at an accelerated rate?

Sir, as discussed with Member Ms Carrie Tan just a couple of weeks ago, the take-up of inland ash scattering is still quite low, in the single-digit percentage, although it has risen slightly over the past year. We hope that there will be steady growth, and indeed, we agree with Ms Carrie Tan that better awareness, public engagement will be useful to raise people's acceptance of this method of managing cremated ashes. I am very happy to work with Ms Carrie Tan if she would like to hold such conversations with residents. And from the experience, we can see how we can scale up in areas, so that people can look at this alternative option.