Environment & climate — Topics

1 Aug 2017

Electric Vehicles for Public Transport and Government Agencies

Ang Hin Kee asked the Ministry for the Environment and Water Resources about mandating electric buses for public transport and converting government vehicles to electric.
The Minister highlighted the air pollution benefits of electric vehicles but noted challenges like higher costs and limited range, and announced LTA trials of 50 hybrid and 60 electric buses.
The Ministry is also studying the feasibility of requiring government agencies to adopt greener vehicles, including electric ones, while evaluating costs and environmental impacts.

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1 Aug 2017

Infestation of Mayflies in Nee Soon South

Er Dr Lee Bee Wah raised concerns about the mayfly infestation in Nee Soon South, asking for the reasons, NEA's assistance, and the timeline for eradication measures.
Masagos Zulkifli B M M explained that mayflies are harmless, indicator species for good water quality, and their seasonal emergence is natural, particularly around Lower Seletar Reservoir.
PUB has provided residents with preventive advice, such as switching off lights and installing screens, and conducts routine fogging and monitoring around the reservoir.
The minister emphasized that mayflies are part of a balanced ecosystem and sought residents' understanding and tolerance during their short, seasonal appearances.

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4 Jul 2017

Adequacy of Energy Sources for Future Needs

Energy demand in Singapore is projected to grow at a compounded annual rate of 1.2% to 1.8%, reaching 57,900 to 62,200 GWh by 2027, with future needs incorporating factors like GDP growth, population, and digitalisation trends.
The government is implementing regulations, incentives, and capability-building measures to improve energy efficiency across industrial, building, and household sectors, including enhanced energy conservation laws, carbon tax, and standards for equipment and appliances.
Singapore is exploring new energy sources, with solar photovoltaic (PV) identified as the most promising alternative; plans include expanding solar capacity to 1 GWp beyond 2020 through research, market enhancements, and public sector aggregation.

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3 Jul 2017

Regulations and Licensing Requirements for Trade Fairs

Assoc Prof Fatimah Lateef asked whether regulations for trade fairs and their licensing would be reviewed and updated.
Under the Environmental Public Health Act, permits from the National Environment Agency are required for temporary fairs to address public health and cleanliness concerns, including contracts with licensed cleaners and waste collectors.
The National Environment Agency licenses food stall operators in fairs, mandates food handler registration and hygiene training, and takes enforcement action for violations.
The government regularly reviews its schemes and policies to ensure relevance and may introduce changes to safeguard public health and the environment.

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3 Jul 2017

Safeguards to Ensure Recycling Companies Adhere to Proper Recycling Protocols and Procedures

The National Environment Agency (NEA) contractually requires public waste collectors (PWCs) to use dedicated trucks, marked separately from general waste vehicles, to collect recyclables from the blue co-mingled bins at every HDB block and landed residential property.
NEA monitors recycling trucks via GPS and RFID technology to ensure collected recyclables are sent to Materials Recovery Facilities for sorting and processing, with trucks prohibited from entering incineration plants to prevent contamination.
Financial penalties are imposed on PWCs if they fail to meet contractual obligations, such as not collecting recyclables on schedule or using non-dedicated vehicles.

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3 Jul 2017

Noise Mitigation Measures along Stretches of Central Expressway Near Residential Areas

Sitoh Yih Pin asked the Minister for Transport if there are plans to add noise mitigation measures like sound barriers on residential stretches of the Central Expressway.
Khaw Boon Wan responded that the Ministry is exploring measures such as noise barriers and low-noise road surfaces.
Trials to test the effectiveness of these noise reduction methods are currently underway.

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3 Jul 2017

Study on Environmental Impact of Disposable Food Packaging

Miss Cheng Li Hui inquired about the results of a 2016 tender on the environmental impact of disposable food packaging and whether its usage had increased over the past three years.
The National Environment Agency awarded a study in September 2016 to compare the cost and environmental impact of different packaging materials, with results expected in the second half of 2017.
Packaging waste, which includes disposable food packaging, made up about a third of the 1.7 million tonnes of domestic waste disposed of annually in Singapore between 2014 and 2016, and has remained fairly constant but could rise with population and economic growth.
The Ministry manages plastic packaging waste through safe incineration and encourages businesses and consumers to reduce usage, such as by using reusable bags and containers, and has banned disposables for dining in at new hawker centres.
The Ministry plans to develop further measures to reduce disposable food packaging based on the findings of the ongoing study.

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3 Jul 2017

Cleaning Frequency for Compactors at Bin Centres

Miss Cheryl Chan queried the monthly cleaning frequency for compactors at bin centres, its adequacy near hawker centres, and whether technology is being introduced to aid cleaning contractors.
Masagos Zulkifli clarified that NEA does not set specific cleaning requirements but public waste collectors clean compactors monthly for maintenance, while premises owners must keep bin centres clean under regulations.
He noted that daily cleaning of compactor exteriors is common, with hawker centres under the Ministry and HDB having contractual daily cleaning requirements.
NEA is collaborating with the cleaning industry to promote technology use for better hygiene management and productivity in bin centres.

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8 May 2017

Statistics on Vehicles Booked for Smoky Emissions

In 2015 and 2016, the NEA booked 16,755 vehicles with smoky emissions, of which 6,339 were foreign-registered.
Smoky foreign vehicles entering Singapore undergo a smoke test, with diesel vehicles exceeding 70 HSU and any vehicle with visible exhaust turned back; 390 were turned away in 2015–2016.
The public can report smoky vehicles via the NEA hotline, website, or "myEnv" app.

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8 May 2017

Reports of Wild Boar Poaching Received and Enforcement Actions Taken in Past Three Years

Over the past three years, AVA received three reports of illegal wild boar traps in forested areas, with two related cases where traps were removed and a recent April case where two traps were found and disarmed.
Enforcement actions included removing and disarming traps, with penalties under the Wild Animals and Birds Act allowing fines up to $1,000 per animal and seizure of the animal, while the Parks and Trees Act imposes fines up to $50,000 or jail up to six months for capturing animals in nature reserves.
No cases resulted in prosecutions or fines, as AVA focused on trap removal and investigation rather than legal action against poachers.

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8 May 2017

Plans to Manage Dust and Noise Pollution from Enhancement Works for Tampines Expressway

Desmond Choo asked the Minister for Transport about near- and long-term plans to manage dust and noise pollution from Tampines Expressway enhancement works
Khaw Boon Wan responded that during construction, temporary noise barriers will be installed and noisy machinery enclosed, with noisy works scheduled during daytime
He added that work areas will be watered periodically and construction vehicles washed before leaving the site to minimise dust pollution

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8 May 2017

Prevention of Pollution of the Sea (Amendment) Bill

The Bill amends Singapore's Prevention of Pollution of the Sea Act to comply with the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships' Ballast Water and Sediments, aiming to prevent invasive marine species by regulating ballast water discharge.
Key provisions include banning untreated ballast water and sediment discharge, increasing fines for pollution offences to $20,000, reducing jail terms, and empowering the Maritime and Port Authority to regulate ballast water management and record-keeping.
Both the Second Minister and a Non-Constituency Member supported the Bill, noting penalties are aligned with existing environmental laws and the Convention will help protect Singapore’s marine environment as a major port and ship registry.

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4 Apr 2017

More Toilets along Park Connectors

Lim Biow Chuan asked whether NParks would install more toilets along park connectors and stressed the need for maintenance to keep them clean.
Desmond Lee confirmed that NParks plans to build new toilets across the Park Connector Network over the next five years, focusing on selected locations to best serve park users and the community.
The government follows planning guidelines to provide toilets at about 2.5-kilometre intervals along the PCN, with signs directing users to nearby facilities, and will study feasibility for new toilets where needed.
For regional parks, toilets are planned every 500 to 1,000 metres based on factors like terrain and sewer access, while public parks will consider cost-effective connections to existing sewer lines.

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4 Apr 2017

Publication of Environmental Impact Assessments

Louis Ng asked whether all environmental impact assessments for Tengah’s development could be made public and what plans exist to protect existing wildlife in the area.
The Senior Minister of State replied that HDB is conducting an environmental baseline study with public findings to be shared, plans include a Forest Corridor and naturalised water bodies, and wildlife management strategies to minimise impact.
Ng followed up asking for a timeline, whether a full EIA would be conducted, and if nature groups were involved, to which the Minister confirmed the study would finish by mid-2017 and that stakeholders including nature groups are consulted.
Leon Perera questioned if all EIAs should be made public unless for national security, and the Minister confirmed findings are generally public unless specific considerations prohibit release.

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3 Apr 2017

Sectoral Statistics on Waste Management and Recycling from 2014 to 2016

In 2016, the non-domestic sector recycled 76% of its waste while the domestic sector recycled 21%, with the government aiming to raise these rates to 81% and 30% respectively by 2030.
To improve corporate recycling, the National Environment Agency mandates waste reporting for large hotels and malls, engages building managers on waste reduction, and provides industry-specific 3R guidebooks and stakeholder engagement.
For households, recycling infrastructure is being enhanced with dual chutes in new HDB flats and private developments, while public education campaigns via websites, apps, videos, and community partnerships aim to make recycling a convenient habit.

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3 Apr 2017

Investigation into Accident in Botanic Gardens where Tembusu Tree Fell and Killed a Park Visitor

The investigation into the Botanic Gardens tree accident is ongoing with a Coroner’s Inquiry and NParks providing information to the police, while all nearby trees have been checked and found safe.
NParks has increased tree inspection frequency since 2012, with heritage trees inspected every six months and high-traffic area trees every six to twelve months, and introduced annual second-level inspections for old and large trees using diagnostic equipment.
To enhance tree resilience, NParks has improved maintenance practices such as mulching and advanced pruning techniques, leading to a significant drop in tree failure incidents from 3,000 in 2001 to 847 last year.
NParks continues to develop modelling techniques to better understand tree behavior under severe weather and is committed to ongoing improvements in tree management measures.

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3 Apr 2017

Noise Pollution Summonses Issued to Malaysian Motorcycles Entering Singapore

Member of Parliament Liang Eng Hwa asked about summonses for noisy Malaysian motorcycles, potential enforcement increases near BKE, and a review of permissible noise levels.
The National Environment Agency (NEA) and Land Transport Authority (LTA) conduct joint enforcement blitzes, with 38 foreign motorcycles stopped since 2016 for illegal exhaust modifications.
Enforcement actions consider public feedback, and vehicles must comply with noise standards to renew road tax, with standards regularly reviewed.

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3 Apr 2017

Provision of Natural Gas Supply to Industrial Estates

Mr Gan Thiam Poh asked about the progress of providing natural gas supply to all industrial estates to reduce carbon emissions.
Minister S Iswaran explained that the natural gas network covers most industrial estates in western and northern Singapore, while town gas spans most of the island, with only Seletar not connected due to low demand.
The government plans to extend gas networks where demand grows and will consider utility needs in new industrial planning to lower connectivity costs.
Companies can also adopt renewable energy, like solar power, or improve energy efficiency through available grant schemes to reduce carbon emissions.

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3 Apr 2017

Complaints of Dog Owners Failing to Pick Up after Their Pets

Saktiandi Supaat asked about the number of complaints against dog owners for not picking up after their pets, ways to discourage pets from urinating in public spaces, and enforcement actions taken.
Masagos Zulkifli reported over 1,300 complaints in three years, with only four enforcement actions due to the difficulty of catching offenders, and highlighted fines of up to $1,000 for such violations.
He noted ongoing educational efforts by the National Environment Agency and Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority with Town Councils, including roadshows and distribution of materials to promote responsible pet ownership.

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3 Apr 2017

Energy Conservation (Amendment) Bill

The Energy Conservation (Amendment) Bill introduces stricter industrial energy efficiency measures, including mandatory energy management systems and equipment standards, to help Singapore meet its Paris Agreement commitment of reducing emissions intensity by 36% by 2030.
It enhances greenhouse gas reporting requirements for large industrial emitters and replaces the Carbon Emissions-based Vehicle Scheme with a broader Vehicular Emissions Scheme that considers additional pollutants.
The government will consolidate energy efficiency grants into a single fund and provide financial support, such as loans and tax incentives, to help companies, especially SMEs, adopt new energy-saving measures despite short-term compliance costs.

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