Environment & climate — Topics

13 Sep 2016

Reviewing Provision of Plastic Bags at Retail Shops

Miss Cheng Li Hui proposed banning free plastic bags at retail outlets to minimize environmental harm.
The Ministry highlighted Singapore's safe incineration of waste, reducing plastic bag impact compared to landfills elsewhere.
The Ministry encourages reducing plastic bag use through reuse, reusable bags, and retailer education, citing IKEA as an example.
The Ministry is studying the environmental and cost impacts of single-use carriers to inform future policies.
Additional measures are being explored to curb excessive plastic bag consumption.

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13 Sep 2016

Nuisance Posed by Chironomids from Pandan Reservoir

The Minister for Environment and Water Resources explained that chironomids are harmless insects that have increased near Pandan Reservoir due to hot, wet weather and outlined PUB’s enhanced control measures, including more frequent larvicide application, fogging, egg removal, and bright spotlights to deter swarms.
PUB has increased public communication by issuing joint advisories with NEA and the West Coast Town Council, holding resident dialogue sessions, and distributing educational brochures to update the community on actions and what residents can do.
The Ministry emphasized that while PUB is actively managing the chironomid population, complete eradication is not possible as the insects are part of the natural ecosystem, and therefore seeks residents’ understanding and tolerance.

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13 Sep 2016

Thermal Comfort as Prerequisite for Air-conditioned Spaces

Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked whether BCA will make thermal comfort a prerequisite for air-conditioned spaces in all new and existing non-residential buildings under the Green Mark certification scheme.
Lawrence Wong stated that thermal comfort is already a prerequisite for new non-residential buildings under the revised 2015 Green Mark scheme, based on Singapore standards.
Thermal comfort remains a voluntary criterion for existing non-residential buildings, and BCA is reviewing the scheme with industry consultation.
The minister emphasized that building operation and responsiveness to occupants' needs are key to achieving thermal comfort.
The Green Mark scheme aims to promote a greener built environment by setting both mandatory and voluntary environmental performance standards.

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13 Sep 2016

Solar Panels for Commercial and Residential Buildings

Leon Perera proposed making solar panels mandatory for commercial and residential buildings with limited exceptions, while the Minister explained that competing uses for rooftop space, cost-effectiveness concerns, and shading issues make a blanket mandate impractical, so the government is instead leading by example with targeted deployment and Green Mark incentives.
The Minister outlined plans to reach 350 MWp of solar capacity by 2020 via demand aggregation across public buildings, including 5,000 HDB blocks and 100 government structures, and noted about 20 MWp are already scheduled for Green Mark projects.
Perera asked if the Ministry monitors international mandatory solar policies in cities like the U.S., India, and France to draw lessons, and the Minister confirmed they track global best practices but emphasized that current constraints limit solar's potential to only about 10% of national demand, arguing against a broad mandate.

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13 Sep 2016

Pre-emptive Steps to Tackle Haze

Louis Ng asked what additional steps the Ministry will take to tackle worsening haze, beyond writing to Indonesian officials, while the Minister outlined ongoing actions such as daily haze advisories, regional cooperation through ASEAN, and a haze assistance package to Indonesia.
The Minister emphasized Singapore’s commitment to sustainable procurement, including only buying printing paper with the Singapore Green Label, and encouraged NGOs and businesses to adopt certified palm oil and other eco-friendly practices.
Louis Ng inquired whether the Ministry would extend green procurement to palm oil and consider other certifications like FSC, and the Minister responded that standards like the Singapore Green Label and FSC are recognized, with efforts to promote industry-wide sustainable sourcing.
Ang Wei Neng asked for an update on Singapore’s fire-fighting assistance to Indonesia, and the Minister specified that Singapore offers up to two C-130 aircraft for teams, cloud seeding, and high-resolution satellite imagery if activated.
The debate highlighted multi-faceted pre-emptive measures, including diplomatic engagement, public advisories, regional initiatives, sustainable procurement policies, and direct operational support to address the transboundary haze issue.

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16 Aug 2016

Appropriate Disposal of Renovation Debris and Bulky Items at HDB Estates

Zaqy Mohamad inquired about stronger measures to ensure contractors comply with debris disposal rules in HDB estates, enforcement resources in new BTO projects, and penalties for illegal dumping.
Lawrence Wong explained that Town Councils have the statutory responsibility to manage debris disposal and can impose penalties for violations, while HDB requires contractors to register and adhere to proper disposal terms, with site inspections in new BTO estates.
HDB conducts inspections, issues reminders to residents and contractors, and places notices in lift lobbies, with penalties for non-compliance including fines up to $3,000 or debarment for up to three years.
Town Councils are encouraged to provide haulage services, debris removal, or skip tanks, especially in new BTO precincts, to support proper disposal and reduce cleanup costs.

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16 Aug 2016

Proposal for National Emissions Trading Scheme

Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked whether Singapore will implement a national emissions trading scheme to meet its COP21 commitments.
Masagos Zulkifli B M M acknowledged climate change as a global issue, noting Singapore's small emissions share but its responsibility to act, and highlighted the country's pledged targets and the Climate Action Plan.
The government has not decided on carbon pricing instruments like emissions trading schemes, though other countries such as Korea and China have implemented similar systems.

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15 Aug 2016

Comprehensive National Plan for Managing e-Waste

The Ministry currently does not collect data on e-waste recycling rates by household, government, or commercial entities but estimates about 60,000 tonnes of e-waste is generated annually in Singapore, split between household IT/appliances and commercial/industrial ICT equipment.
A comprehensive national system for e-waste collection, recycling, and management is being explored, with a study commissioned in March 2016 to develop options and stakeholder consultations planned to design an efficient framework.
To facilitate recycling, a national voluntary partnership has been formed with producers, retailers, and recyclers, and existing voluntary programs like RENEW are being expanded to increase public awareness and convenience.

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15 Aug 2016

Reducing Light Pollution on Streets and Its Impact on Safety

Seah Kian Peng asked the Minister for Transport about LTA's plans to reduce street light pollution and how to balance lighting with safety, citing Singapore's top ranking in light pollution.
Khaw Boon Wan responded that street lighting follows international road safety standards, warning that reducing it would endanger motorists and pedestrians.
He noted that light pollution is naturally higher in densely populated cities, and Singapore’s unique status as a city-state explains its high ranking in the study.

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15 Aug 2016

Lowering Threshold for Permissible Noise from Vehicles at Expressways near Residential Areas

Liang Eng Hwa asked the Minister for Transport whether the Land Transport Authority (LTA) is ready to install noise barriers along expressways like BKE and KJE near Bukit Panjang housing and if the permissible noise threshold for vehicles near residences can be lowered.
Khaw Boon Wan stated that LTA's trial for noise barriers on roads will finish by year-end and, if effective, installation will be prioritised based on noise levels and proximity to housing.
He added that LTA follows National Environment Agency's noise standards, which are aligned with international norms.

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15 Aug 2016

Review of Rice Stockpile Scheme Given Extreme Weather Changes

Chen Show Mao questioned whether the Rice Stockpile Scheme and Singapore’s Food Security Roadmap can withstand extreme weather events like the 2015–2016 El Niño, which affected crop outputs in Southeast and South Asia.
Lawrence Wong highlighted import source diversification as a core strategy, citing how traders switched to alternative sources like China to stabilize supply and prices when weather affected Malaysia.
Local production through controlled-environment farming, supported by the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority, complements diversification and aims to boost self-reliance in key food items.
The government maintains a strategic rice stockpile, requiring importers to hold reserves of staple rice to buffer against short-term supply disruptions.
These measures—diversification, local production, and stockpiling—form a multi-pronged approach to enhance Singapore’s food resilience amid climatic uncertainties.

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15 Aug 2016

Supply, Demand and Pricing of Water

Seah Kian Peng raised concerns about ensuring stable long-term water supply amid low catchment levels and climate change, and questioned whether water pricing reflects full costs including infrastructure and subsidies.
Melvin Yong asked for updates on support for high water-use companies to recycle and suggested a lower conservation tax for households below average consumption.
The Minister assured that Singapore’s Water Master Plan and infrastructure projects like desalination and NEWater plants will secure supply, while PUB promotes water efficiency through regulations, funding, and consumer comparison tools.
Water is priced based on long-run marginal cost to reflect scarcity, with tiered tariffs and taxes to discourage waste; the price has remained stable but will need review due to rising costs and climate challenges.
Both members’ suggestions on tiered conservation taxes and efficiency measures are acknowledged, with current structures deemed effective though complex changes may be considered in the future.

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11 Jul 2016

Data on Unsold Food Discarded by Supermarkets

Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked whether the Ministry collects data on unsold food discarded by supermarkets and, if not, whether it would consider doing so.
The Ministry currently tracks total food waste through waste sampling and incineration data, and food waste recycling through recycler records, but does not collect specific data on unsold food from supermarkets.
Over the past decade, food waste in Singapore has risen by almost 50%, prompting holistic management through minimization, redistribution, recycling, and outreach programs with supermarkets and other food businesses.
The Ministry is evaluating on-site recycling projects, developing guidelines for waste reduction, and considering expanding mandatory waste reporting to include large waste-generating premises like supermarkets.
The Ministry is also working on good practice guides and partnerships to redirect unsold food to organizations such as Food Bank Singapore and Food from the Heart.

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11 Jul 2016

NEA's Plans for Appointment of Community Volunteers as Auxiliary Officers

The Minister explained that the Community Volunteer (CV) programme, launched in 2013 and expanded in 2016, empowers volunteers to promote environmental ownership through education and engagement, with about 380 CVs currently active and more expressing interest.
CVs are trained and deployed in specific geographical areas to lead environmental activities, such as litter picking, and educate offenders, but they do not issue enforcement tickets; instead, they request particulars from non-compliant individuals for NEA to follow up on.
Following the 2016 amendments, CVs now have authority to request details for a wider range of environmental offences, including smoking in prohibited areas, spitting, and improper waste disposal, with NEA handling all enforcement actions.

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11 Jul 2016

Implementation of Tray Return Initiative at All NEA-managed Hawker Centres

The tray return initiative was rolled out across all NEA-managed hawker centres by July 2015 at an average cost of about $11,000 per centre, with varying success rates and efforts ongoing to improve awareness and accessibility.
The initiative is assessed through varying tray-return rates at different centres, with the government working with community groups and schools to promote higher participation and more visible tray return stations.
At hawker centres with food waste recycling trials, returned crockery helps cleaners segregate food waste for recycling, with staff trained on this process at specific locations.
The initiative aims to improve cleanliness, increase cleaner efficiency, and ease manpower constraints, with a focus on fostering social graciousness.

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11 Jul 2016

Law on Hybrid Cars with Combustion Engines Switched off when Stationary

Sitoh Yih Pin asked whether Regulation 21 of the Environmental Protection and Management (Vehicular Emissions) Regulations applies to hybrid cars that switch off their combustion engines and use electric motors when stationary.
Masagos Zulkifli B M M clarified that Regulation 21 makes it an offence to leave a vehicle’s engine running while stationary for non-traffic reasons, as it causes fuel wastage and pollution.
Hybrid vehicles may restart their combustion engines when stationary if the battery cannot support auxiliary systems like air-conditioning, thus still emitting pollutants and falling under the regulation.
The National Environment Agency promotes awareness of this rule through anti-idling signage at high-traffic areas and educational outreach with vehicle inspection centres, transport operators, and schools.

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11 Jul 2016

Procedure for Collection of Materials in Recycling Bins by Public Waste Collectors at Point of Collection

Leon Perera queried whether public waste collectors empty recycling bins into a single receptacle and the rationale for asking residents to separate recyclables if so.
Masagos Zulkifli explained that the National Recycling Programme uses co-mingled blue bins for convenience, with dedicated trucks and penalties for non-compliance to ensure recyclables are sent to Materials Recovery Facilities for sorting and recycling.
He noted that private premises may adopt varied recycling methods, including segregated bins, as determined by their owners.

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9 May 2016

Land Gazetted as Nature Reserves and Nature Areas

About 5% of Singapore's land is gazetted as Nature Reserves and 3% as Nature Areas, totaling approximately 5,400 hectares, which is equivalent to nearly half of all housing land in the country.
The government has no immediate plans to significantly increase the number or size of nature reserves or areas, as Singapore must balance limited land with multiple needs.
Singapore employs unique solutions to integrate greenery into urban spaces, such as park connectors and Nature Ways, to conserve biodiversity and enhance living environments.

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9 May 2016

Carbon Filters for Food Exhaust Systems at Hawker Centres

The Minister confirmed that only four hawker centres currently have additional air cleaning systems like carbon filters installed in their exhaust systems.
The National Environment Agency (NEA) will consider installing carbon filters in existing hawker centres if issues arise, working with stakeholders like Town Councils to explore appropriate solutions.
For new hawker centres, NEA considers additional air cleaning systems such as carbon filters alongside standard baffle filters to address grease and odour concerns.
The Hawker Centres Upgrading Programme introduced centralised exhaust systems with baffle filters to reduce grease in cooking fumes, with further measures assessed based on specific needs and feedback.

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9 May 2016

More Financial Incentives and Charging Points to Encourage Electric Car Usage

The Minister for Transport confirmed the government encourages electric car use through the Carbon Emissions-based Vehicle Scheme and is evaluating proposals for a nationwide electric car-sharing program that includes installing 2,000 charging points.
The Minister emphasized that public transport remains the greenest option and highlighted ongoing trials for electric buses, taxis, and commercial vehicles, with Singapore aiming to be an early adopter of such technology.
Er Dr Lee Bee Wah sought clarification on whether the 2,000 charging points would be accessible to the general public or limited to car-sharing scheme participants, to which the Minister responded he needed to check the details.

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