Written Reply to Parliamentary Question on Collection of Waste and Recyclables in Public Spaces

Question:

Mr Dennis Tan Lip Fong: To ask the Minister for Sustainability and the Environment whether there are plans to work together with waste collection and recycling companies to increase the capacity of rubbish bins and recycling bins in spaces accessible to the members of the public including HDB estates, to encourage and ensure timely and proper handling of recyclables as well as general waste.

Answer:

1 NEA monitors the waste disposal trends across housing estates in Singapore, and works closely with appointed Public Waste Collectors (PWCs) to ensure the timely collection of refuse and recyclables. This helps to maintain estate cleanliness and safeguard public health. Under the public waste collection contracts, NEA can direct PWCs to increase the frequency of refuse and recyclables collection when necessary. NEA has exercised this provision when needed, for example, during festive seasons where waste generation tends to increase. There are therefore no plans to increase the capacity of refuse and recycling bins.

2 We encourage members of the public to practise proper etiquette, such as by flattening cardboard boxes, when using refuse and recycling bins to help maximise their capacity and contribute to keeping our environment clean.