Save-As-You-Reduce waste disposal pilot to launch in April

SINGAPORE — In a bid to encourage recycling and reduce waste, the Government is currently exploring the feasibility of charging households based on how much waste they dispose of.

Speaking at the Eco-products International Fair yesterday, Second Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Grace Fu said a Save-As-You-Reduce pilot will be carried out with selected households in the Punggol and Bartley areas, and at the first HDB Greenprint precinct at Yuhua.

A usage-based pricing waste disposal system will allow households to “directly reap the benefits of reducing waste”, said Ms Fu, who also revealed that the Government would be extending water and energy-efficiency labelling to more appliances to help households save on utility bills.

Presently, occupants of flats, landed residential properties and hawker/market stalls pay a flat monthly refuse collection fee, regardless of their waste disposal habits. Only trade premises are levied fees based on their volume of waste disposal.

Besides enhancing the recycling infrastructure, such as with more recycling bins, Ms Fu said “it’s important for the consumers to see how the behaviour affects them personally” by providing incentives.

Countries like Japan and the United States already charge households based on the volume or weight of waste disposed. The pilot will begin in April and end in February next year, during which its effects on waste disposal patterns will be monitored.

Meanwhile, the Government is tweaking the Mandatory Energy Labelling Scheme (MELS), Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) and Mandatory Water Efficiency Labelling Scheme (MWELS). Changes include adding television to the MELS list from next year, while the National Environment Agency will tighten MEPS standards for air conditioners and refrigerators this September. Louisa Tang