Policy framework
Legal framework
Singapore addresses marine litter as part of a holistic approach to tackling pollution and waste. This includes legislation and regulations on pollution control and waste management, as well as an integrated solid waste management and collection system to minimise waste at source. The applicable legislation and regulations, as of October 2019, include:
- Environmental Protection and Management Act (EPMA)
- Environmental Public Health Act (EPHA) and subsidiary legislation
- Sewerage and Drainage Act
- Sewerage and Drainage (Trade Effluent) Regulations
- Prevention of Pollution of the Sea Act (PPSA)
- Resource Sustainability Act (RSA)
Measures
Measures |
Achievements |
Prevention and reduction of plastic waste generation |
|
Charge for single-use plastic products (e.g. shopping bags, straws) |
|
Comments: Details of the disposable carrier bag charge at supermarkets, including timeline for implementation, will be finalised following the consultations. |
|
Actions for encouraging sustainable / circular product design |
|
Names of actions:
Brief description:
|
We do not see any particular trend Comments:
|
Measures |
Achievements |
Environmentally sound waste management |
|
Enforcement of proper waste management system |
|
Names of actions:
Brief description: Singapore’s approach is detailed below: (a) Comprehensive waste management system
|
We see a positive improvement from last two years |
Prevention of littering, illegal dumping and unintentional leakage of waste into the ocean |
|
Names of actions:
Brief description:
|
Measures |
Achievements |
Cleanup of marine plastic litter |
|
Collection of scattered waste on beach |
|
Names of actions: Brief description: Singapore’s Public Hygiene Council also has dedicated “CleanPods”, which are community-based resources equipped with metal tongs for litter picking, buckets for litter as well as garden carts for transportation of tools and disposal of trash at selected beach locations. Using the CleanPod resources allow organisations, schools and communities to reinforce the value of ownership for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and educational opportunities. |
We see a positive improvement from last two years |
Removal of plastic litter from the ocean |
|
Names of actions: Brief description: |
We see a positive improvement from last two years |
Measures |
Achievements |
Promotion of innovative solutions |
|
Policy actions for encouraging plastic alternatives (e.g. biodegradable plastics, circular product design – including use of recycled materials or closed loop recycling and so on’) |
|
Names of actions: Chemical Recycling of Plastic Waste Brief description: NEA is also studying the feasibility of both mechanical recycling and chemical recycling of plastics. In the latter, waste plastics could be recycled through pyrolysis for use by the petrochemical sector to manufacture chemicals and plastics. |
We see a positive improvement from last two years Comments:
|
Public-private partnerships for creating and implementing innovative solution |
|
Names of actions: Brief description:
|
We do not see any particular trend
Comments: |
Measures |
Achievements |
Education and awareness raising |
|
Education system for encouraging public awareness on MPL issues |
|
|
We see a positive improvement from last two years
Comments: |
Awareness raising campaigns related to MPL |
|
National level: |
National level: We see a positive improvement from last two years Comments: |
Measures |
Achievements |
Monitoring & Scientific research on marine plastic litter |
|
Actions for encouraging monitoring / scientific research on plastic flows and ocean surface microplastics |
|
Names of actions:
Brief description: |
We see a positive improvement from last two years |
Engagement in international/regional level actions for encouraging monitoring / scientific research on plastic flows and ocean surface microplastics |
|
Names of actions:
Brief description:
|
We see a positive improvement from last two years |
Challenges
- Data collection related to marine plastic litter
Best practices
National level
Comprehensive waste management system:
- Having a comprehensive and integrated solid waste management and collection system helps to minimise waste at source, reuse and recycle waste, and regulate waste collection and disposal so that waste will not be washed into the marine environment. With a National Recycling Programme and regulations, recycling bins and a collection system are provided for all residents.
- The Zero Waste Masterplan and the Singapore Green Plan 2030 will guide Singapore’s efforts towards becoming a Zero Waste Nation.
Related URL: https://towardszerowaste.sg/zero-waste-masterplan/ and https://greenplan.gov.sg/ - Prevention of littering, illegal dumping, release of waste into the ocean:
Singapore has a routine cleaning regime put in place for all inland waterways to trap and remove land-based litter and flotsam. Damming up of tidal rivers to form reservoirs as source of water supply has also minimised litter from flowing out into the sea. Singapore also has a strict anti-littering enforcement regime aimed at deterring littering.
Private sector
Cooperation with stakeholders:
Singapore works with consumers, food and beverage establishments, supermarkets, and hotels to reduce the use of disposables and encourage consumers to bring reusables and decline disposables such as single-use bags or takeaway containers and cups.
International cooperation
Singapore actively participates in regional and global marine litter platforms under ASEAN and the UN.
Further information
Singapore’s Zero Waste Masterplan: https://towardszerowaste.sg/zero-waste-masterplan/
Singapore Green Plan 2030: https://greenplan.gov.sg/