Singapore

Prevention and reduction of plastic waste generation

Charge for single-use plastic products (e.g. shopping bags, straws)

Comments:
The government has embarked on stakeholder consultations on an appropriate charging model for a disposable carrier bag charge at supermarkets, which will take into account Singapore’s context and any impact on vulnerable groups. This arises from a recommendation made by the Citizens’ Workgroup on Reducing Excessive Consumption of Disposables, which was convened by the government from Sep 2020 to Jan 2021.

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:

1. Mandatory Packaging Reporting Framework/ Resource Sustainability Act
2. Packaging Partnership Programme (PPP)
3. Singapore Green Labelling Scheme (SGLS)

Brief description:

1. To encourage businesses to minimise their contribution to plastic waste, Singapore’s National Environment Agency (NEA) will require businesses that place packaging on the Singapore market to submit packaging data and plans to reduce, reuse and/or recycle packaging under the mandatory packaging reporting framework. The first reports are to be submitted in 1Q 2022. This is a step towards making companies aware of the environmental impact of packaging that they supply to the market and spur them to reduce packaging and packaging waste. The Resource Sustainability Act also provides legislative effect to the EPR for e-waste, and a Producer Responsibility Scheme will also be implemented from 1 Jul 2021. Plastics from regulated products such as ICT equipment and large home appliances will have to be properly treated or recycled.
2. The Singapore Manufacturing Federation (SMF) has partnered the NEA to introduce an industry-led programme to support companies in their journey towards adopting sustainable packaging waste management practices. The PPP is a joint capability development programme that will support companies in fulfilling their new obligations under the Mandatory Packaging Reporting framework from 1 January 2021 as well as enable the exchange of best practices in sustainable packaging waste management. PPP members are also provided access to the use of the Logo for Products with Reduced Packaging.
3. The SGLS is an environmental standard and certification mark administered by a non-governmental organisation, the Singapore Environment Council. It looks at the life-cycle environmental impact of products, as well as environmental best practices in their manufacture. The Scheme helps the public to identify environmentally sustainable products. SGLS categories that contribute to sustainable/circular product design include “Products with Recycled/Sustainable Content”.

We do not see any particular trend

Comments:

2. Monitoring in progress as PPP is recently implemented
3. No existing data. Companies obligated under the mandatory packaging reporting will only be required to make their first submission in Q1 2022.

Measures

Achievements

Environmentally sound waste management

Enforcement of proper waste management system

Names of actions:

1. Control of waste disposal.
2. Anti-littering and waterways clean-up measures,
3. Integrated and comprehensive solid waste management and collection system

Brief description:
To address the issue of marine plastic litter and microplastics, Singapore has in place stringent legislation and regulations on pollution control and waste management and a comprehensive waste and water management system to minimise waste at source and prevent discharge of litter into the sea. The prevention and reduction of marine pollution is achieved through (i) management of pollution from land-based sources; and (ii) management of water pollution and quality in inland water bodies and coastal areas.

Singapore’s approach is detailed below:

(a) Comprehensive waste management system

1. Control of waste disposal. Through the Environmental Protection and Management Act (EPMA) and the Environmental Public Health Act (EPHA), Singapore’s National Environment Agency regulates the disposal of all types of waste in Singapore and administers strict anti-littering regulations. This includes the discharge of trade effluent, oil, chemical, sewage or other polluting matters into drains, as well as hazardous substances into inland waters and conducting regular water quality monitoring of inland water bodies and coastal areas to meet international standards
2. Anti-littering as well as waterways clean-up measures, which ensure that land-based litter, including plastic waste, that might otherwise wash into the ocean is prevented from doing so
3. Integrated and comprehensive solid waste management and collection system to minimise waste at source and collect all waste for proper disposal. Recyclables, which are segregated and collected separately at source, including plastics, are sorted, baled and sent for recycling

Prevention of littering, illegal dumping and unintentional leakage of waste into the ocean

Names of actions:

1. Damming up tidal rivers to form reservoirs
2. Collect and treat all used water at water reclamation plants (WRPs)
3. Party to all six Annexes of the International Maritime Organisations’s (IMO) International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL)

Brief description:

1. Damming up of tidal rivers to form reservoirs as source of water supply to minimise litter from flowing out into the sea. Vertical gratings, litter traps and float booms installed where appropriate as part of the drainage network to trap debris and litter
2. All used water collected and treated at water reclamation plants (WRPs) to international discharge standards. Most plastic materials, including microplastics, removed through current treatment processes at the WRPs
3. Singapore is party to all six Annexes of the International Maritime Organisation’s (IMO) International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL), the main international convention covering prevention of pollution of the marine environment by ships. MARPOL Annex V in particular prohibits the discharge of garbage, including all types of plastics, into the sea
4. Singapore’s Maritime and Port Authority (MPA)’s port inspectors patrol Singapore’s port waters to ensure that ships in the Port of Singapore do not illegally discharge waste, oil, garbage and sewage
5. Singapore conducts inspections on both Singapore-registered and foreign-registered ships in our port to ensure that they comply with the regulations on garbage disposal into the sea and that anti-pollution measures are in place. Ships are also required (by IMO requirements) to maintain a record of their garbage and management plans for verification by Flag State Control and Port State Control inspectors
6. Singapore’s MPA deploys five garbage collection crafts daily at scheduled timings to collect garbage from ships at the anchorages

Measures

Achievements

Cleanup of marine plastic litter

Collection of scattered waste on beach

Names of actions:
Beach clean-ups.

Brief description:
Recreational beaches under Singapore’s National Environment Agency’s purview are cleaned throughout the year with frequencies ranging from four times a week to once in two weeks depending on the public usage and accessibility of the beach. The cleaning frequency is increased to twice a day for selected beaches during monsoon periods as more marine litter is washed ashore. Clean-ups are also conducted by groups such as International Coastal Cleanup Singapore (ICCS), Our Singapore Reefs, Little Green Men Singapore, Green Nudge, Nature Society (Singapore), Restore Ubin Mangroves and Seven Clean Seas.

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.

Removal of plastic litter from the ocean

Names of actions:
Dive clean-ups

Brief description:
Dive clean-ups are conducted by groups such as Our Singapore Reefs, Our Singapore Reefs is a community initiative that promotes awareness about Singapore’s marine biodiversity and the impacts of marine debris through dive clean-ups and educational outreach activities.

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:
Zero Waste Masterplan

Chemical Recycling of Plastic Waste

Brief description:
Singapore is working towards becoming a Zero Waste Nation and has launched a Zero Waste Masterplan. The Masterplan outlines Singapore’s strategies to reuse and recycle resources, turn trash into treasure, as well as produce and consume sustainably. To support our circular economy approach, we are investing in research and development and collaborating with the industry to develop and promote innovative solutions to turn our waste into resources. As part of efforts under the Zero Waste Masterplan, Singapore has introduced Mandatory Packaging Reporting (MPR) in 2021 to close the packaging loop. Under the MPR framework, producers of packaged products, as well as retailers will be required to submit packaging data and 3R plans to the NEA.

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:

1. Since the launch of the Zero Waste Masterplan in 2019, policies have been further developed.
2. In Singapore’s context, replacing conventional non-degradable single-use plastics with biodegradable alternatives is not necessarily better for the environment, as all incinerable waste, including biodegradables, are not directly landfilled but disposed of at waste-to-energy plants. A life-cycle assessment study on carrier bags and food packaging commissioned by the National Environment Agency (NEA) also found that each type of packaging material results in different environmental impact such as global warming, high water consumption or land use change. Hence, a more sustainable approach is to reduce the excessive use of all types of disposables and promote the use of reusables where possible.

Public-private partnerships for creating and implementing innovative solution

Names of actions:
Engage domestic stakeholders to reduce the amount of solid waste, generated and disposed of, including plastics.

Brief description:
Singapore’s initiatives to engage domestic stakeholders include:

1. Partnering with the People, Private and Public (3P) sectors on initiatives that reduce the generation of land-based solid waste, including plastic waste These include convening Citizens’ Workgroups on recycling right and reducing the excessive consumption of disposables, where citizens come together to learn and brainstorm innovative and contextually relevant solutions to these issues; and co-delivering these solutions with the 3P sectors where feasible.
2. The Singapore Manufacturing Federation (SMF) has partnered the NEA to introduce an industry-led programme called the Packaging Partnership Programme (PPP) to support companies in their journey towards adopting sustainable packaging waste management practices. The PPP is a joint capability development programme that will support companies in fulfilling their new obligations under the Mandatory Packaging Reporting framework from 1 January 2021 as well as enable the exchange of best practices in sustainable packaging waste management. Prior to the PPP, there was the Singapore Packaging Agreement, a voluntary agreement undertaken by government, industry and non-governmental organisations to reduce packaging waste from 2007 to 2020.
3. National Recycling Programme, in which recycling bins are provided at every HDB block, landed property, opt-in condominium, and various trade premises all over Singapore to serve as convenient means for households to recycle, thereby reducing the amount of plastic waste being sent for disposal

Comments:
Monitoring in progress as PPP is recently implemented

Measures

Achievements

Education and awareness raising

Education system for encouraging public awareness on MPL issues

1. Nationwide “Say YES to Waste Less” campaign which is aimed at influencing the public to reduce the use of disposables
2. Working with environment groups such as Zero Waste SG, the Public Hygiene Council (PHC), International Coastal Cleanup Singapore (ICCS) and the Waterways Watch Society (WWS) to foster shared ownership in keeping the environment clean and minimising waste. For example, ICCS organises clean-up initiatives to engender ownership among youths and other members of the public, and Zero Waste SG launched a Bring Your Own (BYO) campaign that provides educational tips and engage retails partners to provide incentives to encourage consumers to use their own reusable containers, bottles and bags leading to reduction in plastic waste
3. Singapore’s MPA organises maritime environmental outreach programmes including talks on marine conservation, underwater clean-up, and online content such as quizzes, animation videos and tutorials, to raise awareness on the importance of protecting the marine environment.

Comments:
Since the “Say YES to Waste Less” was launched in 2019, the number of retail partners have increased from 59 to 90 organisations in 2020. Collectively, they cover more than 2,100 retail outlets in Singapore. All of them have put in place different measures to encourage consumers to reduce their consumption of single-use products, such as through incentivisation or reminding customers to opt out of disposables.

Awareness raising campaigns related to MPL

National level:

Names of actions:
See here and here above for more details.

National level:

We see a positive improvement from last two years

Comments:
See here above

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:

1. Extension of additional membrane bioreactor technology systems at water reclamation plans planned to further reduce the amount of microplastics discharged into the sea
2. Marine debris research was done to establish a baseline for marine debris on Singapore’s shores, and set the stage for an integrated, citizen-science programme to collect and share information for use by stakeholders and the public

Brief description:
A marine debris research project was done by Singapore’s National Parks Board (NParks) and the National University of Singapore (NUS). The study, which started in 2016, provided baseline data on marine debris on Singapore’s shores.

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:

1. Regional Training Programmes
2. Capacity Building Assistance
3. Adoption of regional instruments addressing marine debris
4. Active participation at regional marine litter initiatives.

Brief description:

1. Specifically, under SDG14.1, Singapore conducted a Regional Training Programme on Waste Management and Reduction of Marine Litter as part of the Singapore-Norway Third Country Training Programme (TCTP) in October 2017 and March 2019.
2. Organising capacity building and sharing with other countries on the implementation of relevant international instruments for the prevention of pollution from ships, such as the IMO’s MARPOL. Through the Singapore-IMO TCTP, Singapore’s MPA provided trainers to support IMO’s training for the National Workshop on MARPOL Annex V and Port Reception Facilities in the Philippines from 23 – 25 October 2019. Since the onset of the Singapore-IMO TCTP, Singapore has provided technical sharing with over 2,100 participants from over 90 countries, from Africa, the Americas, Asia, Caribbean, Eastern Europe, Middle-East and the Pacific Islands.
3. Singapore was the coordinator of the IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC)’s Correspondence Group on “Development of a Strategy to Address Marine Plastic Litter from Ships”, which was established at the 74^th Session of MEPC from 13 – 17 May 2019. The Strategy being developed is to build upon the IMO’s Action Plan to address marine plastic litter from ships, adopted at the 73rd Session of MEPC from 22 – 26 October 2018, which aims to enhance existing regulations and introduce new supporting measures to reduce marine plastic litter from ships.
4. Adoption of the Bangkok Declaration on Combating Marine Debris and the ASEAN Framework of Action on Marine Debris, alongside other ASEAN member states, to protect the marine environment and strengthen regional cooperation on marine debris issues.
5. Adoption of the ASEAN Regional Action Plan (RAP) on Combating Marine Debris, alongside other ASEAN member states, outlining regional initiatives that will enhance the region’s capacities to address marine debris pollution through both upstream and downstream measures.
6. Active participation in regional marine litter initiatives and workshops organised by the Coordinating Body on the Seas of East Asia (COBSEA) and Partnerships in Environmental Management of the Seas of East Asia (PEMSEA).