EnvironmentSnippets for Singapore: recycling, water-saving, littering, haze

Today Online 1 Mar 08;

Recycling for condos a must

It will soon be compulsory for all condominiums and private apartments to have recycling facilities. The Environment Ministry will start implementing this in phases this year, starting with the larger condos and private apartments. Although the overall recycling rate went up to 54 per cent last year – a 14-percentage-point jump from 2000 – the ministry's target is 60 per cent by 2012.

We're using less water today

Singaporeans are using less water, according to the latest figures. The daily per capita domestic water consumption has dropped from 165 litres in 2003 to 157 litres today.

This is set to go further down. From July 2009, the voluntary labelling scheme for water-efficient products will become mandatory. For a start, taps, flushing cisterns and urinals must come with water efficiency labels. The scheme will be extended to include showerheads and washing machines in future.

From July next year, taps, urinals and dual-flush cisterns in new developments and those undergoing renovation must have at least a "one tick" water efficiency rating. The Public Utilities Board is working with the Housing Board to adopt water-efficient products in its developments.

Business sector asked to take '10% water challenge'

The ministry is urging non-domestic users to take up the Government's "10-per-cent Challenge", where they work towards reducing water consumption by that amount through, for instance, the installation of water saving devices.

Over the next three to five years, the ministry will engage various sectors to lower their water consumption, starting with Government and commercial buildings, hotels and schools. And to help promote the challenge, a website will be set up to help users assess the state of water usage management on their premises and identifying opportunities for improvement. The PUB will also work with institutions such as the polytechnics to develop a water efficiency manager course.

next target: lift lobby litter

Littering hotspots such as lift lobbies, letterbox areas and void decks in HDB estates will be the National Environment Agency's (NEA) next target in its enforcement action.

The NEA has been increasing the number of enforcement man-hours over the past few years but there is still a small group of litterbugs who remain resistant to its educational efforts.

In a survey commissioned last year, 70 per cent of respondents were satisfied with the state of public cleanliness.

No need for 'Green' COEs

There will not be a separate category of Certificates of Entitlement for green vehicles here. Putting a quota on these vehicles would mean capping their growth, said the Environment Ministry yesterday. Rather, the demand for such vehicles should be left to market forces.

The number of green vehicles on our roads has risen to 1,500 in the last two years, and the Government will introduce necessary incentives to encourage consumers and fleet operators to opt for more of these environment-friendly vehicles.

Hazy days are here again

Singaporeans can expect slightly hazy days in the next few weeks because of the current dry spell and the incidents of forest fires in Sumatra and the Riau provinces. Relief should come in the next month, forecasts the NEA, with the arrival of the monsoon.

Singapore has also been working with its Indonesian counterparts in Jambi province to prevent land and forest fires. NEA officers, who were in Jambi last week, observed only four to five hotspots.