Condos to have recycling facilities

Kor Kian Beng, Straits Times 17 Sep 08;

RESIDENTS of condominiums and private apartments can look forward to recycling facilities in their compound.

That follows a new law passed yesterday giving the Director-General of Public Health powers to require owners or occupiers of any premises to provide recycling facilities, such as bins or bags, on their grounds.

The change to the Environment Public Health Act will come into effect on Nov 1.

Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, Minister for the Environment and Water Resources, said it covers only condominiums and private apartments.

It is necessary because only 38 per cent of the 150,000 households in condominiums and private apartments islandwide now have access to recycling facilities on their estate grounds.

In comparison, residents in HDB flats and landed private properties, comprising 87 per cent of households here, have easy access to recycling facilities, including centralised recycling bins.

One key reason is that condominiums and private apartments, as strata-titled properties, are free to appoint their own waste collectors and decide if these collectors are to provide recycling services.

Despite efforts by the National Environment Agency (NEA) since 2002 to encourage management councils and managing agents to set up recycling facilities, the take-up rate has been low.

But many residents in these properties want recycling facilities on site.

Dr Yaacob pointed out that an increasing number of them have approached the NEA for such facilities.

The Government's target, under the Singapore Green Plan 2012, is to raise the recycling rate from the current 54 per cent to 60 per cent by 2012.

The NEA will notify condominiums and private apartments about the new requirements, starting with those that have more than 50 units. Upon being told, they will have six months to comply.

Offenders, if convicted, will face a fine of not more than $5,000, which may be compounded.

Dr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim (Marine Parade GRC), assistant professor at National University of Singapore's Department of Real Estate, supported the amendment, saying it was a right step in Singapore's development as a first-world society.

He said: 'It will ensure that creating a green and sustainable environment will be inculcated as part of our lifestyle.'