'Less trash, pay less' scheme to be tested

Project involving over 1,400 homes aims to cut waste, boost recycling
Grace Chua Straits Times 15 Mar 13;

THROW away less trash, and get to pay less.

The Government is piloting "save-as-you-reduce" schemes in Punggol, Bartley and Yuhua, to see if they help cut household waste and get residents to recycle more, said Second Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Grace Fu yesterday.

"If we find that households are reducing their waste, we can consider passing back some of the savings so there's a direct relationship between their behaviour and their pocket."

The domestic waste generated in Singapore has been rising faster than population growth.

And the overall waste this country produces has grown from 5.97 million tonnes a year since 2008 to 6.9 million tonnes in 2011 - which roughly equals the weight of 275,000 fully loaded garbage trucks.

In the same year, 59 per cent of Singapore's total waste was recycled, but the National Environment Agency hopes this figure will hit 65 per cent by 2020.

There are already schemes to encourage recycling. From last year, new public waste collection contracts must include the supply of one recycling bin for each HDB block. And from next year, large hotels and shopping centres have to report how much waste they generate and what their targets are to reduce and recycle it.

Although few details were available on how the new scheme will be implemented, the Government is hoping the 11-month "save-as-you-reduce" trial, which starts next month for more than 1,400 households, will also make a mark.

HDB residents in the targeted estates pay between $4.82 and $6.08 a month for trash services, while the cost for landed properties ranges between $17 and $20.

Mr Andrew Tan, 29, a civil servant who lives in a house off Braddell Road, said the scheme would make him think twice about throwing things out rather than recycling them.

Punggol HDB resident Daphne Maia Loo, a 29-year-old social media manager, wondered if people would stop reducing their waste if the financial incentive was later removed.

She said: "How are we going to inculcate a habit of reduce, reuse and recycle if we only go for short-term solutions and instant-gratification programmes?"

Ms Fu, who was speaking at the Eco-Products International Fair at Marina Bay Sands' convention centre yesterday, also said that from next year, television sets being sold must bear labels showing how energy-efficient they are. Air-conditioners, refrigerators and clothes dryers already carry such labels.

From next year too, clothes dryers and general lighting must meet minimum energy-efficiency targets.

Save-As-You-Reduce waste disposal pilot to launch in April
Louisa Tang Today Online 15 Mar 13;

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

Energy efficiency labelling to be extended to more appliances
Alice Chia Channel NewsAsia 14 Mar 13;

SINGAPORE : The government is extending water and energy efficiency labelling to more appliances, and is looking into more mandatory efficiency standards for them.

Grace Fu, Second Minister for the Environment and Water Resources, and Minister in the Prime Minister's Office, said: "It is important for us to first of all give our consumers the necessary information about how energy-efficient products can help them to save energy costs in the long run.

"At the same time, by regulating the type of product that is being sold, we hope that we can bring in more energy-efficient products so that it will bring down the costs for consumers."

Ms Fu was speaking at the Eco-products International Fair on Thursday.

From September, air conditioners and refrigerators sold in Singapore will have to meet stricter energy efficiency standards.

From next year, television sets will come with labels showing how energy-efficient they are, while clothes dryers and lighting must meet performance standards.

Washing machines will also have to meet a minimum water efficiency standard of one tick from April next year.

This will help consumers and businesses make informed choices and enjoy cost-savings from energy and water consumption over time.

Households will be encouraged to recycle, with more bins and collections.

The government is also considering a usage-based pricing waste disposal system.

"Save-As-You-Reduce" pilot projects will be conducted in the Punggol and Bartley areas.

They will involve a small number of HDB blocks, condominiums and landed properties, as well as the first HDB Greenprint precinct in Yuhua.

During the pilot projects, residents will be updated on how much they have recycled and thrown away.

- CNA/ms