Best of our wild blogs: 12 Mar 15

Green Drinks: Shifts and Solutions in Sustainable Commercial Interiors
from Green Drinks Singapore

UN report warns of grave consequences if mangroves not protected
from Mongabay.com news

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'No rush' into decision on how to revamp Rail Corridor: MND

Channel NewsAsia 11 Mar 15;

SINGAPORE: While various proposals have been received on how to revamp the Rail Corridor for future use, there is "no rush" to develop the entire stretch at once, said Minister of State for National Development Desmond Lee on Wednesday (Mar 11).

Speaking at the 2015 Committee Of Supply Debate, Mr Lee announced that the authorities are ready to launch a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the concept master plan and design concepts for the Rail Corridor, which consists of the 24km-stretch of land left vacant by the former KTM raiway track.

The Government has been "actively seeking views and ideas" on what people would like to see in the vacated space, said Mr Lee. For example, a group called the Rail Corridor Partnership has been formed to foster dialogue with interest groups, academics, design professionals and government agencies.

Some of the ideas put forward including recreational use, such as for cyclists or trail walking, and community use, such as gardens and urban farms. The Government's approach is to "encourage community ownership" of the Rail Corridor, Mr Lee said.

A public exhibition will be held later this year to showcase the various proposals, he said, following the launch of the RFP.

"However, given the length of the Rail Corridor, there is no rush to work on the whole stretch all at once. Instead, the enhancement of the Rail Corridor will be carefully and sensitively staged, and we will work closely with local communities to realise its full potential," he added.

- CNA/es

Govt set to call for proposals on Rail Corridor development
LAURA ELIZABETH PHILOMIN Today Online 11 Mar 15;

SINGAPORE — After three and a half years of engaging the public to gather feedback, the Urban Redevelopment Authority is ready to launch a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the Rail Corridor’s concept master plan and design concepts.

Announcing this during the second day of the Ministry of National Development’s Committee of Supply debate today (March 11), MND Minister of State Desmond Lee said the RFP will firm up the overall plan and design, which will guide developments in the coming years.

Some suggestions for the 24km railway line included creating a commuter cycling route into the central business district area or using spaces for community uses such as gardens and urban farming. “We should support this, to encourage community ownership of the Rail Corridor,” Mr Lee said.

Such feedback, together with ideas formulated by the Rail Corridor Partnership involving interest groups, academics and design professionals, have been distilled into the Planning and Design Goals under the RFP brief.

Given the length of the Rail Corridor, there will be no rush to work on the whole stretch all at once, said Mr Lee. “Instead, the enhancement of the Rail Corridor will be carefully and sensitively staged, and we will work closely with local communities to realise its full potential,” he added.

Govt to call for Rail Corridor proposals soon
Janice Heng The Straits Times AsiaOne 13 Mar 15;

Work on planning for the future of a 24km green stretch of former railway track will begin soon, with the authorities set to make a formal call for ideas.

The upcoming request for proposal (RFP) is for a masterplan and design concepts for the Rail Corridor, which runs from Tanjong Pagar to Woodlands, said Minister of State for National Development Desmond Lee yesterday.

"The RFP will enable us to firm up the overall plan and design for the Rail Corridor, which will then guide how it will be realised in the coming years," said Mr Lee in the debate on his ministry's budget.

The Urban Redevelopment Authority has incorporated public feedback into the planning and design goals, which will be part of the RFP brief, he added.

A public exhibition will be held later this year to showcase the proposals received.

"However, given that the length of the Rail Corridor is 24km, there is no rush to work on the whole stretch all at once."

Mr Lee was replying to MPs' questions on green topics such as tree conservation.

To Mr Seah Kian Peng (Marine Parade GRC), who wanted protection for old trees, Mr Lee said that removing old trees is done "only after very careful consideration".

"Where possible, we will find new homes for these mature trees, and have transplanted some 2,100 trees just last year alone," he added.

Mr Chen Show Mao (Aljunied GRC) of the Workers' Party wanted specific guidelines - perhaps set out in legislation - for when environment impact assessments are required for development projects.

In reply, Mr Lee said only that these assessments are applied "to projects that may most adversely impact our protected natural spaces, and coastal and marine environments".

Separately, the Building and Construction Authority yesterday gave details of a $20 million fund to test new energy-efficient technologies, such as under-floor cooling systems, in actual buildings.

The GBIC-Building Energy Efficient Demonstrations Scheme aims to mitigate the financial risk of testing out new technologies, by co-funding costs such as equipment and installation. It will also cover the cost of removing the technology if the trial fails.

The scheme is one of three activities under the $52 million Green Buildings Innovation Cluster (GBIC) programme launched in September.

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2,100 mature trees transplanted last year: MND

LAURA ELIZABETH PHILOMIN Today Online 11 Mar 15;

SINGAPORE — Recognising that old trees are part of Singapore’s natural heritage, efforts have gone into ensuring such trees are not cut down discriminately and are only done so after “very careful consideration”, said Minister of State for National Development Desmond Lee.

Last year alone, the National Parks Board (NParks) transplanted some 2,100 mature trees, which had to make way for development works. Speaking during the Committee of Supply debate for the Ministry of National Development today (March 11), Mr Lee said where possible, the Government will find new homes for mature trees that have to be cleared.

He was responding to concerns raised by Member of Parliament Seah Kian Peng (Marine Parade GRC), who pointed out that more than 95 per cent of Singapore’s original forest cover has been cleared.

Mr Seah, who is also a board member of NParks, acknowledged there have been some measure of “greening” Singapore. “But I ask that we be clear-eyed about it – a 100-year old tree is surely different from a six-month old shrub and manicured road dividers in term of ecological value,” he pointed out.

Mr Lee, in his response, also noted that 222 trees have been designated as Heritage Trees under the Heritage Trees Scheme which protects mature trees. Some of these trees are more than 150 years old.

In the meantime, NParks has continued to plant trees, and last year more than 38,000 trees were planted, 1.5 times more than the average in recent years, he said. NParks also accelerates replacement of greenery by setting up tree banks to raise semi-mature trees for planting.

Mr Lee also said that by this year, about 300km of park connectors would have been developed, bringing Singapore closer to the goal of 400km by 2030. Singapore has also increased the total area of skyrise greenery to more than 65 hectares. “Where possible, we will incorporate more greenery within our public housing estates and infrastructure such as MRT stations and covered linkways, to create a rich green environment all around us,” he said.

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Singapore's 3rd desalination plant will be built at Tuas: MEWR

Channel NewsAsia 11 Mar 15;

SINGAPORE: A third desalination plant will be constructed at Tuas to ensure Singapore’s water supply continues to be resilient, said Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Dr Vivian Balakrishnan in Parliament on Wednesday (Mar 11).

In his Committee of Supply 2015 speech, Dr Balakrishnan pointed out the dry weather in recent weeks and the lower-than-average rainfall for January and February are “signals that we must prepare for a future where dry spells may become more prolonged due to climate change”.

The Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources (MEWR) is also exploring the possibility of building more desalination plants to enhance water security and network resilience, he added.

However, Dr Balakrishnan conceded that “infrastructural resilience has its limits”, and said the Government would seek to educate the public on reducing water wastage.

“It is possible for people to change their habits. We have reduced our daily per-capita domestic water consumption from 165 litres per person per day in 2003 to 150.4 litres per person per day today,” he said. “We aim to lower this to 140 litres per person per day by 2030.”

FOSTERING THE RIGHT HABITS

“We need to also develop our people’s resilience. Our water supply cannot be expanded infinitely and we must manage our water demand properly by focusing on water conservation and fostering the right habits in people.”

Additionally, the PUB is exploring the use of underground space for water infrastructure, and is working closely with large water users to push the boundaries on industrial water efficiency, said Dr Balakrishnan.

PUB LOOKING INTO UNDERGROUND SPACES FOR WATER INFRASTRUCTURE

National water agency PUB will be calling a tender for consultancy services to study the technical and economic feasibility of using underground spaces for the future redevelopment of its Kranji water reclamation plant and NEWater factory, it announced in a media release on Wednesday.

The consultancy study will look into different plant design options for the Kranji plant and the NEWater factory, so land can be used optimally – as compared to exiting water reclamation plants. This can be done through constructing higher buildings, deeper basements, or the use of underground rock caverns, said PUB. The study is expected to be completed by the end of 2016.

PUB also noted that the relocation of utilities infrastructure could free up surface land for other uses, and create a more pleasant living environment for people to live, work and play above ground.

- CNA/ct/dl

Laws to reduce water use during drought could be in the pipeline: Balakrishnan
NEO CHAI CHIN Today Online 11 Mar 15;

SINGAPORE — Washing of cars and pavements, as well as the watering of lawns, could become offences in times of severe drought.

The Government is considering changes to the Public Utilities Act to impose water restrictions during periods of severe drought, said Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Vivian Balakrishnan today (March 11), during his ministry’s Committee of Supply debate.

Water consumption went up during the dry spell last February despite reminders to conserve the resource. But the authorities did not have to resort to water rationing because of water infrastructure — such as water recycling and desalination plants — built over the years, he said.

Singapore has also experienced dry weather in the first two months of this year, and Dr Balakrishnan said the plants are running at 70 per cent capacity, resulting in higher water levels at the reservoirs than they would otherwise be.

More facilities will be built to cater to water needs: A third desalination plant will be built in Tuas, and more will be built in other parts of Singapore, he said.

To ensure the infrastructure does not take up land that could be used for other purposes, he said underground space could be used. National water agency PUB will call a tender for consultancy services to study the feasibility of using underground space, including rock caverns, for the future redevelopment of its Kranji Water Recalamation Plant and NEWater factory.

Singapore Budget 2015: PUB to study underground spaces for water infrastructure
FENG ZENGKUN Straits Times 11 Mar 15;

SINGAPORE - Singapore will be looking underground for new places to store its water infrastructure, said Minister for Environment and Water Resources Vivian Balakrishnan in Parliament on Wednesday.

National water agency PUB is also calling a tender to study the feasibility of using underground space, such as rock caverns, for the redevelopment of its Kranji water reclamation plant and Newater Factory.

The plant and factory are expected to be redeveloped and expanded around the year 2030, as part of the integrated used water system consisting of the Changi, Tuas and Kranji water reclamation plants in east, west and north Singapore respectively.

"Currently, Singapore's water reclamation plants are built on surface land. With a limited land area of about 718 sq km, Singapore is continuously challenged to come up with innovate and practical solutions to create new spaces," said PUB.

"The relocation of utilities infrastructure underground has the potential to free up surface land for other uses, and create a more pleasant living environment for people to live, work and play above ground," it added.

The feasibility study is expected to be completed by 2016, and will look at the challenges of constructing and operating a plant in an underground cavern. These include the need for back-up systems for power, odour control, air ventilation and other mechanical systems.

Designs to cope with potential floods or fires will also need to be put in place.

Govt eyes limits on water use in severe drought
PUB considering underground space for plants, other facilities to cater to S’pore’s water needs
NEO CHAI CHIN Today Online 12 Mar 15;

SINGAPORE — Washing of cars and pavements, as well as the watering of lawns, could become offences in times of severe drought.

The Government is considering changes to the Public Utilities Act to impose water restrictions during severe drought, said Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Vivian Balakrishnan yesterday during his ministry’s Committee of Supply debate.

Water consumption went up during the dry spell in February last year despite reminders to conserve the resource. But the authorities did not have to resort to water rationing because of infrastructure, such as water recycling and desalination plants, built over the years, he said.

“Whilst I don’t envisage the need for water rationing, I do need to put people on notice that if the dry spell or drought is prolonged, we will have to impose water restrictions and to impose (them) through subsidiary legislation,” said Dr Balakrishnan.

“In addition, we’ll also study whether we need to further refine the current legislative framework to give legal effect to water restrictions. So what this means is during prolonged dry spells, we make it illegal to use water to wash the cars, or to use it on pavements or use it to water grass and lawns.”

Singapore has experienced dry weather in the first two months of this year, and Dr Balakrishnan said the plants are running at 70 per cent capacity, resulting in higher water levels at reservoirs than there would be otherwise.

More facilities will be built to cater to water needs: A third desalination plant will be built in Tuas, he said.

Underground space could be used to free up surface land for other uses, he said. National water agency PUB announced yesterday it will call a tender to study the feasibility of using underground space, including rock caverns, for the future redevelopment of its Kranji Water Reclamation Plant and NEWater factory.

The facility is due for redevelopment and expansion around 2030, PUB said. The 18-month consultancy study, expected to be completed by the end of next year, will look into design options for the plant and factory, such as the building of higher storeys, deeper basements and the usage of underground rock caverns.

Singapore’s water reclamation plants are currently built on surface land, with treatment process units housed in buildings above ground. Basements extend up to 70m below ground. NEWater factories have in recent years been housed on the rooftop of water reclamation plants to facilitate large-scale water recycling, such as in Changi and the upcoming one in Tuas.

PUB said challenges in constructing and operating a plant in an underground cavern include safety and ventilation requirements. Back-up systems are needed for power, odour control, air ventilation and other mechanical systems. The impact of potential floods or fires must also be mitigated.

“There needs to be careful assessment as we evaluate the impact of going underground and determine the most optimal options,” said PUB’s director of policy and planning William Yeo.

Alongside these efforts, the Government aims to reduce per capita daily domestic water consumption from 150.4 litres today, to 140 litres by 2030. The domestic sector accounts for 45 per cent of Singapore’s total water use of about 400 million gallons a day.

Third desalination plant to be built
Feng Zengkun The Straits Times AsiaOne 12 Mar 15;

SINGAPORE will build a desalination plant in Tuas to treat more seawater, to meet the country's growing water needs.

Announcing this yesterday in Parliament during the debate on his ministry's budget, Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Vivian Balakrishnan said the new plant will also help to tide Singapore over dry spells.

He noted that Singapore had experienced dry spells last year as well as reduced rain this year. "We need to prepare for periods of drought and dry spells in future," he said. Singapore currently uses about 400 million gallons of water a day, but this could almost double by the year 2060.

The new desalination plant will be the third in the country when it is completed in 2017.

With it, Singapore will be able to produce up to 130 million gallons of water a day from seawater, up from the current maximum of 100 million gallons a day. The Government is considering building more desalination plants.

Desalinated water, or treated seawater, now meets up to 25 per cent of current water demand and is expected to continue to meet up to 25 per cent of demand by 2060.

Newater, which is treated used water, is slated to meet up to 55 per cent of Singapore's water demand by 2060, up from as much as 30 per cent now.

Singapore's two other national taps are treated rainwater and water imported from Malaysia, but the agreement with Malaysia will expire in 2061.

Dr Balakrishnan noted, however, that Singapore's water supply cannot be expanded infinitely, so Singaporeans should help to conserve water.

The Government may have to impose water restrictions during prolonged dry spells and droughts, such as making it illegal for people to use water to wash cars, so it is now studying whether it needs to refine existing legislation, he added.

Separately, national water agency PUB is calling a tender to study the feasibility of using underground space, such as rock caverns, for the redevelopment of its water reclamation plant and Newater factory in Kranji.

The plant and factory are expected to be redeveloped and expanded around the year 2030, as part of the integrated used water system consisting of the Changi, Tuas and Kranji water reclamation plants in east, west and north Singapore respectively.

"The relocation of utilities infrastructure underground has the potential to free up surface land for other uses, and create a more pleasant living environment for people to live, work and play above ground," PUB said.

The feasibility study is expected to be completed by next year, and will look at the challenges of constructing and operating a plant in an underground cavern.

These include the need for back-up systems for power, odour control, air ventilation and other mechanical systems. Designs to cope with potential floods or fires will also be needed.

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Anti-flood measures: Projects to improve drainage at 35 locations this year

Channel NewsAsia 11 Mar 15;

SINGAPORE: To reduce the risk of flooding, drainage improvement projects will take place at 35 locations around Singapore this year, said Minister for the Environment and Water Resources (MEWR) Dr Vivian Balakrishnan.

Similar projects have been completed at more than 190 locations around Singapore since 2012, he said at the Committee of Supply Debate on Wednesday (Mar 11). Works now ongoing at another 119 locations will be completed by 2018.

The construction of the Stamford Canal Detention Tank is expected to be ready by the middle of 2016, while the Stamford Diversion Canal is expected to be completed by the end of 2017. Together, the level of flood protection for the Stamford Canal catchment - which includes the Orchard Road area - will be enhanced significantly, he said.

The flood prone area in Singapore, at 34ha, is now just 1 per cent of the 3,200ha in the 1970s, Dr Balakrishnan said.

But he said it was impossible to rule out the possibility of floods entirely. “Despite our best efforts, our drains have a finite capacity. It is not possible to totally eliminate the possibility of floods during intense rain, especially in low lying areas. We therefore need to take steps to mitigate the impact of floods, and provide timely information and alerts to the public so that they can take necessary precautions.”

ABC WATERS PROGRAMME CREATES 'COMMUNITY SPACES'

Separately, Dr Balakrishnan said MEWR will be embarking on six new Active, Beautiful, Clean (ABC) Waters projects this year, to create "blue community spaces that allow residents to own and enjoy pockets of Singapore’s water resources".

A total of 27 ABC Waters projects have been completed so far, including the recent Rochor Canal, which was officially opened last Sunday.

He revealed that another two projects at Sungei Api Api and Sungei Tampines are also scheduled to open later this month, while four other projects will be completed and opened to the public later this year. In 2016, ABC Waters projects may be implemented at Sungei Pinang and the canal along Hougang Ave 1, he said.

- CNA/xk

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Tighter industrial emissions standards for better air quality

SIAU MING EN Today Online 11 Mar 15;

SINGAPORE — Industrial emissions standards will be tightened to improve air quality standards, as industries such as power stations and oil refineries account for a significant portion of particulate matter and sulphur dioxide emissions, said Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Vivian Balakrishnan today (March 11).

Speaking at his ministry’s Committee of Supply debate in Parliament, he also noted that Singapore failed to meet the 2020 air quality targets last year.

The annual mean for PM2.5 was 18 microgrammes per cubic metre last year, more than the 2020 target of 12 microgrammes per cubic metre. Meanwhile, the highest 24-hour mean for sulphur dioxide was 83 microgrammes per cubic metre last year, also far from the 2020 target of 50 microgrammes per cubic metre.

Last year, industries such as power stations and oil refineries accounted for almost all of the locally generated sulphur dioxide emissions and 43 per cent of PM2.5 emissions.

“We are therefore working with the companies involved in these industries to reduce their emissions and we will be tightening the industrial emissions standards for a range of air pollutants in order to help us achieve our targets for cleaner air,” Dr Balakrishnan said.

More details will be released later this month.

In addition, Category C diesel vehicle owners will soon receive greater impetus to go green. The Early Turnover Scheme (ETS) will be expanded to include owners of Cat C diesel vehicles with Euro II/III emissions standards.

Both Members of Parliament Penny Low (Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC) and Yeo Guat Kwang (Ang Mo Kio GRC) noted that diesel-driven vehicles are key domestic contributors of PM2.5 pollutants here. They asked if the ministry has further plans to reduce harmful emissions from these vehicles.

At present, vehicles account for 57 per cent of local PM2.5 emissions.

In response, Dr Balakrishnan said from August, these light commercial diesel vehicles will be given a certificate of entitlement (COE) bonus of 10 per cent of the remainder of the vehicle’s 20-year lifespan. The heavy commercial diesel vehicles will be given a COE bonus of 90 per cent of the remainder of its 20-year lifespan.

On the issue of transboundary haze, Dr Balakrishnan said the trigger conditions for the Transboundary Haze Pollution Act, which was passed in Parliament last year, have not been invoked yet. Despite the increased number of hot spots in Riau last year, wind conditions prevented a repeat of the haze episode in 2013, he added.

Dr Balakrishnan also reiterated the importance of cooperation with foreign governments and private companies.

“I don’t intend to engage in barbs with other foreign politicians, but let me just say this: Remember that it is not just Singaporeans who are the victims, but there are even more Indonesian victims who are suffering because they are living right in the midst of the peat fires,” he said.

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Day off for Town Council cleaners to target littering scourge: Balakrishnan

NEO CHAI CHIN Today Online 11 Mar 15;

SINGAPORE — Cleaners with various town councils this year will be given a day off, with residents instead mobilised to clean up their own neighbourhoods, as part of fresh efforts to tackle the littering scourge.

The standard of cleanliness in Singapore has fallen, with surveys showing that from 2006 to 2010, the number of litter items collected almost doubling, said Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Vivian Balakrishnan in Parliament today (March 11).

He joined Members of Parliament who spoke at his Ministry’s Committee of Supply debate in calling for greater civic consciousness, as he signalled his resolve to reduce the littering menace.

Hougang MP Png Eng Huat called for public cleanliness posters, jingles and banners of decades past to be “recycled” this Jubilee year to drive home the message to the community to keep their surroundings clean.

Dr Balakrishnan said campaigns have never stopped. “I think what has changed is behaviour and perhaps our propensity to enforce in the past. But now that we have changed onto a higher enforcement posture, and with more volunteers and with everyone being prepared to exert peer pressure, I’m determined to make a difference on the ground as far as littering is concerned,” he said.

Several new ways to address the littering problem here include equipping enforcement officers with body-worn cameras to document abusive behaviour of litterbugs, providing more training to volunteers, and encouraging organisers to involve participants in cleaning up after major events.

More efforts made to tackle rise in littering
NEO CHAI CHIN Today Online 12 Mar 15;

SINGAPORE — With falling standards of cleanliness in Singapore, fresh efforts are being made to tackle the littering scourge, including possibly giving cleaners at various town councils a day off this year and mobilising residents to clean up their neighbourhoods instead.

Surveys showed that the number of litter items collected from 2006 to 2010 had nearly doubled, said Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Vivian Balakrishnan in Parliament yesterday.

He joined Members of Parliament who spoke at his Ministry’s Committee of Supply debate in calling for greater civic consciousness and signalled his resolve to reduce the menace, which contributes to the S$120 million spent cleaning public areas each year.

About 19,000 tickets were issuing for littering last year, almost double that of 2013. Some hot spots are even cleaned once every two hours, Dr Balakrishnan said.

While cleaning regimes will be stepped up, Singapore cannot depend on “an ever-growing army of cleaners”. Citing a survey conduced in 2010 which found that a third of Singaporeans would litter if they thought they could get away with it, Dr Balakrishnan said such an attitude reflects one’s lack of pride in his own country and a lack of respect and consideration for others.

Littering came under the spotlight recently after Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and several other politicians noted the staggering amount of rubbish left behind at the Laneway Festival in January.

In Parliament yesterday, Hougang MP Png Eng Huat called for public cleanliness posters, jingles and banners of decades past to be “recycled” this jubilee year to drive home the message for the community to keep its surroundings clean.

Dr Balakrishnan said campaigns have never stopped. “I think what has changed is behaviour and perhaps our propensity to enforce ... But now that we have changed to a higher-enforcement posture, and with more volunteers and with everyone being prepared to exert peer pressure, I’m determined to make a difference on the ground as far as littering is concerned,” he said.

New ways to address the littering problem here include equipping enforcement officers with body-worn cameras to document the abusive behaviour of litterbugs, providing more training to volunteers, and encouraging organisers to involve participants in cleaning up after major events.

Body-worn cameras are aimed at preventing cases of abuse. Last April, an enforcement officer who approached someone smoking illegally at a HDB void deck was punched in his right eye. The offender was eventually arrested and sentenced to three months in jail for assault, said Dr Balakrishnan.

The Government will make it easier for the public to provide video and photographic evidence that can be used in court, he said, addressing a point by Nee Soon GRC MP Lee Bee Wah, who said anyone with a phone that can capture the act of littering in Taipei is part of the enforcement team. Its City Council puts up information online on how to take photos and videos and report the littering act. Fines from any successful prosecution are shared with the informant, said Dr Lee, who was impressed that schools in Taiwan are cleaned by students, instead of cleaners, and by the cleanliness of its streets even early in the morning.

Volunteers in Singapore roped in to get litterbugs to pick up their litter will be given the same training that new officers with the National Environment Agency (NEA) undergo, said Dr Balakrishnan. They will no longer need to be affiliated with a non-government organisation to join. There are today more than 250 volunteers, who have engaged over 800 litterbugs.

High-rise littering is another growing problem, with almost 2,500 complaints received last year, compared with 1,600 in 2013, he said. Using surveillance cameras, the NEA has taken enforcement action in 541 cases that happened last year. Marine Parade GRC MP Tin Pei Ling called for high-rise litterbugs to be named and shamed, given how peer pressure was less applicable in curbing high-rise littering, but Dr Balakrishnan said it was not something he wanted to rush into.

With event organisers encouraged to get participants involved in cleaning up, such as at this year’s National Day Parade, Dr Balakrishnan said he hoped this would help set a new social norm.

'Clean your own neighbourhood day' as part of anti-littering drive
Audrey Tan The Straits Times AsiaOne 13 Mar 15;

Every year, town councils are going to set aside one day when residents will clean their own neighbourhoods. This is part of a plan to battle the ever-mounting litter problem.

Other steps to be taken include officers of the National Environment Agency (NEA) being kitted out with body-worn cameras - like those used by the police - to capture abuse and attacks by people.

"We will also make it easier for members of the public to submit video or photographic evidence which we can use for investigation and prosecution," Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Vivian Balakrishnan said in Parliament yesterday, when he announced a raft of anti- littering measures being considered by his ministry, which oversees the NEA.

It is also looking at ways to get people to clean up after themselves at major events, including this year's National Day Parade.

"Spectators and participants will be encouraged to clean up the Padang at the end of each show and its fringe celebrations... as a reflection of our national pride."

These moves are prompted by the attention drawn to the issue in January, following Facebook posts from three politicians, including Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

They had commented on the appalling amount of rubbish left behind by about 13,000 concert- goers at the Laneway Festival at Gardens by the Bay.

Yesterday, Dr Balakrishnan said the standard of cleanliness has fallen, with his ministry's surveys showing that from 2006 to 2010, the litter observed or collected had almost doubled.

The cleaning bill for public places comes to a projected $120 million a year, with some hot spots being cleaned once every two hours, he added.

Responding to Ms Lee Bee Wah (Nee Soon GRC), he said the NEA's Community Volunteer Scheme will no longer be just for volunteers of non-governmental organisations such as the Waterways Watch Society and Singapore Kindness Movement.

Others can join as well, and all volunteers will get the same training as new NEA officers, giving them "similar status and authority as a regular NEA officer", he said, adding that the laws will be amended later.

"We must become more like Japan and Taiwan, where it is peer pressure and role modelling that set the standard," he added.

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Dengue cases down 17.3% in 2014: Vivian Balakrishnan

Channel NewsAsia 11 Mar 15;

SINGAPORE: There were 18,335 dengue cases last year, down 17.3 per cent from 22,170 in 2013. But Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Vivian Balakrishnan called for vigilance, with the mosquito-borne disease remaining a threat to public health.

In January and February this year, there were 1,637 dengue cases reported - 40 per cent fewer than the 2,725 cases for the same period last year, Dr Balakrishnan said at the 2015 Committee of Supply debates in Parliament on Wednesday (Mar 11).

He reiterated that the ministry's key strategy is to eliminate mosquito breeding. Last year, the National Environment Agency carried out more than 3.5 million inspections island-wide with more than 850 staff conducting them at homes, constructions sites and public areas.

MEWR also issued 1,148 Notices to Attend Court and 132 Stop Work Orders in 2014 - a two-fold increase from the year before, the minister said.

"But NEA cannot do this alone. It is not possible for NEA officers to be everywhere all the time. We need everyone to also stay vigilant and keep their premises free of mosquito breeding habitats," he added.

As for measures to combat dengue, Dr Balakrishnan said the ministry is following up on the recommendations made by the Dengue Expert Advisory Panel. It is exploring the use of the Wolbachia bacteria as a "novel but safe" biological control method to suppress the local mosquito population.

"NEA is also working closely with MOH to monitor the development of dengue vaccines," said the minister. "Let me assure you that we will only proceed with these new measures if we are sure of their safety and effectiveness."

- CNA/kk

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S$20m BCA scheme to support green building innovation

Eileen Poh Channel NewsAsia 11 Mar 15;

SINGAPORE: The Building and Construction Authority (BCA) will roll out a S$20 million scheme to spearhead the test-bedding of energy-efficient technologies in buildings.

The move - called the GBIC-Building Energy Efficient Demonstrations Scheme (GBIC-Demo) - is the latest in encouraging the development of green building technologies.

In a statement released on Wednesday (Mar 11), the BCA said the technologies that will be test-bedded under the scheme should achieve 20 to 40 per cent improvement over the current best-in-class technologies.

These technologies could come from successfully completed research and development (R&D) projects or proven technology, either local or overseas, that have not been implemented widely in Singapore yet, the BCA added.

Examples include innovative air-conditioning technologies, such as chilled ceilings and under-floor cooling systems.

The BCA said the scheme will also cover the cost of removing the technology, should the trial be deemed unsuccessful.

“The scheme will help mitigate the risks involved in trialling new technologies by co-funding incurred costs such as equipment, installation, and commissioning. In doing so, we hope to spur wider replication and eventual commercialisation of novel energy-efficient solutions for buildings in the longer term,” said BCA’s Group Director of Research Tan Tian Chong.

The GBIC-Demo scheme is one of the three key measures under the S$52 million Green Buildings Innovation Cluster programme, first launched by BCA in September last year.

The other two are the GBIC-National Building EE Repository - a central database that collects information from the GBIC-Demo projects, existing buildings, and reports from successfully completed R&D projects - and the GBIC-Energy Efficient Research and Development, which consist of tailored R&D programmes intended to build core capabilities in green buildings.

- CNA/ek

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Composting slowly taking root in Singapore

Monica Kotwani, Channel NewsAsia 11 Mar 15;

SINGAPORE: Waste not, want not - the saying goes. Some Singaporeans are going green by turning food waste into compost – through traditional and sometimes innovative means.

FROM FOOD WASTE TO COMPOST

From potato skins to leftover vegetables and fruit, the Gonzalez family collects its food waste and chucks it into a drum containing organic material such as dried leaves and shredded paper. They are mixed in.

Three months later, the waste becomes compost the family uses for its garden and plants.

Environmental engineer Patricio Gonzalez says composting has saved him money as he does not have to buy top soil and fertiliser.

With a majority of Singaporeans living in HDB flats, space could discourage the composting culture from taking root – but Mr Gonzalez believes there are ways to make it happen.

"I do know of people who grow quite a bit of stuff in their terraces or in the common corridors. If I lived in a smaller space, maybe I would use a smaller drum. You don't have to compost everything but if you can compost even half of what you produce, it's already good,” he said.

Mr Gonzalez said HDB dwellers could also contribute their compost to community gardens that have sprouted up in the heartlands.

NON-TRADITIONAL COMPOSTING: BOONS AND BANES

If traditional composting does not work, some innovative contraptions in the market claim to be the answer.

The Smart Cara was developed to help South Koreans reduce the amount of food waste disposed. The machine is small enough to fit on a table-top, and is filled with food waste – including chicken and fish bones.

Over four hours, it uses heat and air to reduce the content by about 90 per cent to a powdery by-product.

Its distributors in Singapore claim the by-product can be used as animal feed and compost for landscaping. They also said the product is energy efficient, using about 1 kilowatt of electricity each time – that costs about S$0.25.

But at S$450 a pop, only 60 units have been sold in three months.

Said Mr Charlie Choi, Smart Cara’s Singapore distributor: “People's response has been: ‘Why do we need this machine? It's easy to throw away (food waste) in Singapore. We don't need this machine.’ It's more expensive than a TV; more expensive than washing machine. But some people that are open minded say, 'This machine is very innovative. I want to buy this machine. It can reduce food waste and I can use in my garden'.”

The Singapore Environment Council (SEC), a non-governmental organisation, said Singaporeans are asking more questions about food waste in Singapore. The SEC said it is also aware of composting activities among community groups and in schools.

Currently, waste in Singapore is incinerated to produce energy, but food waste, which is essentially water, could reduce the amount of energy generated. So advocates say – composting removes food waste from the equation, and will allow these plants to operate more efficiently.

- CNA/dl

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Singapore Budget 2015: Two trials to start this year to get people to recycle food waste

FENG ZENGKUN Straits Times 11 Mar 15;

SINGAPORE - Singapore will be embarking on two pilot programmes this year to encourage more people to recycle their food waste, said Second Minister for Environment and Water Resources Grace Fu on Wednesday.

Two hawker centres here will get one food waste recycling machine each to convert their food waste and leftover food into compost and water

The National Environment Agency (NEA) will teach the hawkers and cleaners how to segregate the food waste properly so it can be recycled. The trial will last two years and the centres will be announced later.

The Government will also start a district-level food-waste pilot programme at Clementi, said Ms Fu, who is also Minister in the Prime Minister's Office, in Parliament.

This will help the Government to see whether it is economically viable to collect the food-waste from shopping malls, schools, hospitals, office buildings and other places, and treat all of the waste off-site at a centralised recycling facility.

Clementi was chosen as it is near the Ulu Pandan Water Reclamation Plant, where the food waste will be recycled. The pilot will look at the feasibility of recovering energy from both food waste and used-water sludge at the plant.

About 788,600 tonnes of food were thrown away last year, an increase of 48 per cent over the past 10 years. Food waste now accounts for about 10 per cent of all waste in Singapore, but just 13 per cent of it is recycled.

Last year, the NEA and Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore also commissioned a survey to find out people's perceptions, behaviour and attitudes towards food wastage. The agencies will study the results when they are ready, and also use the findings to refine strategies to get people to reduce their food waste.

Two pilot programmes to recycle food waste
Feng Zengkun The Straits Times AsiaOne 13 Mar 15;

Singapore will embark on two pilot programmes this year to encourage more people to recycle their food waste, said Second Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Grace Fu in Parliament yesterday, during the debate on her ministry's budget.

In a two-year trial, two hawker centres will each get a recycling machine to convert their food waste and leftover food into compost or water.

The National Environment Agency (NEA) will show the hawkers and cleaners how to segregate the food waste properly so it can be recycled. The two centres will be announced later.
The Government will also start a district-level food-waste recycling trial in Clementi, said Ms Fu, who is also Minister in the Prime Minister's Office.

This will help the Government to see if it is economically viable to collect food waste from shopping malls, schools, hospitals, office buildings and other places, and treat all of it off-site at a centralised recycling facility.

Clementi was chosen as it is near the Ulu Pandan Water Reclamation Plant, where the food waste will be recycled. The pilot will look at the feasibility of recovering energy from food waste and used-water sludge at the plant.

Several MPs spoke yesterday about the need to tackle the growing mountain of food waste. About 788,600 tonnes of food were thrown away last year, slightly less than the 796,000 tonnes in 2013 but still much more than the 606,100 tonnes in 2009.

Only 13 per cent of last year's waste was recycled, even though food now accounts for about 10 per cent of all waste in Singapore.

"Food wastage is never good, but it is even worse in Singapore, where we import 90 per cent of all we eat," said Mr Seah Kian Peng (Marine Parade GRC).

Mr Yeo Guat Kwang (Ang Mo Kio GRC) said most of the food waste is generated by businesses.

He noted that a study by Nanyang Technological University students had found the majority of the waste is created by wholesalers and retailers who discard fruit and vegetables with blemishes. "Another major contributor of food waste is the food and beverage industry where the industrial practice is to produce more than what can be sold," he added.

Last year, the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore and NEA commissioned a survey to find out people's perceptions, behaviour and attitudes towards food wastage.
Ms Fu also said yesterday that more will be done to tackle electrical and electronic waste, which is a growing concern.

The NEA will form a national voluntary e-waste recycling partnership programme to bring producers, retailers, recyclers and others together to raise awareness and to provide better recycling infrastructure.

The Government is considering restricting the use of hazardous substances in certain electrical and electronic equipment, and is also looking at options for a regulated system to treat and recycle both waste streams.

Recycling machine turns hotels' food waste into compost for garden

EACH day, the Fairmont Singapore and Swissotel the Stamford hotels recycle about 100kg of their combined food waste using an on-site recycling machine.

The hotels are next to each other in the City Hall area. They have their own kitchens but also share one kitchen, where they installed the recycling machine in 2012.

The Eco-Wiz Dry System Model DV100 cost $37,500, but has helped them to cut back on the food that is thrown away.

The machine converts about 5 per cent of the food waste it processes into compost.

This is used as fertiliser in the hotels' herb garden, or by food recycling firm Eco-Wiz in planting experiments at its education centre.

The rest of the waste is turned into liquid.

"The machine can process all food types, but we refrain from feeding in onions and citrus foods," said Mr Robert Stirrup, executive chef of both hotels.

The acidity of onions and citrus foods in the converted fertiliser affects the soil in the herb garden, he explained.

"We also try not to feed the machine shells and bones as they take a much longer time to process," he said.

To reduce their food wastage, the hotels also donate food to local charity Food From The Heart, which distributes food to the less fortunate.

They also reuse egg shells as a base for composting in the herb garden.

2 pilots on recycling food waste
SIAU MING EN Today Online 11 Mar 15;

SINGAPORE — Two pilots on food waste recycling will be conducted to improve the management and recycling of such waste, said Second Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Grace Fu today (March 11).

The first pilot involving two hawker centres will try out different on-site recycling models. Each hawker centre will have an on-site recycling machine to convert segregated food waste and leftover food to water or compost, said the National Environment Agency (NEA). Stallholders and table-cleaners will be taught the proper methods of segregating food waste, it added.

Details of which hawker centres will be involved in the two-year pilot will be announced later.

The second pilot will be conducted in Clementi at a district-level, said Ms Fu, speaking at a debate today on her ministry’s budget.

Segregated food waste will be collected from premises such as shopping malls, schools, hospitals and office buildings, then transported to an off-site test facility at the Ulu Pandan Water Reclamation Plant for anaerobic co-digestion.

The NEA said this pilot will examine the economic viability of district-level food waste collection services and off-site treatment at a centralised recycling facility, as well as assess the feasibility of recovering energy from food waste and used-water sludge.

Over the past decade, food waste has increased by about 48 per cent and is expected to rise further, it said.

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Malaysia and Philippines to meet over transboundary poaching

RUBEN SARIO The Star 12 Mar 15;

KOTA KINABALU: A meeting of Malaysian and Philippine wildlife officials on March 24 will see the formulation of measures to combat transboundary poaching such as those involving endangered turtles.

The dialogue, hosted by the Sabah Wildlife Department and WWF-Malaysia, will take place three weeks after the discovery of 19 turtle carcasses at Pulau Tiga off Sabah’s northern Kudat district.

The discovery came just a year after 60 turtle carcasses were found on the same island, which is within the proposed Tun Mustapha Park (TMP).

Noting that turtle killings were getting rampant in Sabah, WWF Malaysia deputy head for Marine Programme Robecca Jumin said there had been reports of similar poaching activities in the proposed park.

Similar killings of turtles have occurred elsewhere in Sabah. Four turtles were found dead in Semporna in April last year, she said.

Robecca said that since turtle poaching was a transboundary crime, the Malaysian Government should address the issue through various platforms such as Sulu-Sulawesi Marine Ecoregion Threatened, Charismatic and Migratory Species Sub-group and the Coral Triangle Initiative on Coral Reefs, Fisheries and Food Security (CTI-CFF).

She said the turtle killings should also prompt the Sabah government to speed up the gazetting of the TMP, apart from increasing law enforcement activities in the area.

She said the state government should also consider setting up a Sabah Parks sub-station on Pulau Tiga, a strategic location for enforcement.

She urged the authorities to build rapport with the local communities so they could provide information about poaching activities.

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