2-1.           Singapore’s overall recycling rate increased from 40% in 2000 to 57% in 2009 and we are on track to meet the target of 60% by 2012. We are studying how we can enhance the effectiveness of existing recycling efforts. For instance, there is scope to reduce the amount of domestic waste disposed and we are working with the public waste collectors to review the National Recycling Programme. This includes studying the provision of more recycling bins in HDB estates and the collection and recycling of other waste streams such as garden waste from landed homes and food waste from markets.  

 

 

2-2.           We limit the environmental impact of disused plastic bags by incinerating them in our waste-to-energy incineration plants, rather than landfilling them. Many households also re-use plastic bags to bag their refuse. The focus of efforts like the Bring Your Own Bag Day campaign, which was launched by the Singapore Environment Council (SEC) in April 2007, is therefore to discourage the excessiveuse of plastic bags via public education, and to foster a more conservation-oriented mindset. I understand that close to 300 retail outlets now participate in this effort. This is encouraging. I assure that NEA will continue with efforts to educate the public on the importance of recycling and waste minimisation as well as the proper use of recycling facilities.

 

2-3.           To support new waste minimisation and recycling projects, NEA launched an $8mil 3R Fund last year. To date, we received 43 applications, of which 9 were approved with grants amounting to $137,000, and 18 are still being evaluated. One of the applications approved is the National University of Singapore’s Recycling Master Plan to improve the recycling infrastructure and enhance the 3R culture in the University. The project is expected to reduce or recycle 540 tons of waste over 3 years.

 

2-4.           To reduce waste at source, NEA has collaborated with the food and beverage industry on the voluntary Singapore Packaging Agreement since July 2007. The Agreement demonstrates that environmentally friendly practices make sound business sense - the participating companies saved $4.4mil from a reduction of 2,500 tons of packaging waste over the last two years.

 

2-5.           For instance, F&N Coca-Cola Singapore shortened the neck closure and reduced the weight of their plastic bottles, saving about 200 tonnes of materials a year. Tetra Pak Jurong introduced a process to recover and reuse waste plastic packaging materials, saving about 380 tons of packaging a year. Following the extension of the Agreement to cover all types of product packaging since October 2009, we can expect to see avoided waste and reduced packaging in other sectors as well.

 

 

 

2-6.           Since 1995, land has been set aside for the recycling industry at the Sarimbun Recycling Park or SRP. The SRP is now fully leased out to 13 companies recycling waste items such as wood and horticultural waste, and construction and demolition waste. NEA is exploring other areas where recycling industries can be sited. Companies can also apply to JTC for industrial land to set up recycling facilities.

 

2-7.           NEA has various funding schemes to incentivise and develop the waste management and recycling industry. These schemes include the 3R Fund which I touched on earlier, the Innovation for Environmental Sustainability Fund, as well as the Environment Technology Research Programme. SPRING Singapore also has assistance schemes targeted at SMEs, including loan schemes and capability upgrading programmes.

 

2-8.           Singapore’s good track record in environment and water management puts us on strong footing to develop new solutions that are exportable to the world. I am pleased to inform that we have been making good progress on this front.

 

 

2-9.           We have been building new capabilities in sustainable water solutions for several years, supported by the Clean Water Programme launched in 2006 with $330mil in funding from the National Research Foundation (NRF). The Clean Water sector now contributes over $800mil in VA and supports about 9,000 jobs, and we are on track to meet our target of $1.7bil in VA and 11,000 jobs in 2015.

 

2-10.      In 2009, 6 research projects amounting to $13mil receiving funding from the Clean Water programme. Two of these projects focus on developing the next-generation of water membranes by mimicking nature, for example the mechanism utilised by mangroves to purify brackish water. These bio-mimetic membranes have the potential to significantly lower the energy used in water purification.

 

2-11.      We have a vibrant community of R&D centres in Singapore which also serve as manpower receptacles to train specialised R&D manpower for the industry. For example, the Singapore-Delft Water Alliance launched its Double M.Sc. Degree in Hydraulic Engineering and Water Resources Engineering in 2009. This is a joint programme between NUS and the Delft University of Technology, and provides an ideal platform for the students to draw from the expertise of both universities. Such programmes complement the existing courses offered by our Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs), and together with our scholarships, ensure a pipeline of qualified manpower to support Singapore’s water industry.

 

 

 

2-12.      Singapore is providing platforms for the international sharing of ideas and best practices. Our second annual Singapore International Water Week (SIWW) was held in June 2009 and brought together more than 10,000 participants from over 80 countries. Looking ahead, SIWW 2010 is set to be another milestone event as Singapore will also be concurrently hosting the inaugural “Asia Pacific Water Ministers Forum”, which will highlight the importance of good governance and solutions to water sustainability.

 

 

2-13.      As for other efforts to grow the Clean Environment sector, the Jalan Bahar CleanTech Park is being jointly developed by JTC and EDB.  The development of the Park will be carried out in 3 phases over 20 years with Phase 1 commencing in July 2010. NTU will be the first anchor tenant and will help to seed R&D activities.

 

2-14.      NEA also launched the $15mil Environment Technology Research Programme (ETRP) last year to focus on developing waste management solutions for Singapore which also have export potential. The first request-for-proposal, or RFP, saw good response with 67 proposals received. Many interesting ideas were raised. For instance, one proposal aims to reduce the time needed for landfill stabilisation from the existing norm of around 30 to 40 years, to between 10 to 15 years. This proposal and 4 others received total ETRP funding of about $4.8mil. The second RFP was launched in January to fund research in improving the efficiency of incineration plants and extending the lifespan of Semakau Landfill. This attracted 27 proposals and the results will be announced in June. At the current rate of use, Semakau landfill is expected to last another 25 to 30 years. NEA is proceeding with plans to turn Semakau landfill into an eco-park to allow companies to conduct field testing of renewable and clean technologies, and is currently exploring possible pilot projects for implementation.

 

2-15.      We are also working closely with the IHLs and other agencies to build up Singapore’s environment capabilities through research. As a start, NEA collaborated with NTU to secure $7mil from the NRF to develop sustainable urban waste management solutions. The research aims to harness waste streams for energy production.

 

2-16.      We have made a good start in waste management research. Looking ahead, we will continue to identify new areas where investments in research and technology can develop fresh solutions to overcome Singapore’s constraints, and help our companies tap the growing global demand for sustainable development solutions.