Towards a Safer, Plastics-lite Singapore

ADJOURNMENT MOTION

The Deputy Leader of the House (Mr Zaqy Mohamad): Mr Speaker, Sir, I move, "That Parliament do now adjourn."

Question proposed.

Towards a Safer, Plastics-Lite Singapore

Mr Speaker: Ms Poh Li San.

9.07 pm

Ms Poh Li San (Sembawang West): Mr Speaker, I must thank Members for staying back for this Adjournment Motion despite this late hour.

In this Adjournment Motion, I will outline the significance of the problem of microplastics, the need for sacrifice from all of us to address it and to propose two carrots that the Government could implement, to reduce single-use plastics. Doing so will not only be good for the environment, it will make a material impact on our health.

Plastics are artificial beings called into reality by humans – often, they are used only once, but live forever.

Today, we are living with the disastrous consequences of global plastic waste because of its non-biodegradable nature. Plastics poses a significant threat to wildlife, when animals ingest plastics debris. Production of plastics relies heavily on fossil fuels and contributes significant greenhouse gas emissions. Burning plastics releases toxic chemicals into the environment.

The damage to our health from microplastics leeching is even more urgent and deadly. Microplastics enter our body because of what we eat and drink, we breathe them in and absorb them through skin contact. Some researchers show that we are probably ingesting the weight of a plastic credit card every week without realising it.

When we drink from low quality, single-use plastic cups or microwave food wrapped in plastics, we are sprinkling microplastics into our food and drinks.

While the research on microplastics and their health impact is still developing, there is significant evidence that microplastics are related to health issues in the gastrointestinal, respiratory, reproductive, cardiovascular and autoimmune systems.

According to a recent release by Harvard School of Public Health, microplastic exposure can lead to damage to cells, DNA and the immune response. Observational studies have shown an association of microplastics with increased risk of heart attack, stroke, dementia, or early death.

We need action on two fronts: first, internationally, everyone on this planet – countries, businesses, people – need to limit plastic pollution and to find environmentally-safe alternatives; second, on the individual, consumer front – we can and should make changes to our habits and lifestyle, to reduce the use of single-use plastics in Singapore.

Here, let me speak about the two carrots.

The first carrot is to incentivise re-use of plastics. First, let me talk about why reuse and not recycle. Re-use is always greener than recycle, but in the case of plastics, especially so. Singapore’s current plastics recycling rate is a dismal 5%. This single digit phenomenon is not just prevalent in Singapore but in the United States and many countries as well.

It is not the fault of the National Environment Agency (NEA) nor Singaporeans. It is an intractable economics problem because it simply costs more to recycle than to produce new plastic products.

Global plastics production jumped from 234 million tonnes in year 2000 to 435 million tonnes in year 2020 and is expected to jump by another 70% by year 2040.

Last year, in Singapore alone, we produced 957,000 tonnes of plastic waste and about four in 10 items are single-use plastics. Since plastics recycling rate is very low at around 5%, even if we double plastics recycling, nine in 10 items will still become trash. Hence, there is an urgent need to step up upstream prevention. And this is the real solution in the long run.

Economics also fails for single-use plastics because the price does not reflect its true cost. Because when we include the cost of removal, to collect, transport and burn, plus the cost of carbon emissions to the environment, the real costs are actually much higher.

It is just that they are unpriced, or not paid directly by consumers, unless we count the price of poor health.

Government, businesses and communities can work together to encourage and incentivise businesses to offer re-use solutions. In every household, many consumer items can be stored in re-usable containers. If there are more options for refills stations for common household items such as laundry detergents, dishwashing liquids, or even hair and body shampoos, especially if they are offered at a discounted price, consumers will be motivated to switch to reuseable options. This shift in consumer behaviour would directly cut down the usage of single-use plastics.

One good ground-up commercial solution is the EcoWorks vending machines that dispense laundry detergent and washing liquids. Residents save money too as the average cost of $3 per litre is about 20% to 30% cheaper than individually packed ones. I am happy to share that four out of eight members in the Government Parliamentary Committee for Sustainability and Environment have implemented the EcoWorks vending machines in their respective constituencies. The residents of my colleagues, Mr Foo Cexiang, Ms Valerie Yap, Mr Ng Shi Xuan and myself, have been enjoying the convenience and cost savings from refilling laundry detergents and washing liquids into their own bottles.

I call for the Government to do more to support start-ups with environmentally-friendly and commercially scalable ideas.

Currently, NEA’s 3R instruments have strong collection and recycling levers. I recommend an explicit "Prevention & Reuse" pillar with budget lines for pilot siting, rental offsets, measurement, reporting and verification, as well as community engagement.

I ask NEA to consider grant schemes to incentivise re-use solutions, on top of its current emphasis on recycle and waste management. The 3R Fund, Eco Fund and related grant schemes should also recognise measurable avoidance, so prevention is funded on outcomes, just like in the case of recycling tonnage.

Recently, it was reported that 84 paper SGRecycle bins were removed due to lack of sponsors. The Government could consider reclassifying some of these recycling points into reuse or refill points as waste-prevention infrastructure, so that public sites can host them under green allocations. Such reuse or refilling points would help to reduce packaging upstream, avoiding what would otherwise go into the blue recycling bins or the green general-waste bins.

I hope the Minister for Sustainability and Environment will consider this request and review the scope of its incentive schemes.

The second carrot is to incentivise BYO – or the acronym for “Bring Your Own”. Businesses in support of sustainability have put their money where their mouth is, to reduce single-use plastic cups. For instance, customers of Starbucks and Toast Box, who bring their own cups, will enjoy savings of 60 cents and 10 cents respectively for their beverages. This practice is a four-time winner because customers save money, businesses enjoy green branding, Government spend less on waste collection and incineration, and toxic waste and CO₂ on our planet is reduced.

In August, a BYO campaign was started in the National University of Singapore (NUS) campus to encourage the community to bring their own cups, bottles and tumblers. Previously, a takeaway drink would cost $1.70, whereas it is now $1.90 if a disposable cup is used. If one brings his or her own cup, one would get a 60-cent discount, making it $1.30. This BYO campaign is supported by all nine food courts and canteens across the entire campus.

Three months in, many students have started to bring their own cups, so they do feel that this discount has incentivised them to reduce plastic waste and they are quite happy about the money they are saving! This is a positive example of how concerted efforts by NUS and their business partners can change consumer behaviour.

The Government and businesses can certainly do a lot more to accelerate the BYO movement. I would call for all our coffee shop and food court chains, to join in this BYO movement, to give a discount to customers who bring their own cups. After all, for every cup that is not used, the drink stalls will also save on their operating costs.

The Government could also encourage large F&B chains and public venues such as malls, campuses and hawker centres to adopt returnable cups and containers for dine-in customers. Where feasible, they should track return rate and litter reduction metrics.

The Government can give a carrot to reward businesses that are pro-health and pro-environment. This carrot will hardly cost the Government any resource. I would ask the Singapore Food Agency to consider adding a new criterion in their Food Hygiene Recognition Scheme. A Green Mark rating could be given to F&B operators that adopt environmentally-friendly measures such as offering BYO discounts to customers or use sustainable packaging materials. This Green Mark rating will be an effective differentiator for discerning customers who care about the planet and their health and saving some money will be a bonus.

From 1 April 2026, NEA will roll out the Beverage Containers Return Scheme. This is a good scheme to incentivise recycling and reduce waste, by returning 10 cents for each plastic or metal container returned to the reverse vending machines. Hopefully, over time there will be fewer plastic bottles and metal cans trash on our streets. More importantly, I hope the Beverage Containers Return Scheme will boost our dismal plastics recycling rate.

We also need to drive greater consumer awareness about the harmful impact of single-use plastics, to both our environment and our health. Perhaps what we need now is a new slogan to reignite the BYO movement. It could go like this: BYO: A Greener Planet, A Healthier You.

I was recently in Switzerland. The streets and the lakes are clean and there was hardly any trash. In cafes and supermarkets, few items were placed inside plastic containers. People bring along their own cups and bottles. The BYO culture is a big part of the Swiss society.

Back in 1984, our then Prime Minister Mr Goh Chok Tong, had set a target for Singapore to meet the Swiss standard of living. In terms of gross domestic product (GDP) per capita, we have indeed caught up with the Swiss. But in terms of our respect for the environment, I think we will need to do more.

I hope our Government and our people will continue to strive towards the Swiss standard of sustainability. In fact, a standard of living would be better measured in health and sustainability than it is by GDP, because all the wealth in the world cannot buy back ruined health nor a damaged environment.

I hope the Government will carefully consider my two proposals. In fact, we should continue to incentivise and implement more good ideas that will drive the reduction of single-use plastics in our society. Additionally, with less trash generated, the cost of waste collection and incineration will reduce. The savings should be ploughed back to promote more circular economy solutions.

This move will not come without sacrifice – inconvenience, time spent, old habits disrupted, new behaviour and change is seldom welcome. But it will be worthwhile. Every big change starts with a single small act. Ultimately, it is our choice. I choose good health and a green environment, over the convenience of single-use plastics. I hope more Singaporeans will make the same choice. And I call for our Government to make the right policies that will help people make the right choice. Because the real carrots are not the two small ones I have outlined, but the innumerable benefits we reap in good health and a green planet. [Applause.]

Mr Speaker: Senior Minister of State Janil.

9.22 pm

The Senior Minister of State for Sustainability and the Environment (Dr Janil Puthucheary): Mr Speaker, I thank Ms Poh Li San for her interest, her passion and her hard work on this important issue and for urging us all to reduce our plastic waste. We share her concerns about the impact of waste and plastic waste in particular, and welcome her efforts to reduce, reuse and recycle. She has highlighted areas where we can as a society do more, and she has also made it clear that a key shift is necessary in our behaviour.

In my speech I will highlight the efforts that we are already making, as well as programme funding that already supports initiatives to reduce waste. I would urge Members of the House to encourage further participation in these programmes by community stakeholders.

Sir, the topic of plastic waste and pollution has been widely debated around the world. Each country has its own unique context and challenges. Let me start by setting the context for Singapore as these directly shape what effective interventions would look like.

In Singapore, we have a robust waste management system. All of our plastic waste is collected for disposal or recycling. Any waste that cannot be recycled is treated at our waste-to-energy incineration plants before the ash is sent to Semakau Landfill. This robust waste management system and our strict anti-littering regulations limit the leakage of plastic waste into our environment. One study found that about 97% of plastic waste found on Singapore’s beaches originate from offshore sources.

Ms Poh Li San has a concern about the potential health impact of microplastics that leak into our environment. NEA, Public Utilities Board and the Singapore Food Agency regularly monitor the latest scientific developments on this issue. Our agencies are also monitoring the levels of microplastics in our drinking water and our food.

While we have been successful in limiting the leakage of plastics into the environment, managing our consumption and disposal of plastics remains a challenge. In 2024, almost 14% of all waste generated was plastics, with a large proportion being packaging and single-use plastics. Recycling of plastics is also low, with only 5% recycled in 2024. This in turn results in carbon emissions when we incinerate plastic waste.

However, plastics serve many useful functions and some will continue to be essential to our daily lives. For example, plastic packaging protects goods such as fresh foods from moisture, contamination and damage. In our daily lives, many of us also use plastic bags to dispose of our household waste. This is why our approach has been to reduce the use of disposables, minimise irresponsible consumption and improper disposal, and encourage reuse and recycling as much as possible.

In line with this approach, the Government has implemented several initiatives to promote individual behavioural change and help industry become more sustainable. Let me share more about the initiatives and progress we have made, which span across the 3Rs – reduce, reuse and recycle.

To encourage sustainable individual consumption patterns, we introduced the Disposable Carrier Bag Charge in 2023, to encourage shoppers to bring their own reusable bags when grocery shopping at supermarkets and hence reduce the use of disposables. A survey by NEA a year after its implementation found that more than 90% of shoppers brought their own reusable bags, with supermarket operators reporting a 70% to 80% reduction in the number of disposable carrier bags issued.

Industry is another key partner in our efforts and we have a suite of measures to support industry in adopting and scaling up more sustainable practices. To build industry capability, we launched the Packaging Partnership Programme (PPP) in 2021. Under this programme, NEA conducts regular outreach sessions and training, supporting companies in adopting sustainable packaging waste management practices, such as improved design to optimise packaging size and weight. The PPP today has over 570 members and is an important platform for industry collaboration on sustainable packaging.

These efforts have paid off. We have seen industry players stepping up in response. In March this year, the Alliance for Action on Packaging Waste Reduction for the E-commerce Sector, which comprises 14 companies across the e-commerce supply chain, published a set of practical guidelines on sustainable e-commerce packaging. The guidelines provide a comprehensive list of practical 3R solutions for e-commerce. This is a much-needed resource given the rapid growth of e-commerce in Singapore.

Government efforts alone will not be enough. Reducing plastic waste is a shared mission and this requires the participation of everyone. I am heartened to hear Ms Poh’s two suggestions to incentivise re-use and encourage BYO. We have worked with community members, non-governmental organisations and businesses to implement similar ideas.

To encourage more ground-up initiatives, we launched the SG Eco Fund in 2020 to support community projects that aim to advance environmental sustainability, including those that reduce, reuse and recycle waste. The SG Eco Fund complements other sources of funding provided by NEA, including the Closing the Resource Loop Funding Initiative which promotes research and development on resource recovery solutions, and the 3R Fund which supports organisations in the implementation of projects that reduce waste generation by promoting reuse or recycling systems.

I am glad to hear that Ms Poh Li San and her colleagues are actively supporting ground-up commercial solutions that promote reuse, such as refill services for laundry detergent. I would like to highlight that the SG Eco Fund can support projects promoting reuse or BYO initiatives such as refill services. One example is Muuse, which ran a pilot project to provide reusable containers for customers at a hawker centre. If you have more of such innovative sustainability ideas that can benefit the community, I encourage you to apply for the SG Eco Fund.

The idea of encouraging BYO is a good one. At a national level, we have seen many like-minded organisations come forward to offer such incentives. This year, we welcomed 99 new partners to NEA’s annual “Say YES to Waste Less” campaign, with several such as NUS and AtTea leading the way in introducing incentives for customers to bring their own reusable tumblers or lunchboxes for takeaway food and drinks.

We welcome more to join these efforts, including coffee shops who offer discounts on drinks when patrons bring their own reusables. Food and beverage (F&B) operators who are interested in additional recognition for their sustainable practices can also apply for the Singapore Environment Council’s Eco F&B certification.

Small changes in habits can have a big impact when adopted widely. I thank Ms Poh for highlighting the Beverage Container Return Scheme which we will introduce next year to encourage the public to return used plastic and metal beverage containers for recycling. Like other initiatives to encourage reduction and reuse, this scheme will require support from the public to deliberately collect and return your beverage containers for recycling. We seek everyone’s support to participate actively and make this scheme a success.

Mr Speaker, Sir, the global challenge of tackling plastic pollution requires everyone to pitch in. While the Government has a significant role to play in supporting this journey, sustained change will be dependent on our choices. Choices to cultivate new habits and choices to adopt greener practices. With the right mindset, habits and systems in place, we can build a more sustainable Singapore together.

Mr Speaker: Sorry, Ms Poh, there are no provisions for you to make a response.

Question put, and agreed to.

Resolved, "That Parliament do now adjourn."

Mr Speaker: Pursuant to Standing Order 2(3)(a), I wish to inform hon Members that the Sitting tomorrow will commence at 11.30 am. Order. Order.

Adjourned accordingly at 9.31 pm.