Contractors Penalised for Improper Disposal of Renovation Debris on Common Property in HDB Estates
Ministry of National DevelopmentSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns Mr Chua Kheng Wee Louis’ inquiry on the number of contractors penalized or barred for dumping renovation debris in HDB estates. Minister Desmond Lee stated that errant contractors face a $500 fine and six demerit points, with a 12-month debarment for those accumulating 24 points within a 24-month period. Statistics show an average of five contractors were penalized annually between 2018 and 2022, with two cases in 2023, though none have been debarred for this offense to date. Minister Desmond Lee added that Town Councils are also empowered to issue composition notices for illegal dumping under the Town Councils Act and specific by-laws. Finally, contractors remain required to dispose of renovation debris at National Environment Agency approved disposal sites at the end of every workday.
Transcript
22 Mr Chua Kheng Wee Louis asked the Minister for National Development in the year-to-date and in each year over the past five years, how many renovation contractors have been (i) penalised for the improper disposal of renovation debris on common property in HDB estates and (ii) barred from carrying out new renovation works in HDB flats respectively.
Mr Desmond Lee: Renovation contractors are required to properly dispose of renovation debris at the National Environment Agency approved disposal sites at the end of every workday.
Renovation contractors who are found to have improperly disposed of renovation debris on common property in the Housing and Development Board (HDB) estates will face a penalty of $500 and be given six demerit points. Renovation contractors who accumulate 24 demerit points within a 24-month period will be barred from carrying out any new renovation works in HDB flats for the next 12 months.
Since the start of 2023, HDB has imposed a penalty of $500 and given six demerit points to two renovation contractors each for improper disposal of renovation debris. Between 2018 and 2022, an average of five renovation contractors per year were penalised for improper disposal of renovation debris. So far, HDB has not debarred any renovation contractor for the improper dumping of renovation debris.
Town Councils are also empowered under the Town Councils Act to make by-laws to allow them to take action against illegal dumping at HDB common areas. This may include issuing a notice of composition to errant contractors for improperly discarding renovation debris at the common areas.