Cost-benefit Analysis for Transitioning from Incinerating Recyclables to Smart-bin System

29 Mr Dennis Tan Lip Fong asked the Minister for Sustainability and the Environment given that 40% of the items in blue recycling bins are contaminated (a) whether the Ministry has conducted a cost-benefit analysis comparing the high operational costs of smart bins against the current financial losses from incinerating contaminated recyclables; and (b) what specific logistical benchmarks must be met before transitioning the National Recycling Programme to a segregated smart-bin system.

Ms Grace Fu Hai Yien: The National Environment Agency has introduced various source-segregated recycling schemes to encourage the aggregation of clean-stream recyclables. This includes deploying smart bins as part of our Public Waste Collection contracts and extended producer responsibility schemes for e-waste and beverage containers, where producers are responsible for collecting and recycling their products at their end-of-life. These efforts complement the blue bin system, encourage proper recycling behaviour and, combined with public education initiatives, help to reduce contamination in recycling bins.

We will continue to explore ways to enhance our recycling ecosystem, including partnering with the community on localised solutions to collect more clean-stream recyclables over time.