Feedback on Pollution Produced by Burning of Joss Paper and Incense

16 Mr Gan Thiam Poh asked the Minister for the Environment and Water Resources (a) what is the number of feedback received from residents about the ashes/smoke produced by the burning of paper offerings in large metal cages since the regulation took effect; and (b) whether the Ministry will work with religious organisations and vendors of large incense burners to use latest technology in the design of such burners so that the emission of ashes/smoke can be minimised.

The Senior Minister of State for the Environment and Water Resources (Dr Amy Khor Lean Suan) (for the Minister for the Environment and Water Resources): NEA works closely with stakeholders such as the Town Councils, building managements and religious organisations to encourage responsible burning of joss paper and incense. HDB estates display educational materials such as posters and banners to advise the public to use the joss paper burners provided and to burn joss papers in small quantities to minimise smoke. Town Councils have also adopted joss burners that can burn more cleanly. Feedback on joss paper and incense burning has been declining, from about 1,100 instances of feedback in 2015 to about 500 in 2018.

As for the large-scale burning of religious offerings, NEA works with stakeholders to minimise the emission of smoke and fly ash. This includes reducing the scale of burning, locating the large metal cages and burners away from dense residential areas, and improving the design of the burners. For example, NEA has introduced eco-friendly burners with a cyclone dust collection system at Mandai Columbarium. The Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery has also installed an eco-friendly burner with an ash filtration system to filter out fly ash.

We encourage the public to be considerate when burning joss paper and incense so as to keep our environment clean and safe.

Mr Gan Thiam Poh (Ang Mo Kio): I thank the Senior Minister of State for the reply, especially when she highlighted those temples had implemented these services. But we also do notice that in a public housing estate, we have cases where the families have used large metal cages to burn big offering items, which would take place quite close to the housing estate and this would draw complaints from other residents.

Would the Ministry consider, for example, incentives to work with the stakeholders or the relevant parties on how they could improve such big casings used to burn large items or even papers? That would be helpful.

Dr Amy Khor Lean Suan: I thank the Member for his supplementary question. First, let me say that in housing estates, for the large metal cage burners, they are normally used during specific events, such as during the seventh month festival as well as funerals. In order to be able to place those large metal cage burners in housing estates, you need the approval of the Town Council. Normally, the Town Council will allow this on a temporary occupation licence basis for a fixed period.

We work very closely with the stakeholders, including the Town Councils. Our advice is for the Town Councils to ensure that these large metal cage burners are not located very close to dense residential areas, away from the residential areas. We do also have educational materials that we share with the Town Councils so they can give them to the residents as well as to religious organisations and other stakeholders in the industry, to ensure that they burn it within the large metal containers and in small quantities to mitigate or reduce the emission of smoke.

Of course, we also encourage the industry to look into improving the design of these large metal cage burners, including, for example, containing the smoke coming out. Indeed, we have worked with industry and other stakeholders to look at the trials of such eco-friendly burners and we will continue to assist in such trials to facilitate the adoption of technology, to mitigate smoke and fly ash emissions from burning, as long as there are parties who are willing to work with us.