Plans to Reduce Wastage in Food, Gears and Logistics within SAF Camps under Singapore Green Plan
Ministry of DefenceSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns Miss Cheryl Chan Wei Ling's inquiry on reducing food, equipment, and logistics wastage in SAF camps and managing training area biodiversity. Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen highlighted the SAF’s target to reduce waste generation by 30% by 2030 through electronic meal accounting and eMart credit systems. Food waste is currently averaged at 1%, and all SAF cookhouses will participate in a biogas recycling programme for food waste by 2024. The SAF also recycles personal gear, scrap metal, and electronic waste, while adhering to the national Environmental Impact Assessment framework for developments. Finally, MINDEF balances operational needs with biodiversity by collaborating with NParks and nature groups to assess and mitigate environmental impacts in training areas.
Transcript
2 Miss Cheryl Chan Wei Ling asked the Minister for Defence in light of the Singapore Green Plan (a) whether the Ministry has plans to reduce wastage in food, gears and logistics within SAF camps; and (b) how is biodiversity managed in SAF training areas.
Dr Ng Eng Hen: In line with the Singapore Green Plan, the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) is committed to reducing its waste generation by 30% by 2030. It has been implementing various measures to attain this objective.
To reduce food wastage, SAF plans for meals at its cookhouses based on weekly consumption forecasts that take into account a unit’s training schedule and nutritional requirement. An electronic meal accounting system is also used to track actual consumption over time so that further adjustments can be made. These measures have reduced food wastage to, on average, about 1% of meals catered.
On equipment, servicemen are issued with the necessary uniforms, boots and other personal equipment needed to perform their vocational roles. They are provided with annual eMart credits to replace worn-out personal equipment as and when needed, rather than at rigid fixed time windows when the equipment are still in good order.
Besides minimising wastage, SAF also makes effort to recycle. For example, 14 SAF cookhouses are currently involved in a food recycling programme, which produces biogas for energy generation. By 2024, all SAF cookhouses will be part of this programme. SAF has also set up equipment collection points at premises such as SAFRA clubhouses for National Servicemen to dispose their old uniforms, boots and other personal equipment, some of which are repurposed and recycled. In addition, SAF has put in place waste disposal contracts to repurpose and recycle scrap metals, electronic waste, chemicals and waste oil. Moving forward, SAF will explore further measures to reduce and minimise wastage.
MINDEF strikes a careful balance between the need to meet SAF’s operational and training needs with biodiversity concerns. Subject to operational and security considerations, MINDEF adheres to the national Environmental Impact Assessment framework to assess and reduce the environmental impact of our developments. MINDEF also works closely with partner agencies, such as NParks, and consults other stakeholders, including nature groups, on such efforts.