Steps to Ensure Hospitality Industry Minimises Plastic and Food Waste from SHN Stays
Ministry of Sustainability and the EnvironmentSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns steps to minimize plastic and food waste from Stay-Home Notice (SHN) stays, as raised by Ms Nadia Ahmad Samdin. Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu Hai Yien explained that while safety guidelines mandate disposable containers, hotels with over 200 rooms must report waste data and reduction targets annually. Furthermore, large commercial premises including hotels will be required to segregate food waste for treatment starting in 2024. The government also promotes 3R best practices through industry guidebooks, encouraging hotels to eliminate unnecessary packaging and offer guests options to reduce food portions. These initiatives aim to balance public health requirements with the government's long-term sustainability and waste reduction goals for the hospitality sector.
Transcript
31 Ms Nadia Ahmad Samdin asked the Minister for Sustainability and the Environment in light of the need for incoming travellers to serve their Stay-Home Notice (SHN) in hotels, whether there are steps taken to ensure that the hospitality industry minimises plastic and food waste generated from SHN stays and what more can be done to reduce such waste.
Ms Grace Fu Hai Yien: Hotels that serve as Stay-Home Notice (SHN) Dedicated Facilities are required to adhere to guidelines and minimise contact between hotel staff and the persons serving SHN to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission. These guidelines include requiring meals to be served in disposable containers and to avoid using reusable containers and cutlery, as these potentially contaminated items would need to be collected and cleaned by the hotel staff.
Notwithstanding these temporary measures, my Ministry has been working with stakeholders such as hotels to step up the 3Rs – Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. To focus attention on waste reduction opportunities, hotels with more than 200 rooms are required to report the amount of waste generated at their premises, along with waste reduction plans and targets, to the National Environment Agency (NEA) annually. Large commercial and industrial premises including hotels will also be required to segregate their food waste for treatment from 2024.
Hotels are also encouraged to adopt best practices to minimise waste. NEA has partnered the Singapore Hotel Association to publish a 3R Guidebook for Hotels. The guidebook highlights best practices in 3R programmes, such as doing away with unnecessary packaging and offering guests the option to reduce food portions. We urge all hotels to enhance their practices to minimise waste.