MEWR recognises that single-use plastics continue to have its uses. Plastic bags are needed for households to bag their refuse, such as food waste. This helps to prevent spillage, odour and pest infestation, especially during waste collection.

Findings from NEA's life-cycle assessment study released in 2018 show that available alternatives to plastics, including biodegradable bags, also have an environmental impact. Substituting plastics with these biodegradable alternatives is not likely to improve environmental outcomes, especially when we incinerate our waste instead of landfilling them. Furthermore, we have strict anti-littering measures and dispose of most waste at our waste-to-energy plants to prevent marine plastic pollution from land-based sources.

Hence, rather than banning single-use plastics, MEWR is focused on reducing excessive consumption of all types of packaging, including plastics used by businesses and individuals. Under a mandatory packaging reporting framework to be implemented in 2020, businesses will be required to collect data on the types and amounts of packaging (including plastic packaging) they place on the market and submit plans to reduce, reuse and/or recycle packaging waste. We are also studying the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) approach for managing packaging waste. With this approach, producers will be made responsible for the 'end-of'life' of their products.

We will also build a national consciousness to care for the environment so that Singaporeans, residents, and businesses will do more than what regulations require them to do. We have designated 2019 as the Year Towards Zero Waste to encourage everyone to practise the 3Rs, which to Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle right. It may take us a longer time to change habits, but we believe that convincing consumers and businesses to reduce single-use plastics because they care for the environment, is the right way to go.

To conserve resources and reduce the amount of waste, we encourage public to take only what they need, and reuse their plastic bags. In Singapore, plastic bags are reused by households to bag their refuse, such as food waste, before disposing of into the refuse chute. This helps to avoid spillage, odour and pest infestation during waste collection. Plastic bags are properly incinerated and do not end up directly in the landfill.  

Click here to learn more about waste management.

Besides the various takeback schemes by companies to collect unwanted electronic items for recycling, used items which are in serviceable condition can be donated, sold or exchanged at various collection centres.

You are encouraged to make use of the various e-waste recycling programmes voluntarily offered by industry stakeholders. Simply drop your e-waste at the recycling points to give them a second lease of life. You can find out more about the various recycling programmes at the National Environment Agency’s (NEA) website here.