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  The Straits Times 12 May 06
Privatisation, recycling keep refuse fees low
Letter from NEA

I REFER to Ms Sharon Seetho's letter, 'Cut waste by hiking disposal fee or charging by volume' (ST, May 6).

The refuse-collection service for domestic and trade premises was privatised in 2001. We have appointed public-waste collectors (PWCs) through public tenders to collect refuse from domestic and trade premises at agreed rates as tendered by the PWCs. Each household pays a fixed monthly refuse-collection fee whereas trade premises pay volume-based fees.

If more households recycle waste, the PWCs would be able to reduce the cost incurred for disposal at the incineration plants. The cost savings could eventually be passed back to households in the form of a lower refuse-collection fee when new tenders are called.

It is to this end that the National Environment Agency has introduced the National Recycling Programme (NRP). Under the NRP, the PWCs provide recycling bags or crates to households, who can place their recyclables outside their doors or gates for collection on a scheduled date every fortnight.

To date, about one in two households participates in the NRP. We have considered the volume-based charging system for domestic premises.

However, as the majority of residents live in high-rise buildings that use refuse chutes, it is currently not feasible to adopt a volume-based system for charging of disposal fees.

Notwithstanding this, we remain open to new ideas to reduce waste and continue to seek new ways to minimise waste and increase recycling.

Privatisation of refuse collection has led to improvement in refuse-collection efficiency. Coupled with recycling efforts to reduce total refuse collected for disposal, this has helped to lower refuse-collection fees for most of the premises served by the PWCs since 2001.

To continue to keep refuse-collection fees low and realise our zero-waste goal, the support of residents in recycling their waste is essential.

Ong Seng Eng
Head, Resource Conservation Department
National Environment Agency
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