Singapore's regulatory framework requires construction and demolition (C&D) waste to be properly processed and sorted for recycling, and such waste is not allowed to be exported for disposal, said the National Environment Agency (NEA).

The agency was responding to a query from AsiaOne on Tuesday (Aug 18), following Malaysia media reports that Singapore agreed to immediately halt the export of C&D waste to Malaysia during a phone call with Johor Solid Waste Management and Public Cleansing Corporation (SWCorp Johor) director Zainal Fitri Ahmad on Monday.

But Singapore did reaffirm during the call that it does not allow C&D waste to be exported for disposal, NEA said.

It added that only homogeneous material streams such as ferrous scrap, recovered from C&D waste, are considered recyclables that can be exported, subject to the relevant regulatory requirements being met.

Singapore trucks dumping waste

Over the past week, several media outlets, citing Johor officials, had reported that trucks originating from Singapore were believed to have dumped construction scraps in Johor.

The dumping of waste had reportedly caused cracks in villagers' homes and damaged roads in some villages.

Turning to the list of nine companies provided by SWCorp Johor to NEA, which it claimed was linked to the export of such waste from Singapore, NEA noted that it has not yet been established if Singapore companies were involved.

Nonetheless, NEA has issued an advisory to licensed general waste disposal facilities handling C&D waste in Singapore to remind them of the requirements.

"NEA takes a serious view of any illegal disposal of waste, as it pollutes the environment and can be a hazard to public health. NEA will continue to work closely with the Malaysian authorities to investigate the matter," the agency stressed in its statement.

Both Singapore and Malaysia are parties to the Basel Convention, an international treaty regulating the cross-border movement of hazardous wastes. 

Under Singapore's Hazardous Waste (Control of Export, Import and Transit) Act and its Regulations, any person who wishes to export, import or transit hazardous wastes must obtain a permit from NEA's Chemical Control and Management Department (CCMD).

In turn, the department adopts the prior informed consent procedure of the convention in granting any permit for the export, import or transit of hazardous wastes.

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editor@asiaone.com