Oral answer by Ministry of National Development on the illegal dumping of electronic waste in green spaces and its management

May 8, 2023

Question No: 4499

Question by: Dr Tan Wu Meng

To ask the Minister for National Development (a) since 2021, how many reports have been received of electronic waste in (i) Clementi Forest and (ii) similar green spaces respectively; (b) what is the approach to addressing such electronic waste which may contaminate green environments or harm passers-by; and (c) what is the timeline and potential learning points regarding the removal of the abandoned refrigerator cited in OneService App in 2022 and removed in April 2023.

Answer:

          Illegal dumping of electronic and other waste in a public place is an offence under the Environmental Public Health Act. Two instances of feedback on improper disposal of bulky electronic waste in forested areas were received and acted upon by agencies from January 2021 to March 2023. Members of public should properly dispose of any refuse, including large household items, to minimise harm to the environment.

2        The OneService App, owned by the Municipal Service Office (MSO), is a platform on which government agencies receive and respond to public feedback. Some cases require multiple agencies to work together. Lapses in communication and coordination between agencies sometimes occur, as in the case of the refrigerator found on State land in Clementi Forest. The National Parks Board (NParks) was first alerted to the incident in March 2022 through the OneService App, and sought to arrange for its removal. Unfortunately, due to a miscommunication between agencies, the removal was not done and the case was closed prematurely.  There was also no follow through to check that the refrigerator had indeed been cleared. Upon being notified a second time, in 2023, NParks worked with the National Environment Agency (NEA) to clear the refrigerator on 21 April 2023.

3        MSO has been working with stakeholder agencies to strengthen inter-agency coordination, and this includes NParks and NEA. We do so through staff training to ensure feedback involving multiple agencies is referred correctly, through the inter-agency feedback management system. Agencies are also requested to close straightforward cases only when works are completed on the ground. MSO will continue to help our partner agencies in attaining a high level of responsiveness to public feedback.

4        Clementi Forest is not intended for public recreational use at this point in time. Members of public are encouraged to visit our many public Parks and Nature Parks and to keep to the designated trails within these areas for their own safety and to minimise impact to the environment.