Waste collection fees expected to rise
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SINGAPORE: Households in Singapore can expect to gradually pay more to have their trash collected. The National Environment Agency (NEA) said the move is aimed at uplifting the waste collection industry, which is struggling with rising operating costs while it grapples with improving service standards. Industry players said these challenges have been made harder by government contracts that have locked in fees for the past seven to eight years, with no provision for adjustments. With several contracts up for renewal over the next few years, the NEA, which manages the public waste collection scheme, is looking to reshape the industry. For the purpose of waste management, Singapore is currently divided into nine sectors, served by four companies. This will be reduced to six sectors, to help companies achieve economies of scale. Andrew Tan, CEO of the National Environment Agency, said: "This in turn will translate into greater affordability and at the same time, giving opportunities for the waste collectors to invest in the capital, in the training of their workforce and also the equipment needed to do a good job in terms of waste collection." Chairman of the Waste Management and Recycling Association, Guah Eng Hock, also pointed out that waste collection companies are required in their contracts to have a recyclable sorting facility in each sector. He said that with the larger sectors, companies will be able to enjoy greater economies of scale. A standard waste collection fee will also be introduced. Today, households pay as little as S$4.03 per HDB flat, or as high as S$22.50 for a landed home. Prices also differ between estates. For example, HDB flats in the city area currently pay S$4.03, while those in Pasir-Ris and Tampines fork out S$6.87. The difference in pricing is due to separate contracts being called for each sector, subjected to open bidding. Moving forward, all households will pay a "uniform fee" - depending on whether it is an HDB flat or landed property. The fee will be derived from the weighted average of successful tender bids submitted by public waste collectors. The first to come under the new fee structure will be households in Pasir-Ris, Tampines and Bedok. From July, HDB properties in those areas will pay S$7, while landed homes will pay S$23.19. The NEA said households would have had to pay more, if the new uniformed fee structure was not applied. The new uniformed fee structure will be progressively rolled out to the rest of Singapore by 2015. In return for higher fees, waste collection companies will have to meet higher service standards. This includes having quieter and cleaner vehicles, and responding quicker to public feedback. Companies will also have to provide better incentive schemes to encourage households to recycle. Singapore's only landfill on Semakau island is currently at half its capacity, and is expected to run out of space by 2040. Thus, recycling remains a key strategy for managing waste in Singapore and the government hopes that consumers and businesses will start at the source - by sorting their recyclables from other waste. Singapore's recycling rate currently stands at 59 per cent - a long way from its long-term target of 70 per cent. -CNA/ac
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dont they employ foreign labourers for such jobs? cost keep rising? why do i always hear this?
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they say FT are cheaper... then why are we paying more money???
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more ft in sg = more trash = more ft needed to clear trash = more cost
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Originally posted by ^Acid^ aka s|aO^eH~:
they say FT are cheaper… then why are we paying more money???
Singaporeans took back the rubbish job and got $50 raise.
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Foreign Trash to clear Trash ?Â
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Damn, by election over just a few days ago only.
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Originally posted by charlize:
Damn, by election over just a few days ago only.
If PAP won... maybe no increase.... hahaha.
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Originally posted by Just_do_it_lah:
If PAP won... maybe no increase.... hahaha.
may be more increase?
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Originally posted by mancha:
Singaporeans took back the rubbish job and got $50 raise.
But quality of job drop. Last time u have ppl will take the water hose thingy to clean EVERY level on the block. Now u dun even see them doing it anymore.
I remember becoz everytime they do it, everyone will go out to keep all the slippers and shoes inside the house...
I did an experiment recently, i drop a piece of rubbish at my corridoor... it was there for 3 days before it disappeared... and I dunno if the cleaner cleaned it or someone else threw it away... -
tv license fees take out already- we happy that time before election. now have to patch up increase else where mah.
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Originally posted by Just_do_it_lah:
more like erection iseethey have it everytime prices increase - yes erection