Written Reply to Parliamentary Question on PRS Operator and Informal Sector by Ms Grace Fu, Minister for Sustainability and the Environment

10 MAY 2021

Written Reply by Ms Grace Fu, Minister for Sustainability and the Environment, to Parliamentary Question on PRS Operator and Informal Sector

Ms He Ting Ru: To ask the Minister for Sustainability and the Environment with the introduction of the new electronic waste disposal system on 1 July 2021, what progress has been made with the producer responsibility scheme (PRS) operator to work with informal waste collectors (rag and bone men) in relation to the collection of e-waste.

Answer:

  1. Informal waste collectors or rag-and-bone men have a role to play under the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme for e-waste. The National Environment Agency (NEA) requires the Producer Responsibility Scheme (PRS) Operator to develop and operationalise a plan to integrate them into the overall e-waste collection system.

  2. ALBA was appointed as the PRS Operator in February and is engaging companies that consolidate e-waste collected by informal waste collectors. ALBA will leverage such parties to collect, transport, and sort e-waste, thereby tapping on the informal waste collectors’ knowledge and network.