New waste management accreditation programme launched

SINGAPORE - A new accreditation programme for hook-lift and container inspection and a new national standard on terminology for waste management have been launched.

Singapore generated 7.85 million tonnes of waste last year. These new initiatives aim to further improve productivity in the local solid waste management industry, which employs an estimated 12,000 staff, the Government said.

The new accreditation programme has been developed to ensure that workshops have the capability in inspecting General Waste Collector (GWC) vehicles with hook-lift systems and open top containers to meet the necessary safety standards. Such workshops will be assessed on technical competency and must have a robust quality management system as certified by the Singapore Accreditation Council (SAC).

Inspections conducted by accredited workshops will ensure that the hook-lifts and open top containers mounted on refuse trucks are properly repaired and maintained.

Besides ensuring workplace safety, the accreditation of these workshops should also raise productivity by reducing possible disruptions when waste is disposed at the incineration plants.

A new Singapore Standard on terminology for waste management has also been developed by the Singapore Standards Council and various government agencies and industry experts.

"These new initiatives will not only help to raise standards and productivity of the solid waste management industry in Singapore but will also help address the challenges that we face, such as scarcity of land, resources and manpower. NEA will continue to explore other ways to help the industry raise productivity levels, and enhance the efficiency and capabilities of our waste management systems," said NEA's Director General, Environmental Protection, Mr Koh Kim Hock.

The standards and accreditation system will also raise quality and reliability of local goods and services, Ms Choy Sauw Kook, Assistant Chief Executive (Quality & Excellence) at SPRING Singapore said.

ljessica@sph.com.sg