Louis asked the Minister for the Environment and Water Resources (a) whether he can provide an update on the Ministry's plans to enhance the mandatory waste reporting requirements by supermarkets; and (b) whether the Ministry plans to extend waste reporting to other premises that generate large amounts of waste including food waste.

Mr Masagos Zulkifli B M M (MEWR): Under the mandatory waste reporting requirements, owners of certain premises which generate large amounts of waste must report their waste and recyclables tonnages, waste reduction plans, and waste reduction targets to the National Environment Agency (NEA). This is to encourage them to improve their waste management systems, by drawing attention to the amount of waste produced and the potential for improvement.

Currently, only shopping malls with a net lettable area of more than 4,600 square metres and hotels with more than 200 rooms are subject to these requirements. Supermarkets located in malls would have their waste data accounted for under the malls’ tonnage. There are no plans to introduce mandatory waste reporting requirements specifically for supermarkets.

We will continue to monitor the waste generation of premises subjected to mandatory waste reporting. We will also consider extending the reporting requirements to other premises that generate large amounts of waste, such as industrial premises, bearing in mind the compliance costs.

Source: Hansard (Parliament of Singapore)

Louis delivered the following budget cut on Introducing a Food Donation Act at Committee of Supply 2020.

Louis: Food waste is a serious and growing problem. In 2018, 763,000 tonnes of food was wasted in Singapore, a 30% increase compared to 10 years ago. At the same time, some Singaporeans struggle to have three meals a day.

Both problems can be alleviated if we introduce a Good Samaritan Food Donation Act. This piece of legislation would help encourage companies and organisations to donate healthy food that would otherwise go to waste. It will help both the environment and our people. Will MEWR support a Private Member's Bill for a Good Samaritan Food Donation Act?

Mr Masagos Zulkifli B M M (MEWR): Mr Louis Ng asked about the introduction of a Good Samaritan Food Donation Act. 

MEWR is currently working on a legislation to enhance our food safety regime. As part of this, we are looking to introduce a legislation to facilitate food donation. 

Any legislation will need to strike a balance between facilitating food donation and ensuring food safety. We will be happy to work with Mr Louis Ng.

Source: Hansard (Parliament of Singapore)