Those found rummaging through bins for drinks containers may be issued advisories: Grace Fu

Members of the public are discouraged from rummaging through refuse bins for empty drinks containers, regardless of whether the act causes any public hygiene issue, said Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu in Parliament on Tuesday (Nov 3).

"Apart from the potential disamenities to the wider community, there are also hygiene and safety concerns for the individuals doing so," the minister explained in a written reply to MP Yeo Wang Ling (Punggol GRC).

The second-term MP had asked what will guide the authority's enforcement approach towards those found removing beverage containers from public refuse bins, including in instances where no waste is scattered or no public hygiene issue is caused.

Under the Environmental Public Health (Public Cleansing) Regulations, combing through a refuse bin or removing items from it carries a fine of up to S$1,000 for a first offence, with a further S$100 for each day the offence continues.

Fu noted that even before the Beverage Container Return Scheme (BCRS) was introduced, the National Environment Agency (NEA) would occasionally receive feedback on individuals rummaging through refuse bins, adding that NEA focuses first on public education to promote good hygiene practices.

And when such actions are detected, the agency takes a calibrated approach in determining whether enforcement action will be taken, she said.

"Where individuals are found rummaging through public refuse bins without leaving litter on the ground, our officers may provide an advisory."

NEA may also refer such agencies to social agencies for further support, if they are assessed to be vulnerable individuals.

The Ministry of Social and Family Development and its community partners use the Vulnerable-in-Community Network to connect with these individuals, understand their situation and give them the support they need, the minister said.

BCRS became fully operational on Thursday (Oct 1), following a six-month transition period.

As at Sept 27, over 48 million beverage containers have been collected, with the average number of containers per transaction increasing from 2.8 in April to 8.2 in September.

Around 55 per cent of materials collected are plastics, while the remaining 45 per cent are metal, NEA shared in an update on Oct 1.

永续发展及环境部长傅海燕周二（11月3日）在国会表示，不鼓励公众翻找垃圾桶寻找空饮料容器，无论这种行为是否会造成任何公共卫生问题。

“除了可能对广大社区造成不便之外，这样做也会给个人带来卫生和安全方面的担忧，”部长在给议员杨旺玲（榜鹅集选区）的书面答复中解释道。

这位连任两届的议员曾询问，当局将如何执法来应对那些从公共垃圾桶中取出饮料容器的人，包括那些没有造成垃圾散落或公共卫生问题的情况。

根据《环境公共卫生（公共清洁）条例》，翻找垃圾桶或从中取出物品，初犯将被处以最高 1000 新元的罚款，此后每持续一天，罚款将增加 100 新元。

傅先生指出，即使在饮料容器回收计划（BCRS）推出之前，国家环境局（NEA）偶尔也会收到有关有人翻找垃圾桶的反馈，并补充说，国家环境局首先注重公众教育，以促进良好的卫生习惯。

她说，当发现此类行为时，该机构会采取审慎的方法来确定是否采取执法行动。

“如果发现有人在公共垃圾桶里翻找垃圾，却没有在地上留下垃圾，我们的工作人员可能会给予劝诫。”

如果评估认为这些机构属于弱势群体，国家环境局也可以将这些机构转介给社会机构以获得进一步支持。

部长表示，社会和家庭发展部及其社区合作伙伴利用社区弱势群体网络与这些个人建立联系，了解他们的处境，并给予他们所需的支持。

经过六个月的过渡期，BCRS 于周四（10 月 1 日）全面投入运营。

截至 9 月 27 日，已收集超过 4800 万个饮料容器，每次交易的平均容器数量从 4 月份的 2.8 个增加到 9 月份的 8.2 个。

新加坡国家环境局 (NEA) 在 10 月 1 日发布的最新消息中表示，收集到的材料中约 55% 为塑料，其余 45% 为金属。