Resource Sustainability (Amendment) Bill Passed to Address Packaging and Food Waste

On 22 March 2023, the Resource Sustainability (Amendment) Bill (“Bill“) was passed. The Bill amends the Resource Sustainability Act 2019 (“Act“), and introduces measures to address packaging waste and food waste. In particular, they: (i) require registered retailers to collect a charge for each disposable carrier bag provided to customers; (ii) provide for a beverage container return scheme (“BCRS“); and (iii) provide for a food waste reporting framework for industrial and commercial premises. For background, please refer to our Legal Update (available here) covering the First Reading of the Bill. The Speech for the Second Reading of the Bill (“Speech“) explained the Bill in more detail. Below we briefly highlight some key points from the Speech.

Disposable Carrier Bag Charge

The new Part 4A to the Act that will give effect to the disposable carrier bag charge will commence on 3 July 2023.  A regulated retailer that exceeds a prescribed annual turnover threshold for its class must be registered (“Registered Retailers“). Operators of Singapore Food Agency (SFA)-licensed supermarkets with an annual turnover of more than $100 million will be required to register as a Registered Retailer with the National Environment Agency (“NEA“). Registered Retailers must charge a minimum of 5 cents per bag provided to customers, and must publish information such as (i) the number of disposable carrier bags provided, (ii) the total amount of charge proceeds collected, and (iii) how and where charge proceeds have been applied.

Beverage Container Return Scheme

The BCRS is an extended producer responsibility scheme where producers are responsible for the collection and recycling of beverage containers. Key features of the BCRS include:

(a)     All producers of prescribed beverage products are required to join a licensed scheme.

(b)   A deposit will be collected for prescribed beverage products. The deposit is first provided by the producer to the scheme operator, and the deposit must be collected by every supplier for each prescribed beverage product the supplier sells.

(c)    The deposit is not part of the price of the beverage product, the beverage container, or the use of the beverage container.

(d)   Any person may obtain a refund of the deposit by returning the empty beverage container at designated return points.

(e)   Containers of prescribed beverage products must be labelled with: (i) a deposit mark for customers to identify prescribed beverage products; and (ii) a barcode to facilitate the acceptance of empty beverage containers at designated return points. 

Food Waste Reporting Framework

Food waste segregation and treatment requirements, which have not come into force, were first introduced in 2019 to promote resource recovery. A food waste reporting framework will be introduced to complement these requirements. The framework will include a new requirement for building managers to submit food waste reports to NEA. The implementation of the food waste segregation, treatment and reporting requirements will be staggered as follows:

(a)     For new buildings, the requirements will commence from 1 January 2024. New buildings refer to buildings for which application for planning approval was submitted on or after 1 January 2021.

(b)     For existing buildings, the requirements will commence progressively from the second half of 2025.