NEA enforces strict regulations in line with international standards to limit emissions, and implements various initiatives to monitor, prevent and mitigate environmental pollution and radiation. NEA plays a pivotal role to sustain clean air, good water quality and quieter surroundings for all Singaporeans.
Combating Air Pollution
To ensure that the incineration processes at our waste-to-energy plants and crematoria do not pollute the environment, the facilities must comply with Singapore’s Environmental Protection and Management (Air Impurities) Regulations
1 to manage their air emissions.
The design features incorporated into the Tuas Incineration Plant and Tuas South Incineration Plant ensure that flue gas emissions, which are cleaned prior to release through the chimneys, meet regulatory limits. Efficient process control systems are in place to regulate the rate of air distribution and refuse feed. These ensure proper combustion in the furnace, leading to greater fuel efficiency and lower emissions.
In addition, NEA installed a telemetric monitoring system that continuously monitors air emissions from these plants. NEA also monitors air emissions from the Mandai Crematorium, to ensure that emissions are kept within limits
2.
In FY2021, the air emissions from the three facilities were within regulatory limits, and the facilities did not have any black smoke or air pollution incidents. NEA has implemented an effective environmental management system, with processes and practices to boost NEA’s operational efficiency and minimise environmental impact. We review our performance periodically to ensure alignment with our sustainability goals.
Enhancing Spatial Resolution of Air Quality Monitoring
NEA continuously monitors air quality across Singapore through a network of ambient air monitoring systems, providing hourly updates on air quality information on the NEA website and myENV App.
In 2020, we commenced a two-year pilot to enhance air quality monitoring and air pollution control efforts, particularly within localised areas such as residential estates. Using low-cost and low-footprint sensors, we can obtain air quality data at higher spatial and temporal resolution to enhance air quality monitoring. The sensors provide useful insights into the levels and dispersion of air pollutants at different times of the day or during monsoon seasons, at different heights and areas within an estate. This data is then displayed in a heat map for easy visualisation. Such localised monitoring will enable better support for our air quality monitoring and air pollution control efforts.
Moving Towards Cleaner Commercial Vehicles
In April 2021, the Commercial Vehicle Emissions Scheme (CVES) was introduced to encourage the adoption of cleaner new light commercial vehicles with lower emissions. Incentives are granted for cleaner models, while a surcharge is imposed on more pollutive models. The CVES works in tandem with the Early Turnover Scheme (ETS) that was introduced in April 2013, to promote the replacement of older, more pollutive diesel commercial vehicles and buses. The ETS provides a discount off the Prevailing Quota Premium when owners of older diesel commercial vehicles switch to cleaner new vehicles. Since the implementation of the CVES and ETS, around 80 per cent of light commercial vehicles registered in 2021 were of cleaner models, and over 50,000 commercial vehicles were replaced, as of March 2022.
Monitoring Water Discharge
The quality of effluent discharge from NEA's two waste-to-energy plants comply with the allowable limits under the Sewerage and Drainage Act (Chapter 294, Sections 72 and 74) and Sewerage and Drainage (Trade Effluent) Regulations by PUB, Singapore’s National Water Agency (PUB).
| Amount of wastewater discharged (L) | FY19 | FY20 | FY21 |
| Tuas Incineration Plant | 21,058,000 | 18,829,000 | 19,997,000 |
| Tuas South Incineration Plant | 56,340,000 | 48,341,000 | 41,656,000 |
Enforcing Construction Noise Controls
In September 2021, the Environmental Protection and Management (Amendment) Bill was passed in Parliament to strengthen enforcement of the no-work rule on Sundays and public holidays. The no-work rule applies to worksites located within 150m from any hospital, home for the aged sick or residential building.
With effect from 1 October 2022, errant contractors that violate the no-work rule are required to install electronic video surveillance systems. The use of electronic video surveillance technology will enhance NEA’s operational effectiveness by enabling our officers to monitor construction activities remotely without being physically present at the construction site, and deter future violations of the no-work rule.
Analysing Air and Water Quality Trends
NEA published our inaugural State of the Environment: Air and Water Quality Report
5 in September 2021, to present the trends and analyses of the air and water quality in Singapore, and showcase NEA’s environmental monitoring capabilities. The publication addressed the impact of the COVID-19 circuit breaker on urban air quality, and the emerging contaminants in the tropical aquatic environment. It also highlighted the outcomes and applications of NEA’s research collaboration with the NUS Environmental Research Institute, including the identification of the sources of biomass burning and PM
2.5 in Southeast Asia.
Going Forward |
As a steward of the environment, NEA’s short-term focus is to implement initiatives to monitor, prevent and mitigate air, land, water and noise pollution to sustain a quality living environment. Our medium-term priority is to heighten our emergency preparedness capabilities to safeguard against the harmful effects of radiation. NEA’s vision is a safe and healthy Singapore that is vital for good quality of life for residents. |
Encouraging Cleaner Passenger Cars and Taxis
The Vehicular Emissions Scheme (VES) encourages the purchase of cleaner passenger cars and taxis with lower emissions, by providing rebates for cleaner models and imposing surcharges on more pollutive models. The VES was enhanced with increased rebates from 1 January 2021 and increased surcharges from 1 July 2021. Since then, we have observed an increase in the proportion of cleaner cars registered under the A1 and A2 rebate bands, from 39 per cent in the first quarter of 2021 to 50 per cent in the last quarter of 2021. The enhanced VES will be extended till 31 December 2025, with tightened pollutant thresholds to be introduced from 1 January 2024. These enhancements are in line with the WOG push towards a cleaner energy vehicle fleet in Singapore over the next decade, under the Singapore Green Plan 2030.
Aligning with International Noise Standards
Starting from 1 April 2023, NEA will exclusively adopt the latest UN noise standards for new vehicle registrations. The UN standards, which are generally more stringent than Singapore’s current standards, involve the use of a test procedure that better reflects actual driving conditions and non-exhaust noise. The internationally-recognised UN standards have been adopted by the European Union and Japan since 2016.