Singapore, 20 August 2021 – Mr Chidambaram Baskaran, a company director, has been fined a total of $18,000 after pleading guilty to the illegal disposal of waste from renovation works along public roads in February 2020. Three workers acting under his instructions were given a warning for their role in the illegal disposal act. The case was heard in court on 18 August 2021.
2 Investigations by the National Environment Agency (NEA) revealed that Mr Baskaran instructed his three workers to illegally dispose of 231 jute bags containing hacked concrete and tiles from his lorry. The waste was dumped between 15 February 2020 and 26 February 2020 into waste and recycling bins that served premises in the Macpherson, Jalan Besar and Bendemeer areas.
3 Such bins are meant to serve only the occupiers of those premises and should be used only for general waste or recyclables (i.e., paper, plastic, metal, and glass). Waste from renovation works, classified under industrial waste, including construction and demolition waste such as hacked concrete and tiles, must be sent to a licensed recycling facility and not mixed with general waste or recyclables.
4 The illegal disposal of waste poses environmental and public health risks, and is a blight on public places. NEA will not hesitate to take strict enforcement action against those who illegally dispose of waste. In this case, Mr Baskaran, who was a first time offender, was convicted of six charges under section 24(2) of the Environmental Public Health Act. For each charge, he was sentenced to a court fine of $3,000. 12 other charges were taken into consideration. A first time offender is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months, or both. Repeat offenders are liable to a maximum fine of $20,000 and to imprisonment for a term of not less than one month and not more than 12 months.
5 Members of the public can assist by submitting reports of suspected illegal disposal electronically via the Online Feedback Form or myENV mobile application. Alternatively, the public may contact NEA at 6225 5632 if they witness any illegal disposal activity. When reporting, it would be helpful to furnish the date, time and location of the incident, registration number of the vehicle used to carry out the illegal disposal, as well as supporting photos and video clips.
Photo showing jute bags containing hacked concrete and tiles illegally disposed of inside a general waste bin belonging to the occupier of premises at Jalan Besar.
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For more information, please submit your enquiries electronically via the Online Feedback Form or myENV mobile application. Alternatively, you may contact us at 6225 5632.