Extract of Parliament report - 20th July, 2009 

Er Lee Bee Wah  (MP Ang Mo Kio GRC) asked the Minister for the Environment and Water Resources (a) what are the rates for collection of refuse in private estates in the different zones in Singapore; and (b) what is the percentage increase in the rates charged for each zone now as compared with the last revision in rates.

Minister for the Environment and Water Resources, Dr Yaacob Ibrahim:  Domestic waste from HDB estates and private landed estates is collected by Public Waste Collectors or PWCs which have been appointed by NEA through public tender. Private high-rise residential estates, such as condominiums and apartments, can either use the PWCs appointed by NEA or make their own arrangements with licensed General Waste Collectors or GWCs.  
 
 Singapore is divided into nine geographical sectors for the purpose of public waste collection and there are four PWCs serving these sectors.  The current PWC contracts were awarded between 2004 and 2006 for a period of seven to eight years. The fees levied by the PWCs are based on the rates in the tender and cannot be adjusted without the approval of NEA.  There has been no fee revision to date.  In the next round of contracts from 2011, NEA will continue to be mindful of the need for PWCs to provide reliable and efficient refuse collection services at reasonable rates.  Fees can only be adjusted based on the terms of the contract and with the approval of NEA.

 The current refuse collection fees for private condominiums and apartments serviced by PWCs range from about $4 to $6.90 per month while the fees for landed premises range from $16 to $22.50 per month. The fees levied by the PWCs differ from sector to sector as the fees are determined by tender and the sectors differ from one another in terms of the number of dwelling units, the traveling distance for refuse collection and disposal and timing of the tenders. The average fee for private condominiums and apartments serviced by PWCs is about $5.20 per month while the average fee for landed premises is $18.30 per month.

 Compared to the previous round of contracts awarded between 1999 and 2001, the current average refuse collection fee for private condominiums and apartments serviced by PWCs decreased by 32% on average, while the fee for landed premises decreased by 15%.

Private high-rise residential estates which choose to engage the services of GWCs incur refuse collection fees based on the terms and conditions of their individual agreements with the GWCs. These fees are not regulated by NEA.  However, the GWC market has 340 licensed service providers.  Thus, the management corporations of private estates can consider their options and choose one that best suits their respective developments.