On waste import

On waste import

We refer to your article Emil blasts Singaporean waste import
on Jan. 7, 1999.

Singapore is a party to the Basel Convention on the Control of
Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal.
We have in place legislation and procedure to regulate the
export, import and transit of hazardous waste in full compliance
with the provisions in the Basel Convention. The Singapore
Ministry of the Environment (ENV) with the Maritime Port
Authority (MPA) enforce the legislation and procedure rigorously
for the import, export and transit of hazardous wastes.

ENV has not granted approval to any Singapore or Indonesian
company to export excavated materials, including marine clay, to
Indonesia for the mangrove rehabilitation project at Teluk
Pelambung in Riau. No hazardous wastes can be exported without
the approval of ENV as well as the approval of the relevant
authorities of the importing countries.

It is also not true that there is an agreement between BAPEDAL
and ENV to allow marine clay or any excavated material to be
exported to Indonesia as a mangrove growing medium in Teluk
Pelambung and that the Singapore government would pay for the
export of marine clay and excavated material to Indonesia.

Excavated material and marine clay from construction sites in
Singapore are not a hazardous waste. Marine clay can be used as a
raw material for the manufacture of bricks, clay pipes, etc., and
in land reclamation. Currently, there are adequate facilities for
the disposal of excavated materials and marine clay from
construction sites and for land reclamation projects in
Singapore.

LOW PIT CHEN

First Secretary

Singapore Embassy

Jakarta