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