Basel Convention

SINGAPORE

Status of Ratification/Accession/Acceptance/Approval:	02.01.1996 (a)
Ratification/Acceptance of the Amendment to the Basel Convention:	Not yet as of 20.11.2002

Competent Authority	Focal Point
Pollution Control Department (PCD) National Environment Agency 40 Scotts Road #12-00 Environment Building, Singapore 228231 tel: [phone] fax: [phone] e-mail: [e-mail] website: www.nea.gov.sg	International Relations Department (IRD) 40 Scotts Road # 11-00 Environment Building, Singapore 228231 tel: [phone] fax: [phone] e-mail: [e-mail]

National Definition

Under the Hazardous Waste (control of export, import and transit) Act (HWA) “waste” means a substance or object that is proposed to be disposed of; disposed of; or required by any written law to be disposed of. Under the Hazardous Waste (control of export, import and transit) Act (HWA) “hazardous waste” means waste prescribed by any regulation made under this Act, where the waste has any of the characteristics mentioned in Annex III to the Basel Convention; or waste that belongs to any category contained in Annex I to the Basel Convention, unless it does not possess any of the characteristics contained in Annex III of the Convention. There are no wastes defined as, or considered to be hazardous wastes by national legislation in accordance with Art. 1, para 1(b) of the Basel Convention. PVC waste requires special consideration when subjected to transboundary movement. Import of PVC scrap and waste require Pollution Control Department’s prior informed consent. This control is in force while awaiting its classification into either Annex VIII or Annex IX of the Basel Convention.

Data* on the Generation and Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes** and Other Wastes*** in 2000 (as reported)

		Quantities (in metric tonnes)
Generation	Total amount of hazardous wastesgenerated	121 500 ^1)
	Total amount of other wastesgenerated	2 797 000
Transboundary Movement	Total amount of hazardous wastesand other wastesexported	19 548
	Total amount of hazardous wastesand other wastesimported	No import

* Figures are rounded to the nearest integer.

** Covers wastes under Art. 1 (1)a (Annex I: Y1-Y45) and Art. 1 (1)b.

*** Covers wastes under (Annex II: Y46-Y47).

1) Figure refers to the total amount of hazardous wastes generated under Art. 1 (1)a (Annex I: Y1-Y45).

Restrictions on Transboundary Movement	Amendment to the Basel Convention The Amendment to the Basel Convention (Decision III/1) has not been implemented in the country’s legislation. However, Singapore does not allow the import of hazardous wastes from OECD countries.
	Restrictions on export for final disposal and for recovery Singapore restricts the export of hazardous wastes and other wastes for final disposal and for recovery. The relevant legislation is the Hazardous Waste (Control of Export, Import or Transit) Act (HWA), which entered into force in May 1998. The exporter needs to obtain a Basel export permit from Pollution Control Department prior to the export.
	Restrictions on import for final disposal and for recovery Singapore restricts the import of hazardous wastes and other wastes for final disposal and for recovery. The relevant legislation is the Hazardous Waste (Control of Export, Import or Transit) Act (HWA), which entered into force in May 1998. Singapore does not allow the import of hazardous wastes for final disposal. The import of hazardous wastes for recovery is granted on a case-by-case basis. The importer needs to obtain a Basel import permit from Pollution Control Department prior to the import.
	Restrictions on transit Singapore restricts the transit of hazardous wastes and other wastes. The relevant legislation is the Hazardous Waste (Control of Export, Import or Transit) Act (HWA), which entered into force in May 1998. The Pollution Control Department requires a Basel transit permit for the transit of hazardous wastes through Singapore.

Reduction and/or Elimination of Hazardous Waste Generation	National strategies/policies Avoid/reduce generation of hazardous wastes; Use less hazardous chemicals; and Use clean technology and recycle/re-use toxic industrial wastes where appropriate.
	Legislation, regulations and guidelines Prior to Singapore’s notification to the Basel Convention, the Pollution Control Department applied the Environmental Public Health (Toxic Industrial Waste) Regulations to regulate the export, import and transit of hazardous wastes. In November 1997, Singapore enacted the Hazardous Waste (Control of Export, Import and Transit) Act (HWA) and its regulations that came into operation on 16 March 1998. The Act and its regulations enable Singapore to fulfill the obligations of the Basel Convention. Under the Act and its regulations, a permit is required for the export, import and transit of hazardous wastes scheduled under the Basel Convention.
	Economic instruments/ initiatives Private companies can apply to National Science and Technology Board (NSTB) for research funding on reduction of hazardous waste generation or recycling of hazardous wastes.
	Measures taken by industries/waste generators Cleaner production; and waste minimization/reduction/recycling/recovery programs.

Transboundary Movement Reduction Measures	National strategies/policies PCD screens new industries to allow setting up of only those industries which can treat hazardous wastes locally; Export of hazardous wastes will be allowed for recovery if there are no waste treatment facilities available locally; Export of hazardous wastes will not be allowed for disposal if there are facilities for disposal available locally.
	Legislation, regulations and guidelines Environmental Pollution Control Act; and the Code of Practice on Pollution Control.
	Measures taken by industries/waste generators Waste reduction/recycling/recovery programs.

Disposal/ Recovery Facilities

Some of the available facilities are: Pulau Semakau Landfill, a government operated secured sanitary landfill for D1 operations; and A number of privately operated toxic waste treatment companies licensed by PCD for treatment, recovery, reuse, recycling and disposal of hazardous industrial wastes (D9, D10 and R2, R4, R6, R9 operations). A complete list may be obtained from the following website: http://www.nea.gov.sg/cms/pcd/tiwcollectors.pdf

Bilateral, Multilateral or Regional Agreements

None.

Technical Assistance and Training Available

The available sources are: Singapore Environment Institute, National Environment Agency (http://app10.internet.gov.sg/scripts/nea/cms/htdocs/category_sub.asp?cid=118); - Institute of Environmental Science and Engineering (http://www.eti.org.sg); National University of Singapore (http://www.nus.edu.sg); - Nanyang Technological University (http://www.ntu.edu.sg); and Singapore Civil Defence Force (http://www.scdf.gov.sg).

Basel Convention

Country Fact Sheet