Written Reply by Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen to Parliamentary Question on Waste Reduction Within SAF Camps and Management of Biodiversity

Miss Cheryl Chan Wei Ling: To ask the Minister for Defence in light of the Singapore Green Plan (a) whether the Ministry has plans to reduce wastage in food, gears and logistics within SAF camps; and (b) how is biodiversity managed in SAF training areas.

Minister for Defence, Dr Ng Eng Hen:

In line with the Singapore Green Plan, the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) is committed to reduce its waste generation by 30% by 2030. It has been implementing various measures to attain this objective.

To reduce food wastage, the SAF plans for meals at its cookhouses based on weekly consumption forecasts that take into account a unit's training schedule and nutritional requirement. An electronic meal accounting system is also used to track actual consumption over time so that further adjustments can be made. These measures have reduced food wastage to, on average, about 1% of meals catered.

On equipment, servicemen are issued with the necessary uniforms, boots and other personal equipment needed to perform their vocational roles. They are provided with annual eMart credits to replace worn-out personal equipment as and when needed, rather than at rigid fixed time windows when the equipment are still in good order.

Besides minimising wastage, the SAF also makes effort to recycle. For example, 14 SAF cookhouses are currently involved in a food recycling programme, which produces biogas for energy generation. By 2024, all SAF cookhouses will be part of this programme. The SAF has also set up equipment collection points at premises such as SAFRA clubhouses for National Servicemen to dispose their old uniforms, boots and other personal equipment, some of which are repurposed and recycled. In addition, the SAF has put in place waste disposal contracts to repurpose and recycle scrap metals, electronic waste, chemicals and waste oil. Moving forward, the SAF will explore further measures to reduce and minimise wastage.

MINDEF strikes a careful balance between the need to meet the SAF's operational and training needs with biodiversity concerns. Subject to operational and security considerations, MINDEF adheres to the national Environmental Impact Assessment framework to assess and reduce the environmental impact of our developments. MINDEF also works closely with partner agencies, such as NParks, and consults other stakeholders, including nature groups, on such efforts.