NEA zeroes in on food and packaging waste reduction

It called for a tender to conduct a waste audit.

NEA is set on reducing food and packaging waste in Singapore. According to a press release by the agency, NEA called a tender today to conduct a waste audit for 300 selected households. 

It will use the data from the audit in establishing the potential for further reduction of food and packaging waste. Once collected, the waste will be sorted into appropriate waste streams and weighed.

Food waste will be further categorized as either avoidable or unavoidable waste. Avoidable food waste comprises food meant for human consumption that consumers can possibly reduce or avoid generating, like expired food products and unconsumed leftovers. Unavoidable food waste, on the other hand, comprises kitchen waste such as egg shells, bones, and coffee grounds.

Packaging waste will be sorted into plastic, paper, metal, glass, and composites.

The agency is expecting that the data can be utilised in creating programmes that aid in lessening waste in Singapore. For instance, a high level of avoidable food waste implies the potential for Singapore households to reduce food wastage.

NEA is hoping that this audit will further push Singapore into becoming a Zero Waste Nation under the Sustainable Singapore Blueprint.

The tender will close at 4pm on 14 December and the winning bidder will collect waste disposed of by households for segregation and audit. The waste audit itself will start in early-2016 and should be completed by mid-2016.