STATEMENT BY MARK SEAH, CHARGÉ D’AFFAIRES A.I. OF THE SINGAPORE MISSION TO THE UNITED NATIONS AT THE HIGH-LEVEL MEETING OF THE UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY ON THE ROLE OF ZERO WASTE AS A TRANSFORMATIVE SOLUTION IN ACHIEVING THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS, GENERAL ASSEMBLY, 30 MARCH 2023

Madam Vice President,

1 I would like to commend Türkiye on its work leading to today’s inaugural International Day of Zero Waste, and on the leadership of First Lady Emine Erdogan in this field. Today’s High-Level Meeting on Zero Waste reminds us that strong and sustainable waste management practices are needed to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

2 Unsustainable patterns of consumption and production are increasing our burden on the world, and exacerbating climate change. Waste from land defiles our oceans. We therefore need to work towards zero-waste, and move away from a throwaway culture. Let me share four ways how.

3 First, we can and must turn trash to treasure. Technological advancements allow us to do so. Waste plastics can be converted into higher-value products such as pyrolysis oil. Incineration bottom ash can be used as construction material. Food waste can be converted into animal feed and fertiliser. These initiatives can help us reuse waste.

4 My second point is that to turn waste into a useful resource, we must expand efforts to collect it. As others have noted, one way is to implement Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), where producers are responsible for end-of-life management of products. Since Singapore’s introduction of the EPR scheme for e-waste in 2021, we have collected over 9,000 tonnes of e-waste. We are also introducing a beverage container return scheme, which has seen great success in over 50 jurisdictions worldwide.

5 Third, we must reduce waste at source. To do so, we have to spur behavioural and organisational change, while implementing regulations and policies to encourage waste reduction. Public education, mandatory reporting on waste and reduction plans, and implementing a disposable carrier bag charge are some measures that can help achieve this goal.

6 Fourth and finally, international cooperation and multilateralism will be key to collectively tackling the waste problem. We must continue to share best practices and learn from one another. The United Nations will play an important role to facilitate knowledge exchange, and drive outcomes that support ongoing zero waste efforts. In particular, the ongoing negotiations to forge a global treaty on plastic pollution are critically important. This legally binding agreement will address one of our most pressing environmental challenges, and we should continue to work closely together to achieve this treaty.

7 I thank you for your attention.

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