Minister of Development Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Muhammad Juanda bin Haji Abdul Rashid and Singapore’s Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu lauded the steady progress of existing projects and programmes of both Brunei and Singapore in the areas of solid waste management, air quality management, water resources management, environmental youth programmes, and climate change.
The Brunei delegation to the 16th Brunei Darussalam-Singapore Annual Exchange of Visits on the Environment (16th BSAEV) and 16th Meeting of Brunei Darussalam-Singapore Joint Committee (16th BSJCE) was led by Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Muhammad Juanda yesterday at The Rizqun International Hotel in Gadong.
Meanwhile, the Singapore delegation was led by Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu.
During the meeting, the ministers reaffirmed the strong bilateral relationship between the two countries and reiterated their commitment to foster continual progress and deepen cooperation on environmental protection and addressing climate change.
The Sultanate’s latest initiatives in solid waste management include the expansion of installation of the surveillance camera system in Tutong and Belait districts at strategic locations, which has successfully identified offenders and imposing compoundable fines.
The expansion also included the final stages of drafting the Waste Management Regulation; and the nationwide recycling day initiative to promote awareness and inculcate the habits of recycling in the public.
Singapore, meanwhile, has introduced initiatives to manage e-waste and packaging waste, such as the implementation of disposable carrier bag charge from July 2023 and the planned introduction of a beverage container return scheme in April 2025. Singapore will host the next BSAEV in 2024. – Lyna Mohd & Azlan Othman
