SINGAPORE — From July 1, it will be easier for Singaporeans to recycle their electronic waste, or e-waste, after the National Environment Agency (NEA) appointed an established German-based environmental solutions company to collect regulated e-waste.

The agency said in a media release on Thursday (Feb 11) that Alba Group has been given a five-year licence — expiring on June 30, 2026 — under its Extended Producer Responsibility scheme.

The scheme is designed to ensure that producers and importers of certain regulated electronic items — such as laptops, phones, printers and tablets — are required to support the scheme financially.

Alba is also licensed to operate a Producer Responsibility Scheme, which involves collecting e-waste and ensuring it is properly recycled and treated.

The company, set up in 1968, has a track record of operating producer responsibility schemes, a policy tool for waste management strategies, in markets such as Germany and Hong Kong.

NEA said that Alba is familiar with the waste landscape and e-waste recycling industry here, having been the public waste collector for the Jurong Sector since April 1 last year.

With Alba’s appointment, consumers may look forward to conveniently dropping off their e-waste for recycling at more collection avenues.

More details will be announced later, though NEA said that this will include the provision of e-waste receptacles in public areas, scheduled collection drives, and ad-hoc doorstep collection services.

The proper disposal of e-waste is vital for public health and environmental reasons.

TODAY previously reported that e-waste can be toxic. If not discarded properly or mixed with general waste, toxic materials in e-waste such as heavy metals and mercury contaminate the incinerated ash when general waste is burned and landfilled.

These toxins not only enter the soil, but also seep into the water, polluting it.

For now, e-waste cannot be recycled at the blue recycling bins found within most housing estates. Instead, it must be dropped off at designated recycling points in locations such as malls or petrol kiosks.

As part of its licence, Alba will have to fulfil certain e-waste collection targets set by NEA relating to different product types such as desktop monitors, air-conditioners and even portable batteries.

All the e-waste collected by Alba will be sent to licensed e-waste recyclers, NEA said.

The appointment of the Producer Responsibility Scheme is an integral part of the Extended Producer Responsibility e-waste management.

The Extended Producer Responsibility scheme, NEA said, will also promote the development of Singapore's e-waste recycling capabilities by providing feedstock for the recycling industry and driving demand for e-waste treatment services here.

Mr Ram Bhaskar, NEA’s deputy chief executive officer for environmental protection, said that recycling e-waste protects human and environmental health and helps to conserve earth’s precious natural resources.

Mr Bhaskar, who is also the agency's director-general of environmental protection, added that the latest announcement is an “important step to close the e-waste loop and adopt a circular approach towards resource management, as envisioned in Singapore’s Zero Waste Masterplan”.