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WMRAS MAIL VOL.3 NO.1, 7 March 2017


For internal circulation to the members and associates of the Waste Management and Recycling Association of Singapore
THE MAILROOM TEAM

Publisher: Melissa Tan
Editor: Edwin Pang
Dy Editor: Darren Chia

Publications
Sub-committee:
David Dao
Emmanual Tay
Michael Ho

Michelle Ng

Visit our Revamped Website! 

Besides the latest news, events and training schedules, you can also check out the marketplace for business leads. Members can also post leads and job vacancies on the marketplace. 

WMRAS marks its 15th Anniversary!

WMRAS marked its 15th Anniversary with a buffet dinner by the pool following our 1st Exco meeting at our new office chaired by Ms Melissa Tan, photo-taking of the Exco Members for our corporate brochure and a chat with our Advisor Dr Amy Khor. We were also heartened by the presence of some Sub-Committee Members and our past chairmen, Ms Isabella Loh & Mr Guah Eng Hock, as well as Michael, the son of our late chairman, COL (Ret) Chua Tiong Guan. A big "thank you" to everyone for turning up, your support all these years and of course, to several members who came bearing gifts! Here's to more good years ahead for WMRAS!

More photos here

WMRAS “Lo Hei(s)” into the Rooster Year!

It was fun, food & friends as WMRAS members & guests "lo hei" to usher in the Year of the Rooster at their CNY Dinner on 10 Feb @ Novotel Singapore Clarke Quay. Adding glamour to the event were WMRAS Advisor Dr Amy Khor, Senior Minister of State for the Environment & Water Resources, and Health; NEA CEO Ronnie Tay, NTUC Asst Sec-Gen Dr Yeo Guat Kwang & WMRAS Green Ambassador, celebrity Edmund Chen Zhicai & his 2 equally good-looking kids! Huat ah! 

More photos here

Soft launch of the ISWA World Congress in KL

WMRAS director Edwin Pang (2nd from left) & manager Goh Fang Wei (far left) were in Kuala Lumpur on 7 February to support the Waste Management Assn of Malaysia (WMAM chairman Ho De Leong is 3rd from right) when it carried out its soft launch of the ISWA World Congress which will be held in the Malaysian capital next year.

Seeking Implementers for Industry Projects

Under the Lean Enterprise Development (LED) Scheme, companies can obtain transitional manpower and discounted rates when they purchase the following products:
 
Fill sensor for waste / recycling bin and compactor
Name: Mr Sanderson Soh
Company: OTTO Waste Systems (S) Pte Ltd
Phone: 6898 1267
Email: sanderson@ottoasiapac.com
 
Auto-back cover for open top containers
Name: Ms Michelle Ng
Company: Ng Wah Hong Enterprises Pte Ltd
Phone: 6487 1491
Email: michelle.ng@nwh.com.sg
 
Operational dashboard for fleet management
Name: Mr Anthony Chong
Company: ESRI Singapore Pte Ltd
Phone: 6742 8622
Email: achong@esrisingapore.com.sg

Please contact the vendors for more info.

WMRAS Certificate Programmes & Masterclass

1. Professional Course in Waste Management & Resource Recovery
The first Solid Waste Management certificate program developed in collaboration with Griffith University of Australia & Tick 3 for managers, executives & supervisors or polytechnic graduates & mid-career professionals seeking to join the industry.

2. Graduate Certificate in Waste Management and Resource Recovery
The first degree level certificate course for the waste management industry in Singapore developed in collaboration with Murdoch University of Western Australia for PMETs.
3. Lean Leadership Masterclass
In collaboration with Shinka Management, the masterclass provides participants with the practical knowhow and tools required to implement and sustain a lean culture within their operations.

Contact the secretariat for more details and to register now!

COMING UP!

WMRAS is organising a business mission to South Korea to identify business, investment opportunities and partnerships. Leading the business mission is our Advisor, Senior Minister of State for the Environment and Water Resources, Dr Amy Khor. The 5 days, 4 nights business mission to South Korea will benefit companies which want to explore and expand their business into the Korean market. You will get to network with the local trade association, acquire new business contacts, gain market insights and also develop potential cross-border business collaboration. Site visits and a seminar will also be arranged to learn the best practices of the Korean waste management and recycling industry. 

Download the registration from here.

WMRAS Business Mission to US

WMRAS is organising a business mission to the United States to attend the ISWA World Congress and WASTECON 2017 from 24 - 29 Sep. Leading the business mission is our Advisor, Senior Minister of State for the Environment and Water Resources, Dr Amy Khor. The business mission will include business meetings and site visits to learn the best practices of the local waste management and recycling industry. 

Participants from Singapore may be eligible for IMAP funding to cover common costs. Inform the secretariat if you would like to participate in this business mission.

For details on ISWA World Congress and WASTECON 2017, please visit http://www.iswa2017.org/

INDUSTRY NEWS

WMRAS Chairman Quoted in The Straits Times

Tailored approach to help each sector cut it.
Source: The Straits Times on 14 Feb 2017

The Waste Management and Recycling Association of Singapore, for instance, organises visits to tradeshows and firms in countries like Germany and Japan, to learn about best practices. It also works with its members to develop new technologies.

Its chairman Melissa Tan says: "Productivity has become rather critical for local waste and recycling companies... Our sector is labour intensive, but not enough Singaporeans are joining us."

But challenges remain. Investing to become more efficient can be a costly endeavour, and not all companies see the need to transform.

"Cost is the main factor. A number of companies in the waste and recycling industry are small and medium-sized enterprises and so, to invest in new and expensive equipment can be a huge financial challenge which requires us to have the foresight and guts to take that calculated risk," says Ms Tan.

"Also, it doesn't help that some workers and even management have a mindset that resists change and insist that 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it'."

Full article here.

More Grants and Incentives Please

Source: The Business Times, 20 February, 2017

Chairman, Melissa Tan revealed WMRAS’ budget wish-list and gave her take on how to encourage innovation and entrepreneurship.

WMRAS: From the perspective of SME owners, we hope that costs and government bureaucracy can be reduced. We have members who chose to do the bulk of their business in Malaysia, citing lower land, labour and living costs, as well as fewer regulations and requirements by government agencies. It does not help that we have articles going around saying that Singapore is the world's most expensive city!

WMRAS: The expiry of the PIC scheme is regrettable because it had encouraged SMEs to invest in technology which doesn't come cheap and has enabled firms to send staff for more training that helps to develop the innovative and entrepreneurial spirit at reduced costs. The government can come up with a new financing scheme to promote innovation and entrepreneurship in place of the PIC grants or direct local industries to existing schemes, but please, make the application process less onerous.

Full article here.

Recipe to Turn Used Cooking Oil into Fuel

Source: The Straits Times, 11 Feb 2017
Mr Lim (right) with Alpha Biofuels' chief operations officer Jack Ling. The firm's recycling facility at Raffles City Shopping Centre converts used cooking oil into biofuel to power vehicles, generators and forklifts.
ST PHOTO: ARIFFIN JAMAR

A Singapore recycling firm is imagining a future where a shopping centre's used cooking oil transforms into biofuel that can power the building.

Local company Alpha Biofuels is taking a small step towards that goal at Raffles City Shopping Centre with a pilot project which gives the used oil a second lease of life, in a small room at Basement 3.

The facility, believed to be the first in a shopping mall, can produce up to 200 litres of biodiesel a day from used cooking oil - enough to power the fuel needs of a double- decker bus for one full day.

Full article here.

WMRAS Warmly Welcomes its New Members:

1) IW Group Pte Ltd 
       
2) World Metal Recovery Pte Ltd
3) Sphere Exhibits Pte Ltd
    
4) Glean Ressourcen Pte Ltd

5) Mr Tan Shi Zhou
6) Molten Steel Pte Ltd
7) BR Metals Pte Ltd
        

Our total membership now stands at 135
Contact the Secretariat if you would like to advertise in this newsletter or on our website, or if you have any training needs or business leads.
 


Waste Management & Recycling Association of Singapore (WMRAS)

Address: No. 62 Ubi Road 1 #08-06 Oxley Bizhub 2 Singapore 408734
Tel: +65 6222 5328
Email: secretariat@wmras.org.sg  
Website: http://www.wmras.org.sg/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/wmrasofficial
 
No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without the permission of the publisher. Contact the Secretariat if you have any questions.

Copyright © 2017 Waste Management & Recycling Association of Singapore, All rights reserved.


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