SINGAPORE - Garbage collection fees for homes will be raised next year by the National Environment Agency (NEA), due to higher operating costs.

The current refuse collection fees are $7.49 for apartments - including Housing Board flats and condominiums that have not opted out of the public waste collection scheme - and $24.81 for landed homes.

Due to higher operating costs, such as for manpower, the monthly refuse collection fees will be raised to $8.25 for apartments and $27.47 for landed homes from Jan 1, said NEA on Monday (Nov 7).

Each household pays its public waste collector - appointed by NEA through an open tender - a monthly refuse collection fee through its monthly utility bill

NEA said such collection fees are reviewed regularly and the next review is scheduled for January 2019.