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REDUCING AND RECYCLING OUR WASTE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE
As our population grows and economic activity increases, we expect to continue producing a large amount of waste.
We have to reduce the amount of waste we generate and move towards zero waste as much as possible as we are running out of space to dispose of waste.
MINIMISING THE VOLUME OF WASTE DISPOSED OF
Singapore currently has only one active landfill. To conserve our limited landfill space, we incinerate as much of the waste that is disposed of as we can to reduce the volume going to the landfill. Through incineration, we can reduce its volume by as much as 90%.
Excess heat from Waste-to-Energy plants is harnessed to produce electricity, which provides about 2% of our electricity supply.
DISPOSING OF TOXIC INDUSTRIAL WASTE SAFELY
Many industries produce toxic industrial waste and generate by-products that pose health risks to both people and the environment.
Strict regulations are administered by NEA to ensure that such waste is properly managed.
Our Key Targets
Extend the lifespan of Semakau Landfill.
Achieve 70% overall recycling rate by 2030.
Our Main Plans
Encouraging Households To Play Their Part
Campaigns such as #RecycleRight and Say YES to Waste Less spread the message of the importance of recycling and waste reduction. Under the National Recycling Programme, all HDB blocks have access to recycling bins. Waste collectors also encourage household recycling by introducing recycling incentive programmes.
Seeking Co-operation From Industries
Industrial waste form up to 50% of the total amount of waste we dispose of. Their efforts to reduce waste and recycle materials will bring us closer to our aims.
Providing An Efficient Waste Management System
NEA licenses public waste collectors and general waste collectors to bring solid waste disposed of to our Waste-to-Energy plants and Semakau Landfill.
Enforcing Regulations For Proper Waste Management
Illegal dumping of waste of any kind is a serious offence. It pollutes the environment and can be a hazard to public health.
Managing Priority Waste Streams
As Singapore prepares for an increasingly carbon and resource constrained future, with limited space for waste disposal, we have to shift towards a circular economy where our resources can be used for as long and as many times as possible.
Under the Zero Waste Masterplan, we have set out Singapore’s strategies to achieve sustainable waste management and close our resource loops. We have identified three priority waste streams: food waste; electronic waste (e-waste); and packaging waste, including plastics. Packaging waste and food waste are generated in high amounts, with low recycling rates. While e-waste makes up less than 1% of total waste generated in Singapore, it could have a detrimental effect on the environment if not properly managed.
The Resource Sustainability Act puts in place a systems-level approach that mandates key responsibilities to enable re-use and recycling nation-wide. This includes upstream regulatory measures which sends economic signals to producers to take into account the cost of environmental externalities. It also encourages innovation and the redesigning of products that require less material, last longer and are more easily recycled.
Recycling
Space For Waste Will Run Out
Recycling is one way to minimise the amount of waste we create. Often, items are discarded without any thought to how they can be given a second life.
Singapore has only one landfill. Recycling is an important way to cut down the amount of waste that goes into the landfill and reduce the cost of disposal.
The Challenge: Increasing Overall Recycling Rate To 70% By 2030
We have had successes with certain waste streams, such as metals and construction and demolition materials, with near 100% recycling rates.
However, more can be done, particularly with increasing the recycling rates of our priority waste streams. Although awareness of recycling has improved among Singaporeans, the overall recycling rate remains low. The contamination of recyclables in collection bins adds further challenges. We will need everyone’s collective efforts to achieve our overall recycling rate target.
Our Efforts
More than 80,000 blue recycling bins have been placed in HDB and landed estates across the island. Paper, plastic, glass and metal recyclables can be deposited into these bins. The mixed recyclables are collected by dedicated recycling trucks and sent to Materials Recovery Facilities for sorting. After sorting, the recyclable materials are sent to recycling facilities for further processing.
Since April 2018, all new non-landed private residential developments above four storeys are required to install dual chutes for refuse and recyclables. All condominiums have also been required to provide one recycling bin per block since August 2018.
We will continue to make recycling accessible to all residents.
Waste Collection
Waste Production Never Stops
In line with population and economic growth, the volume of waste produced has increased exponentially.
Without an efficient waste collection system in place, piles of rubbish would accumulate near homes and workplaces and create breeding grounds for pests and poses threats to public health.
The Challenge: Our Climate Cannot Tolerate Waste
Due to our hot and humid weather, organic waste rapidly decomposes and starts to smell unpleasant. On top of the discomfort, uncollected waste promotes the breeding of disease-carrying vectors, such as mosquitoes, in our environment.
To protect public health, waste generated has to be collected and disposed promptly and safely.
Our Efforts
Today, there are now 3 public waste collection companies operating in 6 sectors, serving households and trade premises. Rights to manage waste are competitively tendered by these companies.
In addition, there are more than 300 approved general waste collectors that serve commercial and industrial premises.
Incineration
The Challenge: Effective But Not A Sustainable Solution
Incineration Plants Cost Us Space And Money
Incineration converts waste to energy and significantly reduces the volume of waste going to landfill. However, incineration plants are very expensive to build and operate. They also take up land space. We cannot keep building more incineration plants indefinitely.
Our Efforts: Improving Processes And Exploring New Uses
Tapping Private Sector Expertise
The Government has increased private sector participation in the incineration industry. The TuasOne Waste-To-Energy Plant and Keppel Seghers Tuas Waste-To-Energy Plant were developed under a Design, Build, Own and Operate model. The Senoko Incineration Plant was also divested to the private sector and has since been renamed Senoko Waste-To-Energy Plant.
Treating Pollutants Before Release Into The Environment
All incinerators in Singapore have been fitted or built with pollution control equipment to protect our air quality. The flue gas produced during incineration is treated to remove most of the pollutants to meet safe environmental standards before being released into the air.
Ash May Be Repurposed Instead Of Landfilled
After the success of developing the use of incinerated bottom ash (IBA) for road material, NEA is exploring other uses for treated ash to extend the lifespan of Semakau Landfill.
Landfill
Limited Space For Our Growing Amount Of Waste
As there is no available land for landfill on mainland Singapore, Semakau Landfill had to be created by enclosing 350 hectares of sea space between two offshore islands. Semakau Landfill opened on 1 April 1999 and is now the only one we have.
At current waste generation rates, Semakau Landfill will run out of space by around 2035.
The Challenge: Building Landfills Is Not A Sustainable Solution
Landfills require space. We have already used up large tracts of land on mainland Singapore, in various areas such as Choa Chu Kang, Lim Chu Kang and Lorong Halus.
The Semakau Landfill had to be constructed out of sea space due to our land constraints. It is difficult for Singapore to continually build landfills to handle our growing amount of waste. We need to look for more sustainable solutions to manage our waste.
Our Efforts: Minimising The Amount Of Waste That Goes To The Landfill
The Zero Waste Masterplan set a waste reduction target for Singapore - to reduce the waste sent to Semakau Landfill each day by 30 per cent by 2030. This will help extend Semakau Landfill's lifespan beyond 2035.
Reduce Volume Of Waste By Incineration
Incinerable waste is sent to our four incineration plants, and the ashes end up at Semakau landfill.
Incineration can reduce waste volume by up to 90%!
The excess heat energy produced contributes to about 2% of our electricity supply.
Prolonged Lifespan of Semakau Landfill
We are progressively lengthening the lifespan of our only landfill through regulatory measures on key waste streams, as well as research and development into the repurposing of waste residues such as incineration ash.