Public Consultation on Waste to Resource Management

Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources

Consultation Period: 31 May 2014 - 30 Jun 2014

Status: Closed

Detailed Description

Singapore’s waste management system is motivated by two guiding principles: 

• maintaining high levels of public health; and 

• optimising resource utilisation in the waste disposal system. In short, our waste collection, disposal and treatment methods must be safe for the public and we want to maximise the value recovered from waste.

In Singapore, waste that is not recycled or reused is classified either as incinerable or non-incinerable waste. Incinerable waste is sent to the incineration plant, where the volume is reduced by about 90%. This process generates energy which is fed into the national grid and also ash which is sent to the Semakau landfill. As for non-incinerable waste, it goes straight to the landfill after it is appropriately treated. 

Singaporeans have been generating more waste over the years.  Last year, we generated 7.85 million tonnes of waste, or more than 21,500 tonnes a day.  This is enough to fill about 14,950 swimming pools every year. Of this, 61% was recycled and the rest incinerated and landfilled. This is not sustainable as we do not have sufficient space to keep building incineration plants or landfills.