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Solid Waste Management
With Singapore’s limited land area and dense population, an efficient system for the collection and disposal of waste is critically important. Singapore therefore has an advanced waste management system in place.
The National Environment Agency (NEA) has overall responsibility for the planning, development and management of solid waste disposal facilities and operations in Singapore. This includes the licensing and regulation of solid waste collection and enforcement of illegal dumping.
Individuals
Businesses
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Individuals
Over the years, Singapore's output of solid waste has increased significantly, from 1,260 tonnes per day in 1970 to 8,016 tonnes per day in 2012. In 2012, Singapore disposed of 2.93 million tonnes of solid waste, which was enough to fill 990 football fields to the height of an average person! This amount would have been significantly higher if Singapore had not also recycled about 60% of the total waste generated. For the latest statistics on solid waste in Singapore, click here.
Solid waste disposal infrastructure
In the 1960s and 1970s, Singapore relied on a number of landfills around the island to handle the solid waste generated on the island. However, in the late 1970s, space constraints made it clear that an alternative method of solid waste disposal would have to be found. Waste-to-energy incineration was found to be the most cost effective option as it can reduce waste volume by over 90%, and in 1979, the first waste-to-energy (WTE) plant was opened. Today, the solid waste disposal infrastructure consists of four WTE plants located at Tuas, Senoko and Tuas South; and an offshore sanitary landfill, Semakau Landfill.
For more information on the solid waste disposal infrastructure, please click here.
Public waste collection
Public waste collectors (PWCs) provide services to designated domestic and trade premises in the island’s nine geographical sectors. Successful bidders are awarded seven-year contracts to service a sector, including the collection of recyclable materials from households under the National Recycling Programme. There are currently four PWCs operating in Singapore, as indicated on the map below.
The customer hotlines of the PWCs for feedback and enquires are as follows:
Veolia ES Singapore Pte Ltd
Pasir Ris-Tampines and Tanglin-Bukit Merah sectors: 6865 3140
Colex Environmental Pte Ltd
Jurong sector: 6268 4775
SembWaste Pte Ltd
Bedok, Clementi, City, Hougang-Punggol and Woodlands-Yishun sectors: 1800 278 6135
800 Super Waste Management Pte Ltd
Ang Mo Kio-Toa Payoh Sector: 6366 3800
Waste collection fees for the nine sectors are available here.
As part of NEA’s overall enhancements to the solid waste management industry, a new Uniform Fee (UF) for public waste collection has been introduced in July 12 starting with the Pasir Ris-Tampines and Bedok sectors and will take effect progressively over the next two and a half years. Read more about the new fee structure here.
Click here for tips on the disposal of bulky items and garden wastes.
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Businesses
Public waste collection
Public waste collectors (PWCs) provide services to designated domestic and trade premises in the island's nine geographical sectors. Successful bidders are awarded seven-year contracts to service a sector, including the collection of recyclable materials from households under the National Recycling Programme. There are currently four PWCs operating in Singapore, as indicated on the map below.
The customer hotlines of the PWCs for feedback and enquires are as follows:
Veolia ES Singapore Pte Ltd
Pasir Ris-Tampines and Tanglin-Bukit Merah sectors: 6865 3140
Colex Environmental Pte Ltd
Jurong sector: 6268 4775
SembWaste Pte Ltd
Bedok, Clementi, City, Hougang-Punggol and Woodlands-Yishun sectors: 1800 278 6135
800 Super Waste Management Pte Ltd
Ang Mo Kio-Toa Payoh Sector: 6366 3800
Waste collection fees for the nine sectors are available here.
General waste collection
General waste collectors (GWCs) in Singapore are licensed by NEA. GWCs primarily serve commercial and industrial premises.
There are three classes of GWCs: Class A, B and C. Each class of GWC is licensed to handle a certain type of waste, as follows:
· Class A: Inorganic waste (construction debris, excavated earth, tree trunks, discarded furniture, appliances, wooden crates, pallets and other bulky items) and recyclables from residential property and other premises covered in section 10(1)(c) of the Environmental Public Health Act
· Class B: Organic waste (food and other putrefiable waste from domestic, trade and industrial premises, markets and food centres)
· Class C: Sludge and grease (sludge from water treatment plants, grease interceptors, water-seal latrines, sewage treatment plants, septic tanks and waste from sanitary conveniences in ships and aircrafts)
The application, updating and renewal of General Waste Collector (GWC) licence is available online. You will need your SingPass to use online services. The annual licence fee is $130.00 (with effect from 1 October 2010). The list of criteria for licence applications is available here.
For contacts of companies that collect or process waste for recycling, please click here.
Collection of waste without a valid GWC Licence from NEA is an offence. Click here for the Code of Practice for Licensed General Waste Collectors. A full list of GWCs can be found here. A copy of the GWC Licence can be downloaded here.
Advisories on Overfilling and Overloading
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Licensing condition requires that open-top containers (OTC) are not overfilled. An Advisory to increase awareness and improve safety is available here. -
Overloading can damage vehicle's chassis and affect its stability during steering and braking. This compromises the safety of both drivers and other road users. An Advisory to increase awareness and safety is available here.
Application for Disposal Account and iWMS for GWCs
Please contact the following should you require clarification on:
Solid waste disposal infrastructure
The solid waste disposal infrastructure consists of four waste-to-energy (WTE) plants located at Tuas, Senoko, Tuas South and an offshore sanitary landfill, Semakau Landfill. Waste collectors sending waste to the disposal facilities must be accompanied by a waybill to indicate the type and source of waste.
Further details on location, fees and waybills for these facilities can be found here.
Visits to the Semakau Landfill or one of the waste-to-energy plants can be arranged by sending us a request.
Illegal dumping
The illegal dumping of waste of any kind is a serious offence. It pollutes the environment and can be a hazard to public health. If a member of the public observes illegal dumping taking place, they can contact the NEA Call Centre at 1800-CALL-NEA (1800 2255 632) and provide the following information
· Date, time and location of dumping
· Vehicle registration number
· Your name and contact number
All calls are treated with the strictest of confidence.
Additional information on waste management can be found at the following links:
· Details about waste minimisation and recycling
· Toxic and biohazardous waste collection and disposal (licensing and arranging for disposal)
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