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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 output of solid waste has increased significantly, from 1,260 tonnes per day in 1970 to reach the highest of 7,787 tonnes per day in 1998. In 2008, Singapore produced 2.63 million tonnes of incinerable solid waste, which is enough to fill 890 football fields to the height of an average person! This amount would be significantly higher if Singapore did not also recycle an almost equivalent amount of waste. 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 1978, the first waste-to-energy (WTE) plant was opened. Today, the solid waste disposal infrastructure consists of the four WTE plants located at Tuas, Senoko, 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, Bedok and Tanglin-Bukit Merah sectors: 6865 3140
Colex Holdings Ltd
Jurong sector: 6268 4775
SembWaste Pte Ltd
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.
Click here for tips on the disposal of bulky items, garden wastes and dead pets.
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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, Bedok and Tanglin-Bukit Merah sectors: 6865 3140
Colex Holdings Ltd
Jurong sector: 6268 4775
SembWaste Pte Ltd
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)
· 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 inceptors, water-seal latrines, sewage treatment plants, septic tanks and waste from sanitary conveniences in ships and aircrafts)
The application 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 $120.00. Applicants need to submit online the softcopies of the Vehicle Registration Card and photographs of each of the vehicles and equipment used (showing Registration Number and Labels).
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.
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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