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Waste Minimisation and Recycling
Waste minimisation and recycling are key components of Singapore’s integrated solid waste management system. In land-scarce Singapore, where waste-to-energy (WTE) plants offer the best technical solution by reducing waste volume efficiently to conserve landfill space, the 3Rs (reduce, reuse, recycle) play a crucial complementary role by preventing waste at source and cutting waste sent to the disposal sites, contributing towards resource recovery. A disposal fee is charged for waste disposed of at the WTE plants or landfill. This is based on the principle of full cost recovery and encourages waste minimisation and recycling. To maximise volume reduction, all incinerable waste that cannot be recycled is sent to the WTE plants, where heat is recovered to generate electricity and ferrous metals further recovered for recycling.
Singapore’s overall waste recycling rate and the recycling statistics by waste types can be found here:
ØWaste Statistics and Overall Recycling Rate (2012)
A comprehensive slew of recycling programmes have been introduced to promote recycling in homes, schools, industrial estates etc.
Click at the link below to find out more about these programmes.
ØRecycling Programmes
Recyclables collected are either sent to local recycling facilities or sorted, baled and sent overseas for recycling. Companies involved in recycling in Singapore can be found in the following links:
ØLocal Recycling Facilities
ØLocal Collectors / Traders
| Take-Back Programmes / Collection Centres for used items |
There are various Take-Back Programmes initiated by suppliers such as Canon, Dell, HP, Toshiba, Nokia, Motorola to collect used computers, printers, ink & toner cartridges and telecommunications products for recycling. Details of these Programmes are available at the link below:
ØTake Back Programmes
There are various collection centres where used items can be dropped off for donation, sold or exchanged. Details are available in the following link:
ØCollection Centres
| Singapore Packaging Agreement |
The Singapore Packaging Agreement is a joint initiative by the NEA, industry groups and individual companies in Singapore to reduce packaging waste at source. This 5-year programme, which came into effect on July 1, 2007, focused initially on food and beverage (F&B) products, which are predominant household items. It has since been extended to cover all products. The agreement covers the entire supply chain, including manufacturers and suppliers of packaging, product manufacturers, distributors, importers and retailers.
Click at the link below to find out more about the Singapore Packaging Agreement
ØSingapore Packaging Agreement
The 3R fund is a $8 million co-funding scheme to encourage organisations to undertake waste minimisation and recycling projects.
Click at the link below to find out more about 3R Fund
Ø3R Fund
The recycling of plastic waste, which includes plastic bags, has been relatively low. In 2011, 11% of plastic waste was recycled as compared to the overall waste recycling rate of 59%. More information about plastic bags in Singapore is available at the link below:
ØPlastic Bags
NEA is supportive of the Bring Your Own Bag campaign which encourages shoppers to use reusable bags to reduce wastage of plastic bags.
Retailers or other businesses interested in participating in the BYOBD campaign can contact the SEC at this link.
ØRecycling Week (2011)
This annual event, organised in partnership with the Public Waste Collectors, Town Councils, National Library Board, the People’s Association, schools and grassroots organisations, is a series of activities between 4 and 11 June 2011 to raise public awareness on the importance of waste minimisation and recycling.
A list of tips on the 3Rs can be found at the links below:
ØTips on 3Rs - Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Ø‘The 3Rs’ (A Guide to 3R Practices for Households)
ØGuide on Setting Up Recycling Programme in Office
ØGuidebook on Waste Minimisation for Industries
ØGuidebook on Setting Up Structured Waste Recycling Programme in Condominiums and Private Apartments
ØGuidelines for Making an Event Environmentally-Friendly
Ø3R Guidebook for Hotels
A set of sample labels for various recyclables could be used by your company for your own recycling bins at the link below:
ØRecycling Labels
A list of frequently asked questions is available at the link below:
ØFAQ
A list of useful links can be found at the links below:
ØSingapore Green Labelling Scheme
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