WasteMET Asia

Integrated Solid Waste Management in Singapore

Ong Seng Eng Director

Waste & Resource Management Department National Environment Agency

3 Jul 2012

Outline

Singapore’s solid waste management story

Overview of current system

Key challenges & opportunities

Vision for integrated waste-to-resource management

Key aspects & enhancements

From Past to Present

Transformation of the Singapore River

Chinatown – from street hawkers to al fresco

From Past to Present

Transformation of living conditions & refuse collection

From Past to Present

From direct landfilling to an offshore ash landfill

Lorong Halus Lim Chu Kang Choa Chu Kang Semakau Landfill

From the 1st waste-to-energy plant in 1979 to 4 others today Ulu Pandan Tuas Senoko Tuas South Keppel-Seghers

1979 1986 1992 2000 2009

1,100 tons/day 1,700 tons/day 2,400 tons/day 3,000 tons/day 800 tons/day

SGD130 mil SGD200 mil SGD560 mil SGD900 mil SGD160 mil

(Started operation in 1999)

Moving Upstream to Deal with Waste

We realised that we had resolved the threat to public health but not the problem of growing waste quantities

•Pay-as-you-throw fee structure encourages waste generators to reduce waste disposal

•Recycling services are provided at industrial estates

Recycling by Businesses & Industries

National Recycling Programme

Recycling Programmes in Schools

Businesses & Industries Homes Schools

•Nationwide residential recycling programme implemented in all neighbourhoods

•Recycling bins conveniently located near every block of flats

•100% of primary & secondary schools have recycling corners

•Students volunteer as “Green Ambassadors”

•Builds awareness & promotes action from young

Waste minimisation & recycling measures were adopted

Our System Today

Resource Recovery

Material Recovery Facilities

Incinerable Waste 7,277 t/d (38%)

Ash 1,773 t/d

At-Source Segregation

Mixed Recyclables

Sorted Recyclables

Energy 2,605 MWh/d Scrap Metal 40 t/d

Non-Incinerable Waste 557 t/d (3%)

Waste Generated 18,899 t/d (100%)

Recyclable Waste 11,065 t/d (59%)

Note: Average daily figures for 2011 shown

Generation of Municipal Solid Waste Energy Recovery & Volume Reduction

Waste Minimisation

Landfill

Challenges – Waste Growth & Land Scarcity Amount of waste generated in Singapore has risen rapidly &

will continue to rise with population & economic growth

0,00

1,00

2,00

3,00

4,00

1970 1980 1990 2000 2010

Index

Year

GDP

Population

Waste Disposal

1,200 tons/day (1970) 7,800 tons/day (2011)

Semakau Landfill, our only landfill, is expected to last only until 2040-2045

Current Population: 5 mil Long-Term Expected Population: 6.5 mil

Land will become more & more scarce

At this rate of waste growth, a new waste-to-energy plant will have to be built every 7-10 yrs

A new offshore landfill will have to be built every 40-45 yrs

But there will be less & less land available

Opportunities – Environmental Sustainability

Minimisation / Prevention

Recycling

Waste-to-Energy / Volume Reduction

Landfill

• Promote efficient use of resources in production processes • Encourage 3Rs in homes & businesses

• Maximise resource recovery from waste

• Adopt better recycling methods to sustain clean environment

• Adopt innovative technology to maximise energy recovery, minimise ash & land use

• Minimise waste to landfill

↓ Pollution

↓ Energy use

↓ Land use ↓ Ash

To enhance the sustainability of our system as solutions to the waste growth challenge are being developed

↓ Carbon

Opportunities – Industry Growth

To develop the waste mgmt industry towards higher value-added growth, standards, productivity & efficiency

More productive & efficient land use

Greater employment opportunities

Greater market capitalisation

Higher value-add

Higher workforce skills & standards

Vision & Targets A sustainable, affordable & integrated waste-to-

resource management system for a clean and liveable city

70% recycling rate by 2030

3R practices are integrated with daily life & business operations

A vibrant industry manages waste & resources effectively and contributes to economic growth

Waste mgmt facilities maximise resource & energy efficiency and minimise land footprint & environmental impacts

3R Enhancements We are stepping up our efforts to promote the 3Rs

Launch of 2nd Singapore Packaging Agreement

Mandatory Reporting Requirement

Enhancements to National Recycling Programme

Businesses Commercial Premises Homes

•Commercial premises can benefit by recycling more & saving on waste disposal cost

•Large hotels & malls will be required to submit waste reduction plans & targets fr. 2014

•NEA will work with premises to formulate tailored plans

•Introducing enhancements to increase recycling accessibility & convenience

•1 recycling bin for every block of flats being rolled out in phases

•Dedicated recycling chute currently under trial

•Voluntary industry-govt platform to promote packaging waste 3Rs

•7,100 tons of packaging waste avoided & SGD14.9 mil saved

•Signatories express keen interest to continue after 1st Agreement period expires on 30 June 2012

•New targets set for 2nd SPA by 2015: •6,500 tons/yr (up fr. 3,000 tons/yr)

•315 signatories (up fr. 139)

Enhancing the Waste Mgmt Industry

We are developing the capability of our waste mgmt industry to recover resources effectively, use land productively & achieve higher standards

Roadmap for Waste Mgmt Industry Higher Productivity, Standards & Better Technology

•We are completing a study on waste mgmt industry to help establish a roadmap to achieve higher land and manpower productivity

Recycling waste plastic into new material Enhancing the effectiveness of the industry

•We are raising industry standards by introducing Singapore Workforce Skills Qualifications (WSQ) requirements

•NEA & the International Solid Waste Association (ISWA) have set up a Training, Advisory & Promotion (TAP) Centre to promote adoption of sustainable waste mgmt practices

Efficient Waste Collection

Indoor Refuse Inlet

Sealed container

Air Inlet valve

Bin centre Dust & deodorant filters

Transportation pipe

We are striving to enhance waste collection efficiency & maintain high public health standards

Pneumatic Refuse Conveyance System (PRCS) Implemented in selected developments

Adoption to be widened

Automated system of conveying refuse in pipes by suction from buildings to central collection station

No open handling of refuse – reduces threat to public health

Enhancements to Waste Collection

District Pneumatic Refuse Conveyance System (DPRCS) to be introduced in Marina Bay (new downtown district) & housing devt in Jurong

Higher waste collection efficiency

More efficient land use

Cleaner environment

Energy Recovery & Volume Reduction

Senoko Waste-to-Energy Plant

Keppel-Seghers Tuas Plant

Tuas Incineration Plant

Tuas South Incineration Plant

To maximise landfill lifespan & energy recovery, an integrated waste management facility is being planned

Semakau Landfill

Incineration ash

Preliminary concept of planned integrated waste management facility

i. Maximise energy recovery

ii. Maximise resource recovery (eg. centralised sorting facility, ash reuse)

i. Minimise environmental & land footprint

ii. Possible co-location with facilities using recovered energy

iii. Educational centre

Example of Turning Challenge into Opportunity

Commenced operation on 1 April 1999 Area : 350 hectares Capacity : 63 million m³ Cost : S$610 million Estimated lifespan: till 2045

Semakau Landfill A unique environmental solution created entirely out of sea space