@ green | MAY-JUNE , 2023

A back alley in Singapore with stacks of crates and wheel bins .

It ’ s probably the way to boost Singapore ’ s recycling rates

BY KAVICKUMAR MURUGANATHAN

Compared to 2021 , 0.04 million tonnes more domestic waste was collected in 2022 . More waste was generated in 2022 compared to 2021 , six per cent higher .

According to the National Environment Agency ( NEA ), the low domestic recycling rate for 2022 was attributed to less paper , cardboard , textile , and leather exported for recycling due to higher shipping costs associated with transporting materials overseas for recycling , especially for items such as paper that have a lower market value .

Singapore aims to boost its domestic recycling rate to 30 per cent and its overall recycling rate , which includes household and industrial waste , to 70 per cent by 2030 as part of its Zero Waste Masterplan .

On top of that , Singapore intends to reduce its waste to landfill per capita per day by 20 per cent by 2026 and by 30 per cent by 2030 as part of its Green Plan . Based on current progress , Singapore must more than double its domestic recycling rates to meet its target by 2030 .

The supply chain complexities and associated cost increases around transboundary waste transportation for recycling have been issues for recyclers globally post Covid-19 . Still , it ’ s anticipated that the situation should ease in the coming years ahead . While these goals are not lofty , and we have a decent runway of approximately seven years to achieve them , more needs to be done .

One way is to boost domestic infrastructure for recycling . Investing in recycling plants will eradicate associated freight costs for exports of recyclables to regional markets . Recycling operations need large amounts of space for storage , sorting , baling , and shredding . With space shortage and a lack of manpower , operational costs rise , and economies of scale cannot be attained .

It is timely that NEA has called for a tender to study the proposed redevelopment of Sarimbun Recycling Park , which is home to several recycling facilities , to improve land use and recycling productivity in Singapore . The 30-hectare park currently handles a fifth of Singapore ’ s recycling .

INCREASE IN GLASS RECYCLING

The increase in glass recycling rates in 2022 by one per cent with the operation of Singapore ’ s first glass recycling facility is a testament to local recycling facilities boosting domestic recycling rates .

NEA also seeks to set up a plastic recovery facility that sieves through general waste to gather plastics for chemical recycling . The facility is expected to be ready by 2027 and potentially recycle about 240,000 tonnes of domestic waste annually .

It should give plastic recycling rates in Singapore a significant boost , which stand at six per cent currently . Efforts should also be made to formalise jobs within the recycling sector to alleviate human resources shortages . The business of recycling is expertise itself within the broader remit of enabling a circular economy .

Salaries and benefits should be made more attractive , and skill sets required for the sector should be promoted actively by the government , academic institutions and businesses alike . More disincentives against consumer waste that will potentially increase domestic recycling rates are to come .

From July 2023 , supermarkets will start charging for plastic bags , with a minimum fee of five cents . It should reduce disposables consumption and improve recycling rates for plastics .

Moreover , from 2025 , under the Beverage Container Return Scheme as part of a broader Extended Producer Responsibility scheme , bottled and canned drinks will cost 10 cents more , with consumers only able to obtain the deposit back if they return their used plastic bottles and cans at designated beverage return vending machines .

Producers and manufacturers of these containers can then recycle them for use again . This approach has been tried and tested in various parts of the world , especially in Europe , with resounding success and high domestic recycling rates of more than 90 per cent in many countries .

Consumers will grow accustomed to this over time , and these efforts should ensure that Singapore meets its targets set in the Green Plan and Zero Waste