Over 2,000 tonnes of ash and non-incinerable waste are sent to Singapore’s only landfill daily, threatening to fill it by 2035.
SINGAPORE: Semakau, Singapore’s only landfill, is now more than half full, raising alarms among environmental experts who stress the urgent need to reduce waste production. The sprawling 350-hectare site, equivalent to over 650 football fields and capable of holding 11,200 Olympic-sized swimming pools of waste, is projected to reach full capacity by 2035.
Every day, the rubbish generated by nearly six million residents is incinerated, producing over 2,000 tonnes of ash and non-incinerable waste that is sent to Semakau.
“This is a serious issue driven largely by rising consumer and household waste,” said Associate Professor Johan Sulaeman, director of the Sustainable and Green Finance Institute at the National University of Singapore (NUS).
Exploring Solutions: Repurposing Ash
To combat the growing waste problem, Assoc Prof Sulaeman suggests two approaches: repurposing ash from incineration and encouraging significant reductions in waste.
Studies conducted by the National Environment Agency (NEA), in collaboration with NUS and Nanyang Technological University, are exploring how incineration ash could be converted into construction materials or used for land reclamation.
However, repurposing ash presents challenges, particularly due to potential contamination during the incineration process. “This may require additional processing to eliminate harmful substances before it can be safely repurposed,” said Assoc Prof Sulaeman.
While he acknowledged the high costs of implementing such technologies, he emphasized the importance of mitigating risks to human and environmental health.
The Role of Waste Reduction
Despite the potential of ash repurposing, experts agree that the cornerstone of sustainable waste management remains the “reduce, reuse, recycle” strategy.
Assoc Prof Sulaeman highlighted the impact of reducing single-use plastics and utensils, particularly in food courts and delivery services. Additionally, he called for better recycling systems to make the process more convenient and effective for households.
Although Singapore has launched several recycling campaigns, challenges persist, including contamination of recyclable materials and inefficiencies in the recycling process. Last year, Singapore generated 7.4 million tonnes of waste, but only about half was recycled.
A Holistic Approach to Waste Management
Non-governmental organization Zero Waste SG also advocates for businesses to play a larger role in waste reduction. Its executive director, Tan Hui Leng, emphasized the importance of designing products with circularity in mind.
“A holistic approach starts with reducing what we create in the first place,” she said. This includes designing durable items that can be repaired or replaced modularly to prevent entire products from being discarded unnecessarily.
With Semakau’s limited capacity and the rising volume of waste, experts stress the urgency of collective action to address Singapore’s waste management challenges. Solutions such as repurposing ash, reducing reliance on single-use items, and enhancing recycling systems could play a pivotal role in extending the landfill’s lifespan and fostering sustainable practices across the nation.
