First issue`s PDF - National Environment Agency

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ISSUE ONE
A B I - A N N UA L N E A P U B L I C AT I O N
Professional Sharing Series
Waste as a Resource:
Potentials and Limits
Professor Rainer Stegmann reveals the
hidden truths of waste as a resource
THE CHANGE TO EURO 5
Technological evolutions improve health
An Exclusive Interview: Mr Lee Ek Tieng
THE SINGAPORE
RIVER STORY
A dialogue session with one of the key minds
behind the Singapore River clean-up
FOREWORD
BY CEO
T
he National Environment Agency (NEA) has come a long
way since it was formed on 1 July 2002. Working together
with the community, other public sector agencies and private
corporations, we have spearheaded numerous environmental
initiatives and programmes over the years to protect the
environment and instil a strong sense of environmental ownership. These
programmes are in keeping with NEA’s mission to safeguard, nurture and cherish
our environment.
As Singapore’s national environmental agency, NEA’s responsibilities include
protecting the country’s environment from pollution, maintaining a high level
of public health and providing timely meteorological information — all of which
ensure that we continue to enjoy clean air, land and waters.
The ENVISION magazine showcases vital aspects of our environmental
practices that are often taken for granted. We hope that readers will gain a
better understanding of NEA’s efforts to protect the environment as well as its
future directions.
Published by
In this inaugural issue, I hope every reader will discover how Singapore deals with
its pollution and waste challenges, including the cleaning up of the Singapore
River. The attempts set the tone for future efforts to transform Singapore into a
city in a garden.
On behalf of NEA, I wish you an enjoyable and informative read.
Our Environment — Safeguard, Nurture and Cherish.
National Environment Agency
40 Scotts Road
Environment Building #19-00
Singapore 228231
Tel: 1800-2255 632
Fax: 62352611
This inaugural magazine is printed on environmentally friendly paper.
Andrew Tan
Chief Executive Officer
National Environment Agency
Note from the
Editorial Team
NEA Contributors
With the current global population of seven billion people, a profound shift from
Alvin Saw
rural sectors and peri-urban environments (the areas surrounding urban centres)
Chris Tobias
to cities is underway. According to the Earth Policy Institute, by as early as
Tan Seng Huat
2015, 315 million people will inhabit the world’s top 19 megacities. This massive
Tay Lee San
transition to the urban context is tipped to increase as the UN projects world
population will grow from eight to nine billion by 2050. Already, this urbanisation
trend sees stresses appearing in a number of areas: from land management and
resource use to urban planning and environmental quality with other implications
relating to mobility, health and economic development.
How can such a historically rapid change be carefully managed to ensure positive
outcomes for people, their environment and economic activity? In this context, one
case study worth noting is Singapore. This island city-state has transformed from
Koh Min Ee
Teoh Soon Kay
Chen Yinghuan
Ron Wong Chak Huat
Ivan Yap
Heng Zeng Rong
Gwen Tan
Sharon Ong
its swamp-like humble beginnings in the 1960s with a population of two million to
Nick Tan
a world-class city with a high quality of life — even with its expansive population
Koh Su Ching
growth to 5.08 million as of June 2010. A high standard of environmental
Tan Cheng Seng
management has become an integral part of the nation’s survival imperative.
Ong Eng Kian
In this issue, through the lenses of pollution and waste management, a wide
cross-section of the nation’s history will be explored to reveal the difficult
lessons learnt from a wide range of environmental infrastructure projects.
We will also hear from civil service veteran Lee Ek Tieng, one of the key
minds responsible for cleaning up the heavily polluted Singapore River, and
international waste management expert Professor Rainer Stegmann, who charts
the latest technologies cities can employ to cut waste, recover resources, and
offer new revenue streams for businesses.
A move to a more urbanised future need not result in slums with open sewers
and rubbish heaps. Urban planners, engineers and civil servants throughout
the world can glean some valuable insights from the Singapore case study. It
demonstrates that even under challenging circumstances, with sound planning,
careful organisation and consistent execution, profound results are possible.
Please e-mail any feedback or comments to [email protected].
Liew Wen Hwee
Special thanks to Mr Lee Ek Tieng,
Professor Rainer Stegmann (Director
for Residues and Resource Reclamation
Ce n t re, N a n ya n g Te c h n o l o g i c a l
University), Professor Rajasekhar
Balasubramanian (Department of
Civil and Environmental Engineering,
National University of Singapore) and
Ria Tan for the use of her photos.
Content of articles provided by the
following NEA departments: Corporate
Communications Department,
Environment Technology Office,
Industry Development and Promotion
Office, Policy Department, Pollution
Control Department, Singapore
Environment Institute and Waste &
Resource Management Department.
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
BIG
RUBBISH
ISSUES
Contents
Keeping Singapore’s waste management
challenge in check
THE Sustainable WAY
ENVIRONMENTAL
MANAGEMENT
RESEARCH AND
TECHNOLOGY
07 Big Rubbish Issues
11 The Reason We Breathe Easy
14 Singapore River Clean-Up: Against The Odds
18
22
30
Recovering Energy From Waste
Semakau Island: A Successful Marine Landfill And Vibrant Ecosystem
Towards Zero Waste
INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT 34 Emerging Opportunities, Innovative Solutions
37
39
KNOWLEDGE &
CAPACITY BUILDING
07
Signing Off To Less Packaging
3R Packaging Awards 2011
42 Far From Wasted
46 A Pioneer Speaks
50 ENV Happenings
54 The Change To Euro 5
THE BRIEF
Sustainable waste management has played a vital
role over the years in safeguarding the public health
of Singapore’s population. It has enabled the country
to stay environmentally sound in relative terms in its
ascension as a regional economic powerhouse.
Today, the disposal of rubbish represents a crucial
but often overlooked aspect of maintaining the
environmental well-being of Singapore with its
population of over five million compacted into a land
area of 710.3 square kilometres.
Since independence in 1965, Singapore has had to face
the daunting reality of being a land-scarce nation in a hot
and humid equatorial region. These factors, together with
the country’s rapid urbanisation and industrialisation,
culminated in an aggressive response by the government
to its waste management issues.
The country generates over 17,800 tonnes of waste
(domestic and non-domestic) in one day. Widely
regarded around the globe as an ideal Garden City,
it is living proof of a country that has mastered the
balancing act of bolstering economic progress with
environmental sustainability. Achieving this involved
meticulous planning and deft execution of proper
waste treatment methods with an emphasis on
cost-effective waste reduction, as well as the use of
discarded materials and recycling.
Junkyard at Lorong Halus
Singapore generates
m o r e t h a n 1 7, 8 0 0
tonnes of waste every
day. That translates to
over 6.5 million tonnes
in a year. How does an
island-nation with a
land area of 710 square
kilometres pull off the
feat of keeping itself
clean and green? We
give you the lowdown
on ever y thing you
need to know about
waste management in
Singapore.
08
WASTE MANAGEMENT 101
Waste is derived from four types
of premises around Singapore:
• Domestic
• Trade
• Industrial
• Commercial
the
4
facets
Of solid waste management
recycling
The present recycling rate in Singapore stands at 58 per cent, a
significant improvement from its 40 per cent rating at the dawn of the
21st century. This increase can be attributed to major breakthroughs
in areas such as used slag, construction and demolition waste, and
ferrous metal where over 90 per cent is recycled. There are ongoing
plans to shape up the country’s supporting infrastructure and
coordination practices to address less efficient waste segments such
as plastics, food waste, horticultural waste, wood and paper.
waste minimisation
waste-to-energy conversion
NEA views waste minimisation as one of its core approaches to
waste management (see Towards Zero Waste). Focusing on reducing
waste at source would lead to reducing the use of new resources.
NEA is working to utilise waste as a resource to help Singapore
become more energy self-sufficient (see Recovering Energy From
Waste). Electricity is generated through the incineration of waste,
which produces sufficient steam to turn turbines. The process also
reduces original waste matter volume by 90 per cent.
Instead of enforcing strict policies to keep waste production in
check, NEA encourages corporations to take ownership of their
environmental footprint through the practice of product stewardship.
Thus, stakeholders of the supply chain are responsible for the
afterlife management of their products and packaging. This applies
to manufacturers, distributors, retailers, consumers, waste collectors
and recycling companies.
That motivation has resulted in an official charter known as the
Singapore Packaging Agreement (see Signing Off To Less Packaging).
• Formation of the Waste Management and Recycling Association
of Singapore (WMRAS)
• S$20-million Innovation for Environmental Sustainability (IES) Fund
This programme was introduced in 2001 to raise awareness and
encourage habitual recycling of domestic waste like paper, plastic,
used clothing and cans.
The process involves the distribution of recycling bags to homes by
private contractors which are retrieved fortnightly. Public recycling
bins, numbering over 6,000, have also been placed at various locations
islandwide. Today, recycling rates are up by 18 per cent as a result.
• Tuas Incineration Plant
• Tuas South Incineration Plant
• Keppel Seghers Tuas Waste-to-Energy Plant
• Senoko Waste-to-Energy Plant
DIRECT COLLECTION
Several initiatives have been set in motion to progressively achieve
these goals:
National Recycling Programme (NRP)
There are four operational waste-to-energy plants in Singapore:
Refuse is transported to the incineration plants through the
three means stated below. Burnt ash is then taken to the Tuas
Marine Transfer Station where it is loaded onto barges to be
transported to Semakau Landfill.
Singapore is on track to achieve its 65 per cent recycling milestone by
2020 set by the Sustainable Singapore Blueprint. Its goal is to scale
that figure to 70 per cent by 2030.
• Extensive educational drives (e.g. Annual Recycling Week and
National Recycling Programme)
09
landfill solution
In 1999, Semakau Landfill was officially
commissioned eight kilometres off the
southern coast of Singapore. The offshore
landfill project is the first of its kind in
the world. It receives 1,500 tonnes of
incineration ash and 500 tonnes of nonincinerable waste daily.
With a capacity of 63 million cubic metres,
Semakau Landfill will be able to serve the
country’s waste disposal needs until 2040,
creating new land area in the process.
In Singapore, landed residential premises are issued a 120-litre bulk
bin each for the purpose of refuse collection. Shophouses and trade
premises are served by refuse bins of capacity ranging from 120-litre
to 1,100-litre depending on the amount of refuse output from the
premises. Refuse is collected daily from the kerb side in front of
each premises. These refuse bins are emptied into a collection truck
manned by one driver and two assistants with collection based on
fixed collection routes.
PNEUMATIC REFUSE CONVEYANCE SYSTEM (PRCS)
Here an automated system transports refuse from buildings by
air suction to a central collection station through pipes. The refuse
collected in sealed containers are then hauled away for disposal. It is
more hygienic with no open handling and storage of refuse.
THE LEGISLATION OF WASTE
Singapore’s Environmental Public Health Act drives the core of
NEA’s policies to ensure the country’s natural environment remains
sustainable.
Licensing of general waste collectors (GWCs) was introduced in 1989,
to require the use of proper vehicles and equipment for collecting
and transporting waste from the collection points to the disposal
facility. From its inception in 1989, the licences have come under
three classes:
Class A
Inorganic waste (e.g. construction debris, tree trunks, discarded
furniture, appliances and other bulky items including recyclables
that have been deposited in Central Recycling Depositories)
Class B
Organic waste (e.g. food and putrefiable waste from domestic,
trade and industrial premises and from markets and food centres)
Class C
Sludge from water treatment plants, grease from grease interceptors,
waste from mobile toilets and waste from sanitary conveniences in
ships and aircraft
INDIRECT COLLECTION
During Singapore’s early years as a developing nation, the government
introduced an individual refuse chute system to all high rise residential
buildings. All homes had their own chute disposal points which fed
directly to a common bin chamber at ground level.
Since 1989, all new HDB flats have been fitted with an alternative
centralised refuse chute system. It consists of common chutes placed
at lift lobbies on each floor. These chutes converge to a single refuse
room located on the first storey where the waste is collected from a
fixed dust-screw system by trucks.
A waste collection truck operated by private contractors
10
11
THE FUTURE OF SOLID WASTE
MANAGEMENT IN SINGAPORE
Looking ahead, NEA has identified a few core areas of management
which will help Singapore stay on track to maintain and further
improve the effectiveness of its present practices:
EFFICIENT WASTE COLLECTION AND DISPOSAL SYSTEM
Strive for higher standards of waste removal with the objective
of protecting public health and hygiene, preventing pollution and
minimising odour nuisance.
1
NEXT-GENERATION TECHNOLOGIES
Invest in current technologies to help Singapore cope with
larger volumes of non-recyclable waste as the population and
economy grows. Potential new technologies for evaluation include
improvements to current waste-to-energy conversion systems, as
well as integration with other waste management technologies (e.g.
Mechanical Biological Treatment, Refuse-Derived Fuel, Pyrolysis/
Gasification and Incineration Bottom Ash Recycling).
WASTE REDUCTION / RESOURCE RECOVERY
Waste minimisation and recycling efforts that make economic
and environmental sense should be considered, keeping in mind
the imperatives of conserving precious landfill space, minimising
pollution and maximising resource recovery.
2
Monitoring Singapore’s air quality is an Important vocation
The Reason We
Breathe Easy
PUBLIC EDUCATION
Leverage on information technology tools such as social media to
increase environmental awareness.
QUALITY OF RECYCLING SERVICES
Improve the quality of recycling services provided to households
and public places in terms of recycling bin accessibility, design,
maintenance and collection frequency.
Although Singapore is predominantly a city-state, its air
quality ratings rank among the best in the region and
compare favourably with major cities around the world.
The country’s air quality is measured in terms of the
Pollutant Standards Index (PSI), based on guidelines set
by the United States Environmental Protection Agency
(USEPA). It has been in the “Good” range for at least 85
per cent of the time each year, notwithstanding external
interferences such as the haze.
CREATING EASE THROUGH TECHNOLOGY
Use more efficient technologies to provide incentives for households
to reduce, reuse and recycle waste and disincentives to dispose
waste based on economic and environmental considerations (e.g.
imposing higher fees for waste disposal).
3
1. & 2. Waste collection truck operated by private contractors
3. Senoko Waste-to-Energy Plant
Key to maintaining this high standard is Singapore’s
islandwide Telemetric Air Quality Monitoring and
Management System (TAQMMS), which provides an
efficient means for monitoring and assessing ambient
air quality. The information collected is used to formulate
and review pollution control programmes to keep
our air within the ‘Good’ PSI benchmark. TAQMMS
was first installed by the government in 1994 to
continuously monitor ambient air quality and track major
concentrations of air pollutants [e.g. sulphur dioxide,
nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, ozone and respirable
suspended particles (PM 10 and PM 2.5)].
TAQMMS comprises 11 remote air quality monitoring
stations positioned at specific locations across
Singapore. Air quality data from these stations are
transmitted to a Central Control Station (CCS) via dial-up
telephone lines where they are verified, analysed and
disseminated to the relevant parties within NEA as well
as reported daily to the public.
12
Woodlands
11
Closely
Monitored
Air
Pollutants
10
Yishun
5
6
Choa Chu Kang
7
Bukit Panjang
Bukit Batok
Jurong West
9
Ang Mo Kio
Pasir Ris
2
Serangoon
Bishan
Toa Payoh
8
Clementi
3
Measurements
μ (micro) = 10-6 (one millionth)
μm = micrometre
μg/m3 = micrograms per cubic metre
Tampines
4
Bedok
TAQMMS will continue to play a pivotal
role in helping NEA ensure that existing
air quality standards are maintained at
a “Good” PSI level. It is one of the main
reasons that we breathe easy day to day.
Simei
1
Bukit Merah
Ambient Stations
1. Tanjong Katong Girls’ School
2. Bishan ITE
3. environment building
4. Temasek Polytechnic
5. Pei Hwa Secondary School
6. stagmont camp
7. Nanyang technological university
8. pandan reservoir
9. siglap secondary school
10. Yishun ite
11. kranji reservoir
The Air
Sustenance
Cycle
The following diagram
demonstrates how TAQMMS
e n h a n ce s S i n g a p o re ’s
capabilities in responding to
air quality issues:
The process begins
when ambient air
quality is measured at 11
locations in Singapore.
no
2
Pollutant
Sulphur Dioxide
Pollutant
Nitrogen Dioxide
description
A n u n d e s i r a b l e by- p ro d u c t f ro m t h e
combustion of sulphur-containing fuels and,
to a lesser extent, from petroleum refining
processes.
description
Nitric oxide accounts for most of the nitrogen
oxides emitted by man-made sources. It goes
on to be oxidised in the atmosphere to form
nitrogen dioxide.
Prolonged exposure to high concentrations
of sulphur dioxide increases the risk of
contracting respiratory diseases.
High levels of nitrogen dioxide increase the
risk of respiratory infection and impair lung
functions in asthmatics.
USEPA National Ambient
Air Quality Standards
80 µg/m³ (Annual Mean)*
365 µg/m³ (24-hour Mean)*
196 µg/m³ (1-hour Mean)
100 µg/m³ (Annual Mean)*
Lowlevel
Ozone
PM 10
Co
1
Pollutant
Respirable Suspended
Particles (PM 10/PM 2.5)
Air quality
readings are
verified and
analysed.
2
If the air is deemed to have
d e t r i m e n t a l e f fe c t s o n
public health, the media will
be alerted to advise people
on the precautionary steps
to take. N E A will also
provide updates to assure
the public that the situation
is being monitored.
2
PM 2.5
taqMms
Media
so
13
nea
3 Compromised air quality standards are studied to
determine any potential risks posed to the public.
Where possible, the source of pollution is identified,
followed by a swift implementation of measures to
address the problem. NEA then uses TAQMMS to
monitor whether the measures put in place have
been effective.
ccs
description
PM 10 refers to particulate matter of 10 µm
(1/5 the diameter of a human hair strand)
and below. PM 2.5, on the other hand, refers
to very fine particulate matter, equivalent
and less than 2.5 µm (1/20 the diameter of a
human hair strand).
These particles are able to penetrate deep
into the respiratory tract. When present in
high amounts, they can cause breathing
difficulties as well as aggravate existing
respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.
Pollutant
Low-level Ozone
Pollutant
Carbon Monoxide
description
Low-level ozone may be produced when
reactive nitrogen oxides and volatile organic
compounds combine chemically through
actinism (a chemical reaction caused by the
absorption of light).
description
Ca r b o n m o n ox id e is a co l o u r l e ss a n d
o d o u r l e s s g a s p ro d u ce d by ve h i c u l a r
emissions, cigarette smoke and incomplete
combustion of fuels.
Ozone can severely irritate eyes, mucous
membranes and the respiratory system in
human beings.
150 µg/m³ - PM 10 (24-hour Mean)*
15 µg/m³ - PM 2.5 (Annual Mean)*
35 µg/m³ - PM 2.5 (24-hour Mean)*
*Annual and 24-hour standards were revoked in June 2010
Since carbon monoxide has a higher affinity
than oxygen for haemoglobin in the blood,
it deprives body tissues of oxygen when
inhaled. Exposure to moderate levels of
carbon monoxide may cause nausea and
impair vigilance. In excessive doses, it can
cause death through asphyxiation (choking
due to a lack of oxygen).
10 mg/m³ (8-hour Mean)
40 mg/m³ (1-hour Mean)
14
SINGAPORE RIVER
CLEAN-UP:
AGAINST THE ODDS
REVIVING THE SINGAPORE RIVER
THE BRIEF
The Singapore River is one of the country’s most
prominent tourist attractions nestled in the heart of
the Central Business District. Its present state is a
far cry from what it was in the 1970s when it was
deemed an irreversible environmental disaster by
a United Nations expert. Learn how the river was
transformed from a dump into an icon.
F
rom the time Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles
came ashore in 1819 to Singapore’s post1965 independence from Malaysia, the
Singapore River has been the hallmark
of economic prosperity and nationhood
for a country succeeding against all odds.
Today, at the heart of the Central Business District, the
river is a depiction of how Singapore’s past, present and
future are inextricably intertwined.
After years of being a focal point for transportation and
commerce, it became a victim of its own success. Once
teeming with a variety of underwater life, pollutants
caused by human activity turned the river into a flowing
wasteland devoid of oxygen, resulting in the extinction
of many aquatic creatures by the 1970s.
Being a national icon, something had to be done to
reverse its sordid state which unchecked would have
impeded Singapore’s progress. The solution involved
a culmination of street-smart engineering and tactful
human relations spanning across a decade.
While people were the cause of its pollution, it was also
people who ultimately brought the river back to health.
This is the story of the most extensive clean-up effort
ever undertaken in the history of Singapore.
Tugboats docked along the riverbank, circa 1980s
Trading-related activities along the Singapore River, circa 1970s
15
16
•
•
•
•
•
•
Ministry of the Environment
Ministry of National Development
Ministry of Trade and Industry
Ministry of Communications and Information
Ministry of Law
Housing and Development Board
•
•
•
•
•
•
Urban Redevelopment Authority
Jurong Town Corporation
Primary Production Department
Port of Singapore Authority
Public Works Department
Parks and Recreation Department
1
Date
Description
March 1982
The Primary Production
Department phased out 610
pig farms and 500 duck farms.
September 1983
Lighterage activities involving
around 800 lighters from the
Singapore River were shifted
to Pasir Panjang, where the
Port of Singapore Authority
provided mooring and
upgraded facilities.
January 1984
Vegetable wholesalers
operating in Upper Circular
Road were relocated to the
Pasir Panjang Vegetable
Wholesale Market built by
HDB.
2
January 1985
Only six boat builders out of
66 remained at the Geylang
River. They agreed to adopt
pollution control measures to
minimise pollution.
3
The charcoal trade along
December 1986
Geylang River was relocated
to Lorong Halus.
17
18
RESEARCH & TECHNOLOGY
The Modern WTE Industry
and Technologies
WTE technologies take advantage of the high carbon
content of waste collected in cities and convert it into
usable energy, such as electricity and heat. In the United
States in 2009, of the 3814.3 billion kWh electricity
generated, only 75.8 billion kWh was derived from solid
waste. In 2008, amongst the 27 member countries of the
European Union, despite having 432 WTE plants generating
electricity and heat from MSW, only 68.9 million tonnes of
solid waste was treated in these WTE plants.
Currently, incineration and landfill gas recovery (not
applicable to Semakau Landfill as it is filled with nonorganic waste) dominate the WTE industry, though other
technologies are emerging.
Pike Research, a US-based market research and consulting
firm in the clean technology market, estimates that there
are more than 900 thermal WTE plants in operation
around the world. These plants treat an estimated 0.2
billion tonnes of MSW with an output of approximately 130
terawatt hours (TWh) of electricity.
Tuas South Incineration Plant
Recovering energy
from
waste
THE BRIEF
For some countries, the idea of converting waste into usable electricity involves
the simple act of burning refuse to generate enough steam to turn a turbine. Other
technologies like plasma-arc gasification and anaerobic digestion have been adopted in
developed regions, especially in Japan and Europe. We examine the entire spectrum of
waste-to-energy (WTE) conversion technologies and their potential applications.
As countries worldwide grapple with waste management issues, one
of the most commonly utilised methods of reducing refuse levels has
been incineration. Cost-effective and highly reliable, incineration shrinks
waste volume by over 90 per cent and in some countries, can be used to
generate electricity.
The incineration industry dates back more than 130 years, with the first
incineration plants designed and built in 1874 in Nottingham, Britain, by
Manlove, Alliott & Co. Ltd. Patented by Albert Fryer, the plants burnt mixed
waste but did not have the ability to generate electricity. As technology
advanced, the plants now possess the ability to produce steam for
electrical production.
From 1 billion tonnes in 2011, global Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) is
estimated to increase by 49.2 per cent to reach 1.5 billion tonnes in
2025, and 305.6 per cent or more than 3 billion tonnes in 2050. A key
consideration in Singapore’s waste management strategy is its limited
land area. Since the 1970s, waste volume reduction has been achieved
largely through WTE incineration to address the lack of landfill
space. The first WTE Plant, Ulu Pandan Incineration Plant, was
commissioned in 1979.
During the late 1990s, however, Singapore introduced
upstream measures like waste minimisation and recycling (i.e.
the 3Rs — Reduce, Reuse, Recycle), which have become an
integral part of its waste management strategy together with
WTE incineration.
In 2010, 6.517 million tonnes of waste was generated in
Singapore, of which 58 per cent of waste was recycled
while 40 per cent was incinerated and 2 per cent landfilled.
WTE incineration is an important aspect in the management
of Singapore’s solid waste. As the population increases in
tandem with a booming economy, greater quantities of waste
will be generated, calling for improved means to boost our
incineration capacity.
Incineration is the leading mass burn WTE technology and
the dominant engineering system in the market. According
to the European Waste Incineration Directive, incineration
plants must be designed to ensure that the flue gases
reach a temperature of at least 850°C for two seconds
in order to ensure proper breakdown of toxic organic
substances.
Thermal WTE systems will continue to lead the market with
a 93.2 per cent share of total WTE revenues over the next
six years, compared to 6.8 per cent for biological systems.
However, advanced thermal treatment technologies such
as plasma-arc gasification, pyrolysis and the usage of
Refuse-Derived Fuel (RDF) in incinerators are emerging in
the market.
Biological technologies like Mechanical Biological
Treatment (MBT) and the fermentation of waste also
offer an attractive alternative to thermal WTE methods.
Out of the total pollution contributed by industrial subsectors, nearly 40 per cent of the total organic pollution
is contributed by the food products industry alone.
The possible feedstocks for biological technologies are
industrial wastewater from food products and agro-based
industries, as well as poultry waste.
19
Alternative WTE Conversion Techniques
Category | Thermal
Gasification
Gasification technologies convert organic waste materials into a
gaseous, combustible mixture containing mainly carbon monoxide
(CO) and hydrogen (H 2) called syngas. The waste material is heated
at high temperatures (usually more than 700°C) without combustion,
with a controlled amount of oxygen and/or steam. The resulting
syngas can be combusted for steam production in boilers for
subsequent electricity generation.
Pyrolysis
Pyrolysis is a form of thermal degradation that chemically decomposes
organic materials into constituent molecules by heat in the absence of
oxygen. A mixture of pyrolytic oil and wax is produced. The products
can be reformed into engine fuels or combusted to produce steam for
electricity generation.
Category | Biochemical (Non-thermal)
Mechanical Biological Treatment (MBT)
MBT systems combine a sorting facility with a form of biological
treatment such as biodrying or anaerobic digestion. The mechanical
sorting stage enables the recovery of materials in the mixed waste
before biodrying (non-WTE method meant to reduce overall weight) or
anaerobic digestion takes place.
Anaerobic digestion facilitates the stabilisation of the biodegradable
component. Energy production occurs through the breakdown of
biomass in the absence of oxygen. In the process, microorganisms
help to churn a series of metabolic interactions. The process produces
biogas, of which 50 to 75 per cent is usable in the form of methane.
Other by-products include carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide.
Fermentation
Fermentation is the breakdown of organic substrates in the form
of sugar into an acid or alcohol. Like pyrolysis, it has been used
commercially only with specific waste streams such as biomass,
converting them into ethanol or hydrogen.
Many countries, especially Japan and those in Europe, have been leading
the enhancement of these technologies for many years, presenting vast
learning opportunities for developing nations. Pike Research predicts
that worldwide revenues from WTE systems will enter a period of strong
growth by 2012, more than tripling in size from US$3.7 billion in 2010 to
nearly US$13.6 billion by 2016.
Refuse-Derived Fuel or RDF is processed from raw waste to improve the calorific value of waste. RDF is a feedstock that can be burnt
by an incinerator designed to receive it, which in turn produces power more efficiently than conventional solid waste.
20
WTE Incineration Plants
The typical incineration plant for MSW is the moving grate incinerator. A mechanical
crane is usually used to grab and lift the waste, placing it at one end of the grate.
The moving grate then transports the waste through the combustion chamber,
where the waste is incinerated at high temperatures to produce heat. Its volume is
reduced by over 90 per cent, leaving behind a solid ash.
Another type, the rotary-kiln incinerator, is a heat-resisting refractory-lined
cylindrical vessel that is inclined slightly and rotated slowly about its axis. The solid
waste is fed into the upper end of the cylinder and moves gradually downwards
with the rotating action of the kiln. This rotating motion also causes a certain
amount of stirring and mixing. Hot gases are passed along the kiln and the solid
waste is converted into gases, through volatilisation, destructive distillation and
partial combustion reactions in the kiln.
In a fluidised bed incinerator, solid waste is combusted in a mixture of sand
particles suspended by a continuous flow of air. During operation, a strong airflow
is forced through a sandbed, allowing the sand particles to separate. The turbulent
airflow causes mixing and churning to occur, creating a fluidised bed. The solid
waste and any auxiliary fuel are then introduced. The sand with the pre-treated
waste and/or fuel is kept suspended on pumped air currents and takes on a fluidlike character. The bed is thereby violently mixed and agitated, keeping small inert
particles and air in a fluid-like state. This allows all of the mass of waste, fuel and
sand to be fully circulated through the furnace.
Senoko Waste-to-Energy Plant
Mass Burn Incineration: How the Process Works in Tuas South Incineration Plant
4
3
2
1 Reception hall
3 Incinerator
2 Refuse bunker
4 Catalytic fabric filter systems
1
Waste is then fed by a grab crane to the incinerator and combusted
at temperatures of about 1,000°C. Silicon carbide refractory
materials line the walls of the incinerator to protect it against
extreme heat and corrosion.
During the incineration process, with advanced combustion control
and automation systems, optimum combustion rates are achieved.
The process of waste-feeding till the completion of combustion takes
approximately five hours. When it is finished, solid waste matter is
reduced to about 10 per cent of its original volume.
Fine particulate matter in the flue gas generated during incineration
is removed by a two-zone electrostatic precipitator. Other pollutants
are abated at the Flue Gas Treatment Plant before clean flue gas
leaves the incineration plant through a 150-metre-tall chimney.
Ash is transported on vibratory conveyors to a collection pit. There,
electro-magnetic separators remove solid ferrous matter to be
recycled as scrap metal.
WTE Incineration
Plants in Singapore
The Ulu Pandan Incineration Plant (UPIP), Singapore’s first WTE plant
and the second in Asia after Japan’s, was commissioned in 1979. Its
turbines could produce 16 MW of electricity, which was quite significant
compared to the electricity consumption during that period. In 2009,
UPIP was decommissioned and had its capacity replaced by the Keppel
Seghers Tuas Waste-to-Energy Plant, the first private incineration
project under the Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) initiative. In the
same year, Senoko Incineration Plant was also divested to the private
sector and renamed the Senoko Waste-to-Energy Plant.
Currently, all four operational WTE incineration facilities have a
combined generator-turbines unit capacity of 168 MW. In 2010, 1.17
million MWh of electricity was generated (approximately 2 per cent of
Singapore’s electricity consumption). The power produced was used
to support plant operations, with the excess sold to the electricity grid.
Facility
Year
Commissioned
Waste
Capacity
(daily)
Power
Generated
Incineration involves the combustion, or controlled
burning, of waste material. The basic reaction is the
liberation of heat when carbon is converted into carbon
dioxide — C + O2 → CO2. Incineration of waste materials
also produces flue gas and ash.
Ulu Pandan Incineration
Plant (closed in 2009)
1979
1,100
tonnes
16 MW
Tuas
Incineration Plant
1986
1,700
tonnes
30 MW
In Singapore, incinerable waste is first delivered to a WTE
plant by licensed collection vehicles. The vehicles are
weighed on a weighbridge before entering a reception
hall where they discharge their loads into large refuse
bunkers. Upon leaving, the vehicles are weighed again
to determine the payload they have delivered.
Senoko
Waste-to-Energy Plant
1992
2,100
tonnes
36 MW
Tuas South
Incineration Plant
2000
3,000
tonnes
80 MW
Keppel Seghers Tuas
Waste-to-Energy Plant
2009
800
tonnes
22 MW
Air in the refuse bunker is kept below atmospheric
pressure to prevent odours from escaping into the
surrounding environment. High-capacit y rotar y
crushers reduce the size of bulk solid waste to improve
burning efficiency.
21
Keppel Seghers Tuas Waste-to-Energy Plant
With the twin benefits of reducing waste matter and electricity
generation, WTE incineration is one of the important strategies
of Singapore’s ongoing solid waste management plans. The
government will continue to explore alternative WTE technologies
which are more cost-effective, and able to maximise resource and
energy recovery.
The sustainable management of Singapore’s waste issues is not
only about the easiest and most economical method. It also involves
screening the many options available that are able to convert waste
into a valuable resource.
Learn more about present WTE technologies and what is in store for
the future in Far From Wasted, an interview with Professor Rainer
Stegmann.
22
THE BRIEF
Did you know that Singapore dumps
most of its rubbish eight kilometres
offshore? It will remain that way until
2045. We tell you how it is possible for
thriving marine ecosystems to co-exist
with a marine-based landfill. And what’s
more, no foul-smelling pollution.
A Successful Marine
Landfill and
Vibrant Ecosystem
A timely eco-solution off Singapore’s southern coast
Amount of waste disposed in Singapore since the 1970s
(2001)
7,700
(2010)
7,600
(2008)
7,200
(2009)
7,200
Tonnes per day
5,700
2,600
1,200
1970
1975
1980
1985
1990
1995
2000
20052008 2009 2010
Waste disposal rates 1970 — 2010
23
The Dire Need
For a country that has made the transition
from Third World to First in less than 50
years, challenging decisions had to be made
along the way regarding the use of its land.
Creating landfills on Singapore’s main island
required ample justification due to the
massive opportunity costs involved. There
were early plans to convert the area known
as Punggol 21 — now a charming waterfront
residential estate — into a longstanding
waste landfill. However, the planning for a
population expansion and the provision of
affordable housing took precedence.
With these concerns in mind, Singapore
was placed in a dilemma that needed to be
carefully resolved. Landfills such as those
in Lorong Halus, Choa Chu Kang and Lim
Chu Kang were nearing closure. The last
mainland-based landfill in Lorong Halus was
slated for closure in 1999. From the early
1990s, the government realised that there
was only one option left — offshore.
The planning phase
With Singapore’s limited land, finding solutions to its ever-expanding waste disposal needs
has been a perpetual challenge for decades. According to official statistics, the amount of
waste generated in Singapore has increased six-fold in the past 40 years, in tandem with
the country’s growing population, economy and affluence.
Commissioned on 1 April 1999, Semakau Landfill represents more than a solution. It is a
physical depiction of a nation’s planning prowess and savvy engineering, addressing land
shortfalls with a solutions-focused outlook.
An environmental consulting firm from
the United States, M/s Camp, Dresser and
McKee International Inc., was engaged
du ring the early 199 0s to develop an
offshore waste disposal site off the island of
Semakau. The study encompassed technical
feasibilit y assessment, landfill design,
environmental impact, operational planning
and cost estimation. It was ascertained
that there would be repercussions on four
major biological communities off the coast,
namely neritic (coastal waters), benthic
(ecological region on the seabed), coral reef
and mangrove forest. However, if pollution
control measures could be incorporated into
the design and construction phases, the
landfill’s development would have minimal
impact on the marine ecosystems.
Singapore’s plan was to amalgamate two offshore islands, Pulau Sakeng and Pulau Semakau,
using a seven-kilometre perimeter bund that would enclose 350 hectares of sea space.
The blueprint also contained a proposal to construct a waste-receiving station located on
the western part of mainland Singapore. It later became known as the Tuas Marine Transfer
Station (TMTS).
The landfill would only receive non-organic waste such as incinerated ash and nonincinerable material translating to little ground subsidence and zero landfill gas production
(e.g. methane). This would allow the landfill to be developed in a shorter time in the future
as opposed to conventional landfills in the region.
24
THE CONSTRUCTION PHASE
Enclosing the sea space between Pulau
Semakau and Pulau Sakeng using a sevenkilometre perimeter bund proved to be
a formidable engineering feat, given the
difficulties of constructing a landfill entirely
in deep waters close to 20 metres in depth.
In terms of spatial design, perimeter bunds
are similar to icebergs. Most of the perimeter
bund structure is submerged underwater.
To overcome the construction challenges
of this marine-based project, engineers
devised prudent and unorthodox
methods to ensure minimal impac t on
the surrounding environment. Silt screens
were put in place to prevent the migration
of silt from construction sites.
T he co ns tr u c tio n of Sema kau L a ndf ill
star ted in 1995 and took four years to
complete. Reclamation works were initially
undertaken at Pulau Sakeng to enlarge
the island to five times its original size.
The purpose was to create additional land
space to cater to ancillary facilities such
as a wharf, transfer building, generator
building, leachate treatment plant, sewage
treatment facility, administration building
and workshop. By 1994, Pulau Sakeng’s
remaining residents, numbering about 150,
were relocated to the mainland following
plans to build Semakau Landfill. Government
officials made the case to the villagers,
The seven-kilometre perimeter bund was
lined with impermeable geomembrane
(made of high-density polyethylene) and
sand-containing geofabric, and crusted
with a layer of marine clay (along the inner
segment) and solid rock (facing seaward). •
This construction method was carried out to
contain the waste within the landfill in order
to keep fringe waters pollution-free.
who were fairly receptive to the country’s
intentions to use their land. They were
invited when Semakau Landfill was officially
o p en e d to th e pu b lic fo r re creatio na l
activities in July 2005.
The construction of the wharf and transfer
building involved deep sea piling and opensea construction. Concrete pile caps were
cast on-site accompanied by the laying of
pre-cast concrete beams, slabs and in-situ
concrete decks. Supporting roof structures
were finally lif ted and installed using
mammoth floating cranes. With a robust
unloading complex in place, barges could
be berthed safely in the transfer building for
waste transfer operations.
Pu la u S a keng a nd Pu la u Sema ka u as viewe d fro m
the south. Pulau Bukom, Pulau Hantu and mainland
Singapore are visible in the background.
To manage the landfill operation more
effectively, its intrinsic sea space is divided
by internal sand bunds into two halves. The
first half has 11 wet tipping cells while the
other half forms a lagoon connected to the
sea via a gap in the perimeter bund. The
second half is slated for development in 2012.
More on
Tipping Cells
Presently, when tipping cells are not in
use, they are connected to the open sea
via concrete pipes and an opening gap —
approximately 160 metres wide — at the
southern tip of the perimeter bund. This
exposure to tidal movements ensures that the
seawater in the cells remain fresh and clean.
Before a tipping cell becomes operational,
concrete pipes are sealed. Seawater inside the
cell is then pumped out to create a concave
empty space for waste to be deposited.
Technical Factsheet
A view of Pulau Sakeng in October 1996 shows the island
enlarged to house landfill facilities.
Initial construction works undertaken in April 1997.
Length of Semakau
Landfill’s perimeter bund
7 kilometres
Total land filling capacity
63 million
cubic metres
Total land filling area
350 hectares
Total volume of
sand used
20 million
cubic metres
Total volume of
rock used
2.5 million
cubic metres
Total area of
geomembrane laid out
2 million
square metres
Total manpower at peak
1,200 workers
Total construction cost
S$610 million
During the development of Semakau Landfill,
the facilities at TMTS were constructed
concurrently in an industrial estate on
the western part of mainland Singapore.
They include a transfer building, wharf,
administration building, workshop and other
ancillary facilities. The station’s core purpose
is to receive waste safely and efficiently.
Semakau Landfill and TMTS required a fleet
of sea transportation and landfill equipment
to be fully operational.
Construction of the wharf, bund, ancillary buildings and
structures in May 1998.
as of December 2011
25
Semakau Landfill, completed in April 1999.
Semakau Landfill: Equipment Data
Waste Transfer
6 barges/3 tugboats/
2 excavators
Waste Handling
4 excavators/3 wheel
loaders/10 dump trucks
Land Filling
4 compactors/
5 bulldozers
Three tugboats, six barges, six excavators,
three wheel loaders, 10 dump truck s,
four compactors and five bulldozers were
delivered on schedule before 1 April 1999.
Step 1: The waste is transported and discharged at
the landfill cells.
Step 2: Waste is levelled and compacted by bulldozers
and compactors.
Gaining
Nature’s
Acceptance
In an area dominated by sensitive mangrove
ecosystems, adverse consequences were
inevitable following construction efforts.
The government realised just how vital
these life-suppor ting struc tures were
to its indigenous marine life. Hence, the
replanting of 400,000 saplings — two plots
of mangroves — covering 13.6 hectares
during the post-construction phase was
initiated. These surrounding mangroves
would go on to serve as additional biological
indicators of any waste leakage from the
landfill. Beyond the natural mangrove
indicators, 63 monitoring wells were also
installed around the landfill where water
samples could be drawn for testing.
26
THE
DUMPING
PROCESS
8
1
I n c i n e r a b l e w a s te i s b ro u g h t to o n e o f fo u r
incineration plants (Tuas Incineration Plant, Tuas
South Incineration Plant, Keppel Seghers Tuas Wasteto-Energy Plant and Senoko Waste-to-Energy Plant)
in Singapore where incineration reduces its volume
by 90 per cent.
3
Waste collection vehicles are first weighed at
weighbridges before proceeding to the waste
reception hall in the transfer building. Here, waste
is directly discharged into each barge on specially
created tipping platforms. There are 20 discharge bays
to ensure fast turnaround of waste collection vehicles.
2
Incineration ash — 1,750 tonnes (75 per cent)
per day — is transported to TMTS.
Non-incinerable waste — about 560 tonnes per
day — is transported directly to TMTS. It consists
of treated sludge and ash generated by process
plants, power stations and industrial waste
treatment facilities. Also considered nonincinerable are construction and demolition
w a s t e , co p p e r s l a g a n d m i s ce l l a n e o u s
incombustible waste matter. They are all
screened and, if necessar y, subjected to
Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Tests before
being disposed off at Semakau Landfill.
27
5
When a cell is filled up till it reaches
ground level, the area is capped
with a layer of topsoil about 30
ce n t i m e t re s t h i c k . G r a s s a n d
vegetation are then planted to
create a vibrant green landscape.
Upon arrival at Semakau Landfill, the
barges are berthed within an enclosed
transfer building for unloading. Large
excavators with interchangeable and
specially designed grabs are used to
unload waste directly into large 35-tonne
payload off-road dump trucks. Waste in
the stockpile area is subsequently scooped
up by wheel loaders and put into the dump
trucks. A fully loaded barge can be emptied
within six hours.
6
4
Loaded barges are covered with hatches before
tugboats attach themselves for the towing
process. The “single unit” then pushes off on
a 30-kilometre journey to Semakau Landfill,
taking an estimated three hours. Covering these
barges helps to prevent waste from being blown
off during the sea journey. Barging operations
are carried out at night to maximise the use of
marine vessels.
The loaded dump trucks make
their way to a tipping cell for
disposal. They make an average
of 100 trips per day.
7
At the tipping site, bulldozers and
compactors are used to level and
compact the waste discharged.
28
29
1
Appreciating Semakau
“I think people should be really pleased and have a sense of pride to see that nature
and our waste management infrastructure can, to a large extent, co-exist.”
Semakau Landfill has drawn numerous accolades from foreign and local
media. On 16 July 2005, Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, then Minister for the Environment
and Water Resources, officially opened it for recreational activities. One
group that frequents the area is the Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research.
It conducts regular intertidal walks for the public, including students. The
Astronomical Society of Singapore, Nature Society (Singapore) and
Sport Fishing Association (Singapore) also organise visits to the landfill.
Shawn Lum, President of the Nature Society (Singapore)
Semakau Landfill has its own renewable green energy system
powered by a wind turbine and solar panels. It generates sufficient
electricity to light up the southern tip of the landfill to facilitate night
activities for the public.
The natural habitats surrounding and on Semakau Landfill can be classified
under five broad zones:
Surprisingly, the landfill is home to one of Singapore’s largest sea
bass farms. Fish reared here is shipped off to the mainland for local
consumption once they are fully grown.
Grass and Scrub Lands (grown on filled cells)
Semakau Landfill is an engineering marvel borne of Singapore’s
land-stricken circumstances. Its price tag of S$610 million is a stark
reminder that there are considerable financial costs in dealing with
waste disposal. The landfill will be able to meet Singapore’s waste
disposal needs until 2045. Its existence has also freed up precious
hectares on the country’s mainland for other developments.
Mangrove Forest
Seagrass Meadow
Intertidal Reef Flat
Coral Reefs (along the western shore)
2
But innovations in landfill and waste management are only part of
the solution. For Singapore to remain environmentally sustainable
in the long run, NEA has implemented strategies to further increase
recycling rates and minimise waste generation (see Towards Zero
Waste). Eliminating the production of waste is an essential part of
meeting Singapore’s future needs.
The ultimate goal is to strive towards a zero-waste situation where
the need to build new incineration plants and waste treatment
facilities is thoroughly reduced. After 2045, when Semakau Landfill
can no longer accommodate further waste disposal, a new solution
will need to be found. Before that happens, waste generation at
source and recycling will be at the forefront of NEA’s efforts, with
public education, industry collaborations (see Signing Off To Less
Packaging) and the implementation of viable technologies identified
as components of the arsenal employed for waste management.
While many might think the notion of coupling waste management
and natural ecosystems is something out of a utopian dream,
Semakau Landfill has proven that this approach is both realistic
and highly successful. Whatever lies ahead, it shows that human
infrastructure needs can also benefit biodiversity and create rich
ecosystems.
1. (Top) Malaysian Plovers
2. (Opposite page) Swimming Anemone
30
THE BRIEF
We a re fa m i l ia r wi t h t h e 3 R s —
Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. However,
implementing them on an island that
churns out more than 6 million tonnes
of waste a year is far from elementary.
If you have not heard of the National
Recycling Programme or the recycling
of concrete waste from construction
sites, read on to get an understanding
of what ’s being done in Singapore
where the 3Rs are concerned.
31
The following guidelines are at the core of the strategy:
1. Minimising
Waste Upstream
• Engage industries to find ways to reduce packaging
materials through the voluntary Singapore Packaging
Agreement (see Signing Off To Less Packaging)
• Provide co-funding to help companies redesign processes
to reduce waste in their production of goods
2.Facilitating
Household Recycling
• Increase recycling facilities in housing areas
A more sustainable future through waste
minimisation and recycling
Waste is a pressing issue for urban settlements worldwide. In 2007,
the combined total of municipal solid waste generated by the 30
countries from the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and
Development (OECD), and another 27 from the European Union,
amounted to more than 622 million tonnes. That figure would have
reached 950 million tonnes with the inclusion of China, India and the
Russian Federation.
Considering that these 60 countries generated nearly a billion
tonnes of waste in 2007, it is not unreasonable to expect their
waste to exceed a billion tonnes (per year) in coming years owing to
population growth and increased consumption rates.
To help address this issue in Singapore, in January 2008, an InterMinisterial Committee on Sustainable Development (IMCSD)
was set up to formulate a national strategy for its sustainable
development. Co-chaired by then Minister for National Development,
Mr Mah Bow Tan, and then Minister for the Environment and Water
Resources, Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, the committee came up with a
comprehensive plan following extensive consultative exchanges
with businesses, community leaders and members of the public. It
was turned into the Sustainable Singapore Blueprint (SSB) to serve
as a touchstone for making Singapore a liveable and lively city-state.
One of the core concerns in the SSB was how population and
economic growth were straining domestic resources and threatening
environmental quality. In Singapore especially, the lack of land space
presented a mounting challenge for waste disposal. As a result, the
government had to shift its focus offshore (see Semakau Island: A
Successful Marine Landfill And Vibrant Ecosystem).
According to the SSB, boosting the country’s resource efficiency
should be par t of the main strategy in achieving long-term
sustainability. The aim mapped out in the SSB is to increase
overall recycling rates to 65 per cent by 2020, and 70 per cent by
2030. Currently, Singapore’s overall recycling rate — domestic and
industrial combined — hovers around 58 per cent.
Bucking up the present figure requires more than just a oneway government-led approach. What needs to be taken into
consideration are free-market forces which would in time enable the
natural cultivation of waste minimisation and recycling habits among
public and private stakeholders.
That said, education accompanied by infrastructure and promotional
efforts has given recycling a nudge. In residential communities, NEA
has successfully implemented the National Recycling Programme to
encourage household recycling. In the industrial sector, almost all
construction and demolition waste is recycled, increasing resource
efficiency instead of occupying scarce landfill space. The Singapore
Packaging Agreement is also an example of how government and
industry can come together to resolve waste issues at the producers’
end.
• Pilot the use of separate chutes for recyclables in
more housing estates
3.Targeting
Major
Sources of Waste
• Promote the recycling of large sources of waste that now
have low recycling rates (e.g. plastic and food waste)
• Study the feasibility of mandating the recycling of such
waste in the long term
4.Expanding
Our Land Resource
• Apart from reclaiming more land and building more
intensively, Singapore will also develop an underground
land-use master plan that identifies potential uses for this
space
5.Enhancing
Land-Use Planning
• The Urban Redevelopment Authorit y will fur ther
refine it s urban land-use planning framework to
develop Marina Bay and Jurong Lake district into a new
generation of sustainable high-density areas
National Recycling Programme:
Tackling Residential Recycling
The National Recycling Programme (NRP) was launched in April
2001 with the objective of increasing household recycling rates.
Under the programme, Public Waste Collectors (PWCs) distribute
recycling bags or bins to HDB apartments and landed estates
where the recyclables are collected on a door-to-door basis
every fortnight.
PWCs have gone a step further by installing one recycling bin
at every five HDB blocks, making it convenient for residents to
deposit their recyclables at any time of the day in close proximity
to their homes. These bins are usually collected weekly. Starting
on 1 July 2011 in the Pasir Ris-Tampines sector, a recycling bin has
been placed at every HDB block with daily collection. This would
be extended to other parts of Singapore if the feedback from
residents is positive.
In addition, there are approximately 2,500 recycling bins placed
by owners of premises in public spaces such as malls, markets,
MRT stations and bus interchanges.
After being mandated in 2008 by the government, condominiums
and private apartments are now required to provide recycling
receptacles for residents. Looking to the future, NEA will continue
it s push to propagate rec ycling in Singapore through the
following means:
• Increase the number of recycling bins and collection frequency
•
Study the feasibility of installing new infrastructure (e.g.
separate chutes for refuse and recyclables) and mandating the recycling of large waste streams with existing low recycling
rates (e.g. food waste)
32
Reclaiming RCA
Growing Recycling of Construction
and Demolition Waste
Construction and Demolition (C&D) waste is derived from the building and
construction industry. It consists mainly of concrete, bricks, tiles, reinforcement
bars, drywall, wood, plastic, glass, scrap iron and other metals. Around 99 per
cent of this is currently recycled. Instead of sending the waste to the landfill and
paying a disposal fee, the waste is converted into secondary building materials.
This helps to reduce the import of raw materials.
Outstanding Companies
Increasingly, innovation has helped to transform waste into new
materials in the construction industry.
Stage 1: Initial crushing is done by jaw crushers.
Effective recycling of C&D waste starts from on-site segregation. Reinforcement
bars and scrap metals have long had high recycling rates due to their residual
economic value. Nowadays, various constituents of C&D waste have attracted
recycling efforts focused on creating new value, including Recycled Concrete
Aggregate (RCA).
RCA is reclaimed from waste concrete made with natural aggregates. With the
introduction of performance-based standards like SS EN 12620: Specification for
Aggregates for Concrete, recycled and manufactured aggregates can now be
adopted for a range of structural and non-structural applications.
Stage 2: Ferrous metals are removed using magnetic separators.
Stage 3: Foreign materials such as bricks, plastics and asphalt are
screened and removed.
In 1995, to help expand the recycling of C&D waste, NEA converted part of Lim
Chu Kang Dumping Ground (LCKDG) — a sanitary landfill from 1976 to 1992 —
into Sarimbun Recycling Park (SRP). C&D waste recycling was one of the initial
activities identified as it requires a large area of land to operate. Other industries
include the recycling of horticultural and wood waste, plastic, street cleansing and
tyre waste. SRP has since been leased to several recycling companies, six out of
13 of which recycle C&D waste.
1
Another civil engineering and building material company, Samwoh
Corporation Pte Ltd, launched Samwoh Eco-Green Park in 2010.
This park will provide the industry with more sources of sustainable
construction materials such as recycled paving materials from
Samwoh’s new asphalt recycling plant and eco-concrete from its
concrete batching plant. The park will also house an eco-green
building, the result of applied research and development (R&D) in
concrete technology.
The three-storey eco-green building is the first in Singapore and
South-east Asia to use concrete made from 100 per cent RCA for the
construction of its top level. Embedded within the building’s columns
are sensors that facilitate further research into the performance of
concrete made from RCA.
The main difference between RCA and natural aggregates is that RCA has a
thin layer of remaining cement paste adhering to it after processing. Because
of this, the water absorption rate is three to five times higher than natural
aggregates; otherwise the density and other physical properties are similar to
natural aggregates.
Processed RCA can ultimately be used for structural works as a partial replacement
of natural aggregates, as approved by the Building and Construction Authority
(BCA), or non-structural works such as non-load-bearing walls, footpaths, lean
concrete and sub-base material for road construction.
One C&D waste recycling company located in Sarimbun, M/s Hock
Chuan Hong Waste Management Pte Ltd, sees C&D waste as a resource
to produce new construction materials. It has successfully carried out
research work to use RCA to produce drain channels and road kerbs,
supplying them to various drainage and road projects.
2
Recycled materials from C&D waste have improved in quality over
the years as a result of constant innovation and R&D. NEA hopes that
the work these companies have done will inspire more developers
to use RCA and other recycled materials for their building projects.
With limited natural resources and land for the disposal of waste, it is
imperative that Singapore change its view of waste as a disposal liability
to one of it as an actual resource (see the article, Far From Wasted).
3
Stage 4: Secondary crushing is carried out.
The government has taken a bold step, having invested heavily in
R&D centres such as the Residues and Resource Reclamation Centre
at Nanyang Technological University in an attempt to help solve
some of the country’s outstanding waste-related issues.
By using recycled materials, reliance on imported materials is
reduced which in turn will help extend the lifespan of Singapore’s
current offshore landfill, freeing up vital land space on the mainland
for other development purposes.
1. Application of RCA: Pre-cast drains
2. Bird’s eye view of Samwoh Eco-Green Park
3. Samwoh Eco-Green Park
Stage 5: RCA is filtered into different size groupings for different uses.
An example would be pre-cast kerbs.
4. Asphalt recycling plant and trucks
4
33
34
INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT
As economic growth burgeons across the globe, the need to inculcate
best practices in waste management has become ever more
paramount to sustain our natural environment. Singapore is seen as a
beacon for its clean and green environment, which has attracted much
interest from its regional neighbours and beyond.
As such, the Waste Management Symposium was organised to
bring the government and leading industry practitioners together to
35
MOU between WMRAS and
Harry Elias Partnership LLP
The first of the MOUs was signed between WMRAS and
Harry Elias Partnership LLP. Its purpose was to develop
a grant that would assist companies in defraying legal
costs related to the development and implementation
of waste management projects. A minor but significant
facet, this move will aid corporations in mitigating
future litigation and costly negative publicity.
examine regional waste management developments and resultant
opportunities. This was followed by a discourse on the latest
innovations and technologies.
Jointly organised by the National Environment Agency (NEA) and
Waste Management & Recycling Association of Singapore (WMRAS),
the symposium illustrated the collaborative efforts between the
government and industry associations to develop and grow the
capabilities of the local waste management industry. It culminated in
the launch of WasteMET Asia, an international waste management
and environmental technology conference and trade show. The event
Developments at the 2011 Waste Management Symposium
also witnessed the signing of two Memorandums of Understanding
(MOUs) that would help beef up the export capabilities of members in
the participating associations.
1. Mr Jorgen Haukohl (Vice-Chairman, Working Group on Energy Recovery, International Solid
Waste Association, ISWA) speaking on technical innovations in waste-to-energy technologies
2. Mr Herry Zudianto, Mayor of Yogyakarta, and Mr Andrew Tan (Chief Executive Officer, NEA)
3. MOU signing by WMRAS and Harry Elias Partnership LLP
4. Mr Torsten Weber (Chief Executive Officer, REMONDIS International GmBH) speaking on
approaches to waste management
5. Panel discussion on challenges, solutions and opportunities for Asian waste management markets
1
2
3
4
MOU between WMRAS and
Singapore Business Federation
WMRAS went on to sign a second MOU with the
Singapore Business Federation (SBF) which will see
both parties collaborating on the promotion of waste
management initiatives and programmes. SBF will
utilise its broad network base to expand the industry’s
access to untapped markets.
East Meets Waste — Solid Waste
Management Solutions For A
Growing Asia
Also unveiled at the symposium was WasteMET Asia,
an inaugural exhibition and conference for the solid
waste management and environmental technology
industry. WasteMET Asia is part of the inaugural
CleanEnviro Summit Singapore organised by NEA.
CleanEnviro Summit Singapore is an international
platform for thought leaders, high-level officials and
practitioners to network and exchange knowledge on
the challenges, issues and opportunities in meeting
the demand for clean environment solutions. Held in
conjunction with CleanEnviro Summit Singapore and
WasteMET Asia will also be the World Cities Summit and
the Singapore International Water Week in July 2012.
The theme for WasteMET Asia is East Meets Waste
— Solid Waste Management Solutions For A Growing
Asia. Its purpose is to bring to light pressing issues and
opportunities in solid waste management in Asia’s fast
growing cities.
Supported by International Solid Waste Association
(ISWA), Singapore Workforce Development Agency
(WDA), Economic Development Board (EDB), Institution
of Engineers Singapore (IES), Jurong Town Corporation
( JTC) and SPRING, the inaugural Waste Management
Symposium 2011 was well-received and attended by
about 220 local and regional participants from the
waste management industry.
5
Waste management represents more than mere
environmental perks for a country. As private players
and governments come to learn of its economic
potential and job creation opportunities, working
towards a sustainable future is full of promise.
36
37
Speakers for the Day
Mr Guah Eng Hock
Mr Andrew Tan
(Chief Executive Officer, NEA)
Mr Victor Tay
(Chairman, WMRAS)
Topic
Topic
Topic
Creating a Vibrant Waste Management
Industry in Singapore
Developments and Opportunities in Waste
Management
Singapore Sustainability Alliance
Summary
Summary
Mr Guah explained the vital roles
of “A ssociatio n”, “B u rea u cra c y ” a n d
“Collaboration” within Singapore’s waste
management framework.
Mr Tan gave a forward-looking presentation
with a global outlook that underlined the
key challenges faced in Asia, accompanied
with a progress update on Singapore’s
next leap in waste management.
Mr Tay presented the case for sustainable
development from a business perspective,
highlighting the Triple Helix Model that
comprises government agencies, industry
associations and research institutions.
Mr Francis Goh
Ms Vaneeta Bhojwani
(Partner, Harry Elias Partnership)
Topic
Legal Support for Industry Development
Summary
Mr Goh underscored the importance of
proper legal practices in order to reduce
future litigation and damage control.
(Deputy Director, Industry & Promotion Office,
NEA) on behalf of Dr Mustaq Ahmed Memon
(United Nations Environment Programme)
Topic
Challenges and Opportunities in Waste
Management
Summary
Ms Vaneeta provided an overview of waste
disposal in developing countries, uncovering
the predicaments faced. She went on to
share a proposed integrated solid waste
management solution drawn up by the
United Nations.
(Chief Operating Officer, SBF)
Summary
Moderator:
Mr Andrew Tan
(Chief Executive Officer, NEA)
Panelists:
1.Mr Herry Zudianto
(Mayor of Yogyakarta)
2. Mr Jeff Cooper
(President of ISWA)
(Chairman of WMRAS)
4. Dr Amiya Kumar Sahu (Founder of National Solid Waste
Association of India, NSWAI)
Topic
Summary
An interactive panel discussion between
the distinguished panelists and
participants was carried out to distil the
knowledge of waste management in Asian
markets.
(Chief Executive Officer,
REMONDIS International GmbH)
Topic
A Circular Approach to Waste
Management
Summary
Mr Weber shared REMONDIS’ vision for a
sustainable circular flow economy as well
as the roles his company’s infrastructure,
technology and exper tise can play in
helping Asia cope with its current waste
management challenges.
Mr Jorgen Haukohl
(Vice-Chairman, Working Group on Energy
Recovery, International Solid Waste
Association, ISWA)
Topic
Technical Innovations in Waste-to-Energy
Technologies
Summary
M r Ha u ko h l d is cuss e d t h e Eu ro p ea n
Union’s five-step waste hierarchy in the
Waste Framework Directive that has been
put into effect to achieve sustainable
waste management:
1. Prevention
2.Reuse
3.Recycling
4.Other recovery (e.g. energy)
5.Disposal
Take a glance around your house and
the National Recycling Programme
try to recall the day you purchased
to reach out to industries, malls,
those household appliances and food
schools, households and other market
items. You will realise most of them
segments. These efforts have led to a
came with fancy and sturdy packaging.
reduction in waste disposed but are still
3.Mr Guah Eng Hock
Panel Discussion on Challenges, Solutions
a n d O p p o r t u n i t i e s f o r A s i a n Wa s te
Management Markets
Mr Torsten Weber
The Singapore Packaging Agreement — four years on
Mr James Chin
(Senior Manager, Waste and Resource
Management Department, NEA)
Topic
Singapore’s Waste-to-Energy Incineration
Plants
Summary
Mr Chin touched on the country’s four
incineration plants with a focus on massburn incineration technology, the recovery
of ferrous metals and disposal of ash.
insufficient to meet Singapore’s longMore of ten than not, companies
term goals.
package products for both aesthetic
and functional purposes. The intentions
Rather than relying solely on
are to draw consumer interest and
addressing waste issues at the post-
protect the contents. Unfortunately,
consumer level, NEA felt that a more
packaging contributes about a third of
sustainable way of managing waste
domestic waste in Singapore, which
would be to minimise its generation at
leaves a significant footprint on the
the producers’ end. The primary aim
environment, given that domestic
was to get product manufacturers to
waste represents 58 per cent of all
cut down on the use of packaging
waste disposed.
materials, in particular, those from
the Food & Beverage (F&B) industry,
Since the year 2000, NEA has worked
as F&B packaging constitutes more
wi th it s 3 P (Pu b lic, Pr ivate a n d
than 50 per cent of all household
People) partners on projects such as
packaging waste.
THE BRIEF
Have you ever wondered how much
m ate r ia l g o e s i nto p ro d u ci n g t h e
packaging box for your flat-screen
television or video-game console?
Quite a bit. What if the boxes came a
little thinner and lighter but still did the
job of protecting their contents? We
tell you how the Singapore Packaging
Agreement makes this happen.
The Birth of the Singapore
Packaging Agreement
NEA studied packaging policies and
consulted industry experts in developed
countries — Australia, Germany, Japan, the
Netherlands, New Zealand and the USA
— on the various systems of minimising
packaging waste.
38
NE A then initiated discussions with
local industry players to find a common
ground of mutual acceptance. Both parties
came to a consensus that a partnership
approach, based on the principle of product
stewardship, would be the most feasible.
The gist of the agreement was to provide
industries with the opportunity to assume
greater corporate responsibility for their
packaging in a non-prescriptive manner. It
would take into account the entire packaging
supply chain — from manufacturers and
importers to retailers and recyclers. At the
same time, it would offer a platform where
companies could share practical ideas and
work together to develop cost-effective
solutions to reduce waste.
The Singapore Packaging Agreement (SPA)
was initially signed by 32 organisations:
five industry associations (representing
more than 500 companies), 19 individual
companies, t wo non-governmental
organisations, the Waste Management &
Recycling Association of Singapore and
four public waste collectors. It was signed
on 5 June 20 07, which coincided with
World Environment Day. It came into effect
officially on 1 July 2007 and extends over a
five-year period.
Mapped after New Zealand’s Packaging
Accord with certain portions adopted from
Australia’s National Packaging Covenant,
the SPA is administered by an independent
secretariat and overseen by the Singapore
Packaging Agreement Governing Board
comprising senior officials from industry,
government and non-governmental
organisations.
Under the SPA, the stakeholders (signatories)
are obliged to achieve these objectives
through:
+ A framework based on the principle of
product stewardship for the lifecycle
management of packaging for consumer
goods
+ A co lla b o rative a p p ro a ch to ensu re
t h at t h e m a n a g e m e nt of co n s u m e r
packaging throughout its lifecycle and
the implementation of collection systems
p ro d u ce su s t a i na b l e e nv i ro n m e nt a l
benefits in a cost-effective manner
+ E n s u r i n g t h a t p a c k a g e d g o o d s a re
designed and created in a way that
minimises adverse environmental impacts
+ Regular consultation and discussion of
issues affecting the recovery, utilisation
and disposal of consumer packaging
+ A n e f fe c t i v e p u b l i c e d u c a t i o n a n d
communications programme
The Targets
The SPA, in essence, has been put into
effect by NEA to encourage producers to
assume greater responsibility for packaging
products and minimising waste at their end.
It is also meant to help Singapore accelerate
its progress to achieve its 2012 national
recycling targets. The packaging recycling
targets set for 2012 are:
Glass
50%
Ferrous metals
Paper
The Objectives
The SPA has three core objectives:
To reduce packaging waste
arising from consumer products
To raise community awareness
on packaging waste minimisation
To introduce supply chain initiatives
that foster the sustainable use
of resources in packaging
Plastic
+ Follow the Singapore Environmental Code
of Practice for the Packaging of Consumer
Goods to ensure that environmental
considerations are taken into account in
packaging decisions
+ Develop and implement programmes to
raise consumer awareness and educate
consumers on the need to reduce waste
from packaging
+ Promote SPA within its organisation
+ Develop sustainable markets for reused/
recycled packaging materials
Capability Building and Knowledge
Sharing Activities Under SPA
Under the SPA programme, signatories are
organised under different sector groups
according to their nature of business or
the main type of packaging material used
for their products. Regular sector group
meetings are arranged for them to share
ideas on ways to reduce waste as well as
discuss difficulties commonly encountered
in their sector or industry.
Signatories receive e-newsletters which
update them on the latest developments,
e m e rg i n g i s s u e s a n d e v e n t s re l a t e d
to p a c k a g i n g w a s te. To f u r t h e r b u i l d
t h e sig nato r i e s’ k n ow l e d g e b as e a n d
capabilities, technical sharing sessions
are also arranged during regular CEOs’
l u n c h e o n s o rg a n is e d fo r p a r t i c p at i n g
co m p a n i e s , w h e re si g n a to r i e s g et to
network and learn about best practices.
95%
Non-ferrous metals
90%
55%
23%
Signatories will work together to develop
effective packaging waste recovery and
recycling programmes in order to meet
these targets.
Voluntary Commitments
As a signatory of the SPA, an organisation
voluntarily commits to do the following:
+ Work together with other signatories to
meet national packaging recycling targets
+ Contribute data on packaging materials
consumed and packaging waste reduced
and/or recycled, where available
39
“
We are glad to see companies
reducing waste at source,
and we encourage more
companies to embrace the
c ra d l e -to - c ra d l e d e s i g n
concept in their product
development processes.
Through better packaging
NEA is pleased to announce that the SPA
has been signed by 127 organisations to
date. In the first four years of the SPA, the
signatories cumulatively reduced about
7,100 tonnes of packaging waste. Besides
saving the companies more than S$14.9
million in production costs, the reduction
has helped to cu t was te at sou rce as
well. This was achieved through various
initiatives, such as reducing the size and
thickness of materials used for logistical
processes and product packaging.
In addition, by cutting back the generation
of waste, companies have enjoyed cost
savings in the collection, transportation and
treatment processes. It is encouraging to see
this programme taking root and bearing fruit
across industries.
Honouring the signatories (Singapore Packaging
Agreement) who have made a difference
designs and the use of
Following its initiation in 2007, the Singapore Packaging Agreement (SPA) has
rec ycled a nd rec ycla ble
ignited a growing commitment among corporations to progressively reduce their
materials for their product
packaging footprint. Since then, a steady and growing number of corporations
packaging, we will be able to
reduce the amount of waste
have made pertinent contributions, steering away from the status quo to find
niche solutions — both environmentally and economically sound.
g o i n g t o o u r w a s t e -t o -
Some 7,100 tonnes of packaging waste was reduced in the first four years of
energy plants and prolong
the SPA, translating to savings of more than S$14.9 million in production costs
the lifespan of Semakau
for the signatories.
Landfill. Consumers
Progress So Far
PACKAGING
AWARDS
ca n a lso play t hei r pa r t
in reducing waste by
purchasing products without
unnecessary packaging and
recycling their waste.
Mr Andrew Tan
Chief Executive Officer, NEA
”
3R in a Nutshell
Assessment Criteria
To honour signatories who have made
notable efforts and achievements in reducing
packaging waste, the Singapore Packaging
Agreement Governing Board created the
inaugural 3R Packaging Awards in 2008.
There are four Award categories:
Prerequisites for the eligibilit y of the
Awards:
Distinction Award
Merit Award
Platinum Award*
Gold Award*
*Platinum Awards are presented to signatories
who have received Distinction Awards for two
consecutive years. Gold Awards are given to
signatories who have received Merit Awards (or
higher) for two consecutive years.
• Only signatories of SPA are eligible for the
3R Packaging Awards
• Initiatives assessed must be implemented
in the Agreement year preceding the year
of the awards
• Initiatives assessed for the packaging of
products have to be primarily for local
consumption
Eligible signatories are assessed on the
following:
• Avoidance of packaging waste
• Recycling or reuse of packaging waste
• Consumer education
• Use of recyclable/recycled packaging
material
• Reduction of other waste material
40
case study milo packaging
Award Recipients
Year
Distinction Award
Merit Award
2011
Asia Pacific Breweries (Singapore) Pte Ltd
City Developments Limited Pte Ltd (City Square Mall)
CROWN Beverage Cans Singapore Pte Ltd
Nestlé Singapore (Pte) Ltd
Sunfresh Singapore Pte Ltd
Tetra Pak Jurong Pte Ltd
Boncafé International Pte Ltd
Dell Global B.V.
F&N Foods Pte Ltd
Ha Li Fa Pte Ltd
Hock Lian Huat Foodstuff Industry Pte Ltd
Kentucky Fried Chicken Management Pte Ltd
McDonald’s Restaurants Pte Ltd
Starlite Printers (Far East) Pte Ltd
Thong Siek Food Industry Pte Ltd
Toshiba Asia Pacific Pte Ltd
Toshiba TEC Singapore Pte Ltd
Wanin Industries Pte Ltd
Winrigo (S) Pte Ltd & Prima Food Pte Ltd
Wyeth Nutritionals (Singapore) Pte Ltd
2010
2009
IKANO Pte Ltd
Universal Integrated Corporation Consumer Products Pte Ltd
F&N Coca-Cola (Singapore) Pte Ltd
Ha Li Fa Pte Ltd
People Bee Hoon Factory Pte Ltd
Starbucks Coffee Singapore Pte Ltd
Microwave Packaging (Singapore) Pte Ltd
Singapore Food Industries Ltd
YHS (Singapore) Pte Ltd
2008
Chinatown Food Corporation Pte Ltd
F&N Coca-Cola (Singapore) Pte Ltd
Subway Singapore Development Pte Ltd
Year
Platinum Award
Gold Award
2011
Ha Li Fa Pte Ltd
2010
41
Coca-Cola Singapore Beverages Pte Ltd
A
B
A:0.25 mm thickness with six beads
B: 0.22 mm thickness with nine beads
In 2007, Nestlé Singapore (Pte) Ltd reduced
the thickness of its local 1.5 kg MILO tin can,
shedding off 100 g of material per can in
the process.
Motivated by its success, Nestlé discovered
that the thickness of its 1.25 kg and 1.65
kg MILO tins could also be further reduced
from 0.25 mm (six beads) to 0.22 mm (nine
beads) without compromising compression
strength. The move has since saved the
manufacturer 15 tonnes of tin material
every year.
With the momentum gained, Nestlé started
to delve into the corrugated carton boxes
used to pack its local MILO 900 g and 1
kg soft packs, researching various means
to reduce their dimensions. Once again, it
successfully clipped off their proportions
from 480 mm x 370 mm x 190 mm to 470
mm x 350 mm x 190 mm, reducing annual
paper use by more than 20 tonnes.
Another packaging material used to
produce MILO soft packs is flexible plastic
laminate. After approximately two months
of intensive work, Nestlé modified the
p ro d u c ti o n l i n e to i m p rove o p eratio n
efficiency, bringing down laminate losses
during production from an initial 6 per
cent to between 1 and 2 per cent. The
i m p ro v e m e n t t o t h e p ro d u c t i o n l i n e
resulted in 20 tonnes of laminate wastage
avoided per year.
Nestlé utilises 100 per cent recyclable
natural wood fibre to produce paper cartons
for all its MILO products. In addition, natural
starch is used for binders and adhesives.
Not only are its cartons recyclable, they are
non-toxic as well.
case study tetra pak packaging
Tetra Pak Jurong Pte Ltd manufactures
packaging materials for beverage cartons.
They are made of protective layers that
consist of paperboard, plastic (polyethylene
polymer) and aluminium foil materials.
In its previous setup, changing the width
of the polymer coating involved stopping
the line before extruders were removed.
As a result, excess polymer drooled away
creating wastage.
line while making polymer width changes.
The result: 144 tonnes of polyethylene
polymer is saved annually.
Since July 2007, Tetra Pak has introduced
improvements to achieve a flying setup,
where it is no longer necessary to stop the
Switching to a flying setup would also help
reduce about 119 tonnes of paper waste
per year.
42
KNOWLEDGE & CAPACITY BUILDING
Much of your work seems to focus on redesigning
existing waste systems, versus redesigning the
systems that produce waste to begin with (e.g.
packaging, material engineering, product design,
etc.). By comparison, how do you relate to Dr Michael
Braungart’s Cradle-to-Cradle approach to materials
management?
As an engineer, I think the ideas from Dr Braungart
are interesting. Sometimes for me they seem like a bit
of a fantasy, but they’re inspiring, and some are very
realistic to do. With this approach you cannot solve
the problems though. It’s only part of the solution.
At the end of the day you have so many things that
are difficult to recycle... you have residues, you have
entropy in the whole system, and while this Cradleto-Cradle approach is useful, it’s a bit like the notion
of Zero Waste — it’s something we can aim for but will
never likely fully achieve. It’s the end game in the far
off future.
Far From
Wasted
Professor Rainer Stegmann reveals the
hidden truths of waste as a resource
The retired professor from Hamburg University of Technology in
Hamburg, Germany, co-owns two patents with his colleagues as head
of the Institute for Waste Resource Management. He is currently
a visiting professor at the Nanyang Technological University in
Singapore and director of its Residues and Resource Reclamation
Centre (R3C).
ENVISION caught up with Professor Stegmann at a recent Professional
Sharing Series (PSS) session after he shared about the potentials and
limits of waste as a resource.
In a follow-up interview, he elaborated on new technologies that look
set to redefine the world’s waste management landscape. He also
touched on the importance of socio-political factors and how relying on
technology alone is insufficient to solve the planet’s waste conundrum.
We understand you hold two patents with your
ex-colleagues at the Institute for Waste Resources
Management, Hamburg University of Technology.
Can you tell us more about them?
The first one was created to address the issue of lining
landfills, both bottom and top, to collect leachate. As
you know, plastic liners might become brittle and fail
over time. We decided to make liners out of glass
instead. It lasts longer but was never implemented in
any landfill. We still got it patented though.
The second patent involves aerating landfills. Gas
production is used in most landfills to generate
electricity. However, the quantity becomes low as the
landfills age and utilisation then is not good enough.
What we do is somewhat aerobic in nature where we
put air into the landfill, speeding up the decomposition
process of certain inert portions underground. This
biologically stabilises the land in a shorter period of
time, enabling us to release the landfill for aftercare
purposes more quickly.
Do you think your patent will work for Singapore’s
Semakau Landfill?
We are working on making a test at Semakau Landfill.
It’s not a matter of whether it’s feasible because it is
already implemented in five landfills in Germany. At
Semakau we may face an elevated water table in some
areas which we are still investigating. There’s definitely
an intention to make a test.
At the end of the day, it will work well for landfills that
are used to build houses and industrial settlements,
given that all the f la m ma ble gases have been
extracted from the ground. There is usually still around
10 per cent of gas production taking place at a landfill
after gas extraction has come to an end. These gases
may accumulate in pockets. It only takes 5 per cent of
methane in air to form an explosive mixture so it needs
to be reduced to avoid potential accidents. Lastly, you
want settling to take place on a landfill before you
attempt to build anything.
As Director of the Residues and Resource
Reclamation Centre (R3C) at the Nanyang
Technological University (NTU), what are
some of the ongoing projects that are
showing massive potential?
That would be our work on decentralised
systems where we take a cluster of houses
and separate different waste streams in
each house. They could be organic kitchen
material, grey water such as that from
washing machines, sinks and showers,
yellow water from the toilet like urine which
comprises high phosphorous and nitrogen
content, and treating faeces in an anaerobic
digester (where oxygen is removed) to
produce biogas.
The concept makes sense in new areas
where sewer systems are costly to build.
You could have a cluster of let’s say 10
blocks, treat the waste water onsite, and
reuse it. However, it is more complicated if
everything is already mixed together. For
example, recovering phosphorous is much
more difficult in diluted water.
I believe our work can be expor ted to
industrial and developing nations, especially
in remotes areas which lack water and
Africa is a good example. There are many
d eve l o p i n g co u nt r i e s i n Af r i c a w h i c h
lack toilets and fertilisers. Hotels, camps,
education centres stand to benefit too.
Ideally, these plans should be initiated in
tandem with the construction of a new
housing estate. We develop tools that can
be tailor-made to suit any development.
Any plans to implement this in Singapore?
We are in talk s with the Housing
Development Board (HDB) to explore ways
to collaborate in the future. This is a fiveyear project, of which we have already
worked on for a year and a half. Part of our
efforts involves working with the School of
Art, Design and Media at NTU to create a
design that would gain acceptance by the
general public. It is my belief that the role of
design is equally important to the technical
functionality aspect.
What needs to be done to enable Singapore
to t ake t hat lea p in waste resou rces
management?
Legislation is important. On top of that,
implementing separate collection would be
a good start. There is no need to copy from
elsewhere because Singapore is different,
being in a tropical climate and all. You can
always customise something that works just
for Singapore.
Paper is one of the easiest and
straightforward platforms. You don’t need
to collect 100 per cent. Even 40 or 50 per
cent at the beginning is good enough. It
takes a while for companies to get into the
game and develop the relevant markets but
I think Singapore is capable of achieving it.
The country is excellent when it comes to
promotion and advertising.
What cutting-edge waste management
t e c h n o l o g i e s d o yo u t h i n k co u l d b e
readily integrated into the urban context
of Singapore, especially in areas like
industrial parks and HDB estates?
You need thermal treatment to reduce
the volume of waste. Separate collection
of valuable recyclable items like e-waste
and cars needs to be done — and it doesn’t
even have to take up large amounts of
space. The process can even be done on
ships. There are many possibilities. For
the residual waste you have to incinerate
of course, but the process should increase
energy recover y. Also explore RefuseDerived Fuel (RDF) from parts of waste to
create new fuels. The so-called “pre-oven
concept” where you burn RDF alongside
other power generating infrastructure is
interesting. So, for example, wood waste
by-products at a paper mill can be used to
power the mill itself.
S h o u l d S i n g a p o re d o a b e t te r j o b of
banning certain substances at source
versus looking at recovery or recycling
instead (e.g. chromium in cars)?
Regulation definitely needs to go first, but
both should be done in parallel to ensure
that a safer, higher qualit y material is
available for recycling as the end result.
Economically, it results in a higher value
product as well — for example, scrap metal
from automobiles sold in the European
Union has to meet restricted amounts of
harmful substances.
Do you think there is promise for vacuum
technology for waste water collection in
Singapore?
Sure. For water reclamation, if you’re using
a decentralised system, the pipes can be
smaller and you don’t have to rely on gravity
as a vacuum is involved. There are systems
also in place to separate different kinds of
materials found in waste water. With the
current systems in metropolitan Singapore,
widespread use of this technology might not
make sense since the sewer infrastructure is
in place already. In other installations such
as military complexes or hotels and such, it
is another good tool that can be used.
43
Do you foresee this segment of the market
growing with venture capitalists investing
in much needed innovation projects?
The world is changing. Things we would
not have thought about have already been
made reality. For example, the lack of rare
earth elements used in cellphones and
other electronic devices. Most of them are
mined in China. Strategically, to be more
independent, we are thinking of recovery.
But the idea is not to see it from a monetary
perspective alone but as a necessity.
Paper demand in China and India is going
to be so big that you would have a problem
supporting it sustainably. Even if you are a
paper manufacturer who grows trees, you
still need soil, fertilisers and acreage. You
can save 50 per cent of that raw material
with used paper, and 10 0 per cent of
waste paper can be used to produce new
paper, depending on the quality. Also,
achieving hygienic quality enables you to
churn out cardboards. Taking metals out
using magnets is already done but can
be improved upon. Additionally, separate
collecting systems are flexible and can be
brought to different markets.
With the exponential adoption of new
technologies such as mobile touch-screen
devices, critical rare minerals are under
increasing demand and are often found
i n co u n t r i e s w h e re t h e i r e x t r a c t i o n
poses unique environmental and social
challenges. Are there ways to successfully
disassemble these products at end-of-life
to cut back the need for virgin materials,
as well as eliminate yet another source of
e-waste? Could you describe one of these
industrial processes?
There are processes existing, but they are
still very much in development and need
improvement. One ver y basic process
involves removal of the plate from the
computer with the accumulation of rare
minerals to separate them and then burning
the leftover carcasses. But there are more
sophisticated processes such as metal
extraction using extraction and separation
technologies. There’s a lot of research going
on in these areas and a lot of companies are
further developing this area.
So this could be another industry
opportunity for businesses in Singapore?
Absolutely!
44
With the prices of many commodities
such as waste paper, plastic flakes and
rare minerals on the rise, do you think
there is increased impetus for Singapore
businesses to examine their waste stream
for new sources of revenue?
Selling recyclable material is like any other
business: the prices of these commodities
fluctuate with world events and crisis. In
recent years, companies have stockpiled
recyclables to stay on top of the global
price fluctuations and been able to make
gains as the markets shift. Of course to do
this, companies will need a bit of capital
behind them.
Mass burning will be the most feasible
method of waste-to-energy conversion in
the foreseeable future for Singapore. Any
chance that the country might be able to
delve into Refuse-Derived Fuel (RDF) or
anaerobic digestion?
Sure! Singapore has the chance. Heat not
used in incinerators is a huge amount of lost
energy, so that is something to think about.
If you have an old, redundant incinerator, it
is possible to convert it into an RDF plant for
any kind of material. The other idea is to go
to plants where you need the energy, with
perhaps 70 to 80 per cent conversion. Start
with a smaller plant, get experience, and
then move on further. For mass burning,
the next generation of plants will feature
technologies with higher electrical and
thermal energy recovery.
The bottom ash can also be utilised for
other purposes such as road construction.
But there is room for improvement and
more investigation needs to be done to
extract better materials. The aim is not
to use 100 per cent but selected par ts
which are the easiest to recover, through
processes such as sifting. Land raising is
another possible application.
While incineration has its benefits,
there are also some risks, for example,
environmental dioxin contamination from
plastics. What are the steps needed to
adequately mitigate dioxin risk from the
waste-to-energy incineration of plastics?
The reasons for dioxin production have now
been identified. One factor is the feedstock,
but what’s more important is the operation
of the plant. A n interesting discover y
recently is that dioxin is not necessarily in
the waste that is being burned, but produced
in the process with the hot gases that come
out. The dioxin emerges in the cooling of
the gases. What they do now to avoid a
de novo synthesis of dioxins is to cool the
gases quickly in a temperature window
between 250°C to 350°C and in doing so
the production of new dioxin is significantly
decreased. Carbon filters can also be put
into the system to take dioxin out of the gas
stream even further. The technology is there
and often the stringent targets for dioxin are
actually exceeded.
Is the major challenge of dealing with
waste really a technological issue at this
point, or is it more of a social issue in
terms of changing behaviour patterns,
consumption, disposal, etc.?
The people factor is very important. First of
all you have to educate people, especially
in schools as the kids can educate and
influence their parents. Parents will always
want to behave well in front of their kids.
Also, we live in a world of advertising, and
we need to have good advertising that
makes these issues visible to people, and
brings them home with the right messages.
People are not stupid and you have to
have good explanations why something
is happening. In Germany, when we first
introduced separate collection, we had
people going door to door to explain the
new system. We refined the approach
area by area as we moved on, and we had
good results with the bags of recyclables
collected. These sorts of things can be done
and mentalities need to be changed.
What are some successful tactics used in
Europe to educate the general public on
things like recycling and waste separation,
and to overcome apathy or bad habits?
Advertising. Singapore is very good with
advertising. You’ve had good campaigns on
crime and other issues. Slogans and mascots
like the ones used for the Youth Olympics
are methods that can be used for recycling
campaigns as well.
Some countries have challenged that the
legislation, EU Waste from Electrical and
Electronic Equipment Directive, only gives
European countries the impetus to export
their electronic waste (e-waste) problems
t o d e ve l o p i n g co u n t r i e s , w h e re t h e
infrastructure and legislation do not exist
to adequately handle the re-processing. Do
you think the criticism is justified, and, if so,
what do you think could be done to tighten
the legislation to avoid this export loophole?
In the waste business, there is always a
high potential for crime. Many countries
experience dif ficulties with mafia and
organised crime because with waste, money
can be made with little effort, especially with
hazardous waste. You see that with e-waste
some organisations who are paid to handle
the problem merely dump it somewhere
else. This is criminal. The legislation is there,
but the enforcement is the issue. It’s so
difficult with all the ships and volumes of
containers; it is impossible to control. There
are so many ways to smuggle a container of
e-waste and people will try to use loopholes
in the system. But these activities comprise
only a small amount of waste; by far the
majority is recovered.
Is it true that Automatic Sorting by Sensor
Array Detection waste systems for sorting
refu se a re p ro b le matic a nd p ro ne to
breakdowns? If so, what must be done to
maintain a high standard of operational
performance?
Many of these systems are still in fullscale tests, and there is a lot of room for
improvement. The system works very well
especially when it comes to separating
Tetra-Paks, which are quite valuable for
their aluminium lining. With some of the
other materials such as plastics, mechanical
pre-sorting before running them through
the machines may improve performance.
The Singapore Environment Institute (SEI) — a division
of NE A — has been providing platforms for the
sharing of knowledge, expertise and best practices
in the environment sector since its inauguration in
2003. One of its multiple disciplines includes the
Professional Sharing Series (PSS).
Launched in February 2004, PSS aims to promote
dynamic exchanges of insights between NEA and
industry players. SEI periodically invites experts and
professionals in their respective fields to speak on an
array of topics ranging from emerging environmental
technologies, core management approaches, and
sustainable environmental practices, to creating
environmental awareness.
If you are interested in attending a PSS session or
finding out more about other training programmes
offered by SEI, visit http://www.nea.gov.sg/cms/sei/.
45
What you need to know
• Worldwide refuse production is on the
rise, taxing not only basic resources for
industries, but also destroying natural
habitats and biodiversity.
• The focus should shift towards better
utilisation and recycling of materials
versus viewing them as waste.
• Businesses and industries are realising
that tapping waste streams can be
profitable as commodity prices increase.
They can include everyday items such as
paper, plastic and metal.
• Acco rd i ng to Prof Ste g ma n n, the
hierarchy to follow with waste is firstly
to reduce, followed by recycle, recover,
and finally, dispose.
• In European markets, policies have
shifted such that producers bear greater
responsibility for waste generated.
• Prof Stegmann advocates that the
best solution to managing waste is
to minimise its creation in the first
place. This can be done through better
product and packaging design.
• A technology making its recent debut
is Subsurface Vacuum containers that
can be isolated for different materials.
Pu b lic sq ua res o r living q ua r ters
might have these installed for various
recyclable and residual waste materials.
• S e p a r a t i n g m a t e r i a l t y p e s i s
essential to ensure viable recycling.
Contamination of materials needs
to be avoided so that the value of
recycled waste is not diminished.
• I n G e r m a n y, r e s i d e n t i a l r e f u s e
separation is achieved through
separate collection bins for paper, glass
and metal. Hazardous substances and
e-waste can be dropped off for special
recovery at waste community centres,
usually sited near shopping centres.
• Automatic Sorting by Sensor Array
Detection machines are currently in
large-scale industrial trials.
• Biomass from raw food commodities
can be processed using Sugar
Biochemical Platforms to generate
new fuels, chemicals and materials.
• Anaerobic digesters can be used on
a variet y of substrates from food
production to produce high quality gas
and compost from leftovers.
• In the urban context of Singapore,
decentralising waste management
might seem counter-intuitive with the
country’s advanced infrastructure.
• Overseas case studies as well as
research at R3C, NTU, are exploring the
possibility of managing both solid and
liquid waste within individual sites.
• Zero waste may be a target we cannot
reach in the near future but we should
aim for it anyway with the many tools
at our disposal.
46
47
A dialogue session with one of the key
minds behind the Singapore River clean-up
Part of the
Environmental
PIONEER Series
Successfully spearheading the Singapore
River and Kallang Basin clean-up, Mr Lee
Ek Tieng earned the Distinguished Service
Order in 2000 for his sterling contributions
THE BRIEF
Si n g a p o re ’s ea r l y
environmental
pioneer, Lee Ek Tieng,
accomplished the dual
tasks of cleaning up the
Singapore River and
securing our fresh city
air with immaculate
precision. But his career
was not just defined
by the river. Find out
what he thinks of the
state of Singapore’s
environment and
the future of the civil
service.
to the country. Previously, he was conferred
the Meritorious Service Award (1984) for his
work in pollution control and environmental
health and the Clean Rivers Commemorative
Gold Medal from the Prime Minister (1987)
for completing the national project to clean
up the Singapore River and its environment.
The former top civil servant was head of the
Anti-Pollution Unit in the Prime Minister’s
Office, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry
of Environment and Head of the Civil Service.
Recently, he retired from the Government
Investment Corporation.
In an exclusive interview, he shares his
experiences and views on Singapore’s
environmental transformation, and
addresses how the nation’s leadership
position can be maintained.
As a winner of multiple public service awards, what
would you describe as the defining moments of your life?
People often think of the cleaning of the Singapore
River as a big achievement, but starting as early as 1971
with the Anti-Pollution Unit, Mr Lee Kuan Yew foresaw
the need for air pollution control. We engaged the
services of an Australian consultant, Graham Cleary,
who worked with the World Health Organisation (WHO)
to put together preventive measures. In those days, air
pollution was attributed to black smoke from motor
vehicles, factory boilers, refineries and saw mills. We
laid the groundwork for early prevention and control of
pollution from small factories to bigger manufacturing
companies like oil refineries and petrochemical
factories. Today, if you compare Singapore with cities
in China and Hong Kong, I can say we have managed
to control the air pollution levels very well. We have
made it mandatory for all cars to comply with European
emissions standards. This means no lead, and low
oxides of nitrogen and diesel fume emissions. We have
also made it a point to check emissions of trucks and
taxis on a regular basis.
there were solutions, but we were unsure
whether the government had the political
will to get it done.
When you were handed the responsibility of the
Singapore River and Kallang Basin clean-up, what
were your initial thoughts? Did it seem an impossible
feat at that time?
Mr Lee wanted a cleaned-up environment in 10
years. It came as a surprise, but our chaps felt that
from a technical point of view it could be done.
What concerned us more was the social and political
dimension. How are you going to clear squatters and
bumboats? How are you going to clear street hawkers
and motor vehicle repair workshops? Technically,
The secret of success was providing people
with that alternative. For example, one of the
things we did in the early days was to register
all street hawkers. Everyone else who came
after that was considered illegal. Once
they were licensed, they were eligible to
move into hawker centres. The engineering
challenge was just to build the infrastructure
fast enough to keep up with policy demands.
There were people who resisted change,
especially those who had really good
We understand that relocating settlements
was one of the most challenging obstacles
you had to face during the early crackdown
on pollution sources. How did you balance
the very human reality people faced during
this time with larger national priorities?
It was a straight for ward solution. The
way th e g over n m ent a p p ro a ch e d th e
whole thing was to set down policies and
objectives, but it didn’t evict anyone from
their squatter huts or from the streets. It
always gave an alternative. For instance, it
built hawker centres to house food hawkers.
You must think of the era in the 1960s and
1970s — people were happy to move out
of slums and into new HDB flats which had
proper infrastructure, sanitation, garbage
collection and water.
business at street corners. They felt moving
even a few hundred yards could be bad for
business. As civil servants, we didn’t get
too involved in the political dimension. The
politicians, such as the respective Members
of Parliament, were all quite positive and
helpful in assisting us. That left us to get on
with our work.
How do you think that has changed today?
Many Singaporeans now have computers
and express their views openly. Back in
those days, there were no such things.
People were grateful for new homes and
infrastructure and to get on with life and
move up socially.
W h e n i t c a m e t o c h a n g i n g p e o p l e ’s
behaviour in relation to pollution, what do
you think were the most effective means
to curb negative behaviour?
T h e re we re t wo a s p e c t s . F i r s t l y, we
provided the infrastructure. With factories,
we told them that the waste water must be
sent to the sewer. With domestic premises,
we p rov i d e d s a n i t a t i o n a n d g a r b a g e
removal. We had campaigns to educate
people on keeping Singapore clean and
green, and on health education. Secondly,
we provided alternatives to bad behaviour:
fines and court for those who choose not
to comply. In the last 30 to 40 years, our
lit tering problem has improved vastly.
There will always be a small minorit y
that doesn’t abide by the laws but it is a
continuous education process.
From a technical point of view, what do
you think were the key technologies or
infrastructural improvements that enabled
this clean-up?
You are asking a theoretical question.
We had to deal with what we had back
then within Singapore. We awarded local
co nt ra c to rs co nt ra c t s t h ro u g h p ro p er
tender systems for construction works,
and the system proved successful. We
seldom appointed consultants and experts.
We knew what the objectives were, the
solution, and the desired outcomes. We just
did basic engineering work.
So you feel it’s often better to rely on local
expertise and simple solutions?
External advisors don’t always understand
the local context and environment. We did
have some experts who helped us identify
sources of pollution and some possibilities of
what could be done. For example, we hired
an Australian air pollution consultant to take
a basic inventory of air pollution sources
in Jurong industrial estate, after which we
followed up and implemented the solutions.
Landed properties in those days were also
designated with specific washing areas that
linked directly to the sewer. You don’t need
high technology.
48
49
What were the engineering constraints
you faced with the project, and what sort
of techniques did you use to meet them?
We made do with what we had. For example,
when laying sewers, we always used local
labour and locally available timber sections
for shoring deep sewer trenches. In advanced
countries, steel sheet piles were used. But
they were and still are very expensive. We
also used bakau piles for foundations instead
of concrete piles. This timber originates from
mangrove swamps in Indonesia and lasts a
long time in moist conditions in the ground.
1
When investigating environmental
solutions, were there international case
studies or other cities you looked at to
model the improvements for Singapore?
When I was working towards air pollution
co nt ro l s o l u t i o n s , I w a s s e nt to N ew
Zealand and Australia for training. For
waste water treatment, I went to Chicago,
California, the U K , and Germany. This
w a s b a ck a ro u n d 19 6 9, a n d we we re
also looking into advanced waste water
treatment technology. In the US, they were
experimenting with ion exchange and
reverse osmosis processes. We are using
them today.
What were the major barriers to adopting
such technologies at that time?
Don’t forget technology cost s money.
Reverse osmosis, when we first setup our
experimental plant in Jurong in 1974, worked
out to cost about S$7 to S$8 per 1,000
gallons of water. It was uneconomical. But
since then the membranes have improved.
Less pressure is needed to push water
through it now, so less energy is required,
which in turn brings down the overall costs
of producing clean water through recycling.
As Chairman of the Public Utilities
Board from 1978 to 2000, how do you
feel Singapore has progressed over the
decades in its bid to secure vital resources
like clean water and clean air?
When you think about it purely as essential
commodities for life, water and air quality
had gradual and progressive improvements.
Technology improved, recycling costs came
down, but conventional water treatment is
still expensive.
2
1. Tugboats docked along the riverbank, circa 1980s
2. Bumboats docked along the banks of the Singapore River
What’s big now is recycling. We don’t need
more big dams. The great thing about
membrane technology is that the land
footprint for a NEWater plant is very small.
To build a conventional water treatment
plant that handles millions of litres of
water a day occupies a much larger track
Singapore River today with Fullerton Hotel in the background
of l a n d . T h u s , m e m b r a n e te c h n o l o g y
makes much more sense in the context of
land-scarce Singapore.
Numerous technical innovations have
become available in recent years
in monitoring and environmental
m a n a g e m e n t . N E A i s e x p l o r i n g n ew
systems that leverage on technology
to help streamline and consolidate the
nationwide approach to environmental
management. Do you have any thoughts
on how new technology might be used?
Let me put it this way: These systems do
not solve all the problems. No matter how
sophisticated the alarms, you still have to
deal with the original problem. In the US,
with Hurricane Irene recently, the forecast
could only be so good as to advise people to
move out of the area. They could not prevent
any flooding. In the case of Singapore, it
is well and good to have this monitoring
system for public relations purposes, say to
warn people ahead of a storm and identify
potential flooding areas.
The solution to a storm is still in dealing
with the storm water. In a practical sense,
you need to look at how reliable technology
is — systems can still fail. Technology can
be useful but not replace the need for
improving infrastructure.
If it’s not technology for technology sake,
what can we fall back on?
B u i l d b e t t e r i n f r a s t r u c t u r e . To b e a
developed city, the ability to maintain the
system is the most important thing. With
sanitation, sewers more than 30 or 50 years
old are relined by PUB rather than dug up.
Before this technology was developed, it
was costly to dig up and replace sewers.
Now you can extend the life of sewerage
infrastructure by another 50 years with
minimal disruption.
The Singapore government has been fairly
proactive in terms of educating the public
on the environment. Do you have any
thoughts on these programmes, or how
they could be further refined or expanded?
Education is a continuous process. It doesn’t
take effect overnight. Just like making
NEWater drinkable, you have to do it in
stages. Our littering problem has improved,
and the smoking problem as well. Hardly
anyone smokes in enclosed air-conditioned
b u i l d i n gs a ny m o re. El i m i nati n g t h e s e
problems completely is idealistic but we
have to constantly work at it.
What do you think are the threats to
Singapore’s environmental sustainability
in the long run? Do you think threats like
climate change will affect the geography,
environment and infrastructure?
You have touched a very political topic.
I’m agnostic about climate change. The
assumptions are now that climate change
is man-made. There are other schools
of thought that explore natural cycles in
climate. I’m not saying that human activities
don’t contribute to it with the abundant
use of fossil fuels, but compared to energy
given off by a solar flare, or materials
given off by volcanic eruption — it puts
the issue in perspective. There are many
natural phenomena beyond our control.
Can we do anything about it? Not really.
We are a small countr y. There may be
data to show that there is, say, a sea-level
rise... but this might be caused by natural
geophysical phenomena. We could probably
do something about it, but take for example
the Maldives when the tsunami struck —
parts were inundated with water, but the
people came back and continued their lives.
In general, are there lessons you could
share from your experience in changing
public perceptions and behaviours relating
to environment and natural resources like
water? How could civil servants today
co nt i n u e to a d v a n ce t h e ca u s e s yo u
started back in the early days?
I come from a civil engineering background
and many people today might not agree with
my views. Being a Permanent Secretary and
an engineer, I had the responsibility to get
things done. I mobilised people, delegated,
and chose the right people whom I could rely
on, and empowered them to do the job. The
most important thing in management I’ve
learned is to delegate and people must learn
to accept responsibility. If you are given a
job and you accept the responsibility, then
I don’t have to second guess what you’re
doing or why you’re doing it.
50
51
24-25 May 2011
Recent environmental
news and events
in Singapore
22 April 2011
Youth for the
Environment Day
Energy Efficiency
National Partnership
(EENP) Awards
To recognise companies in the manufacturing sector for their
efforts in implementing programmes to reduce energy wastage
and improve energy efficiency, the Energy Efficiency National
Partnership (EENP) Awards Ceremony was held in conjunction with
the National Energy Efficiency Conference (NEEC) 2011. The EENP
Awards aims to foster a culture of sustained energy efficiency
improvement and encourage companies to adopt a more proactive
approach towards energy management by profiling positive
examples for emulation. The recipients of the EENP Awards, which
were presented by the Minister for the Environment and Water
Resources, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, were:
Excellence
in Energy
Management
Category
1. Pfizer Asia Pacific Pte Ltd
2. Glaxo Wellcome Manufacturing Pte Ltd
Best Practices
Category
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Best Practices
Category
(Honourable
Mention)
1. Eagle Services Asia Pte Ltd
2. Glaxo Wellcome Manufacturing Pte Ltd
Outstanding
Energy Managers
of the Year
Category
Mr Yeo Yee Pang, Engineering Manager,
Glaxo Wellcome Manufacturing Pte Ltd
Youth for the Environment Day made its debut on 22 April 2011 —
Earth Day. Launched by National Environment Agency (NEA) and
supported by the Ministry of Education (MOE), the annual event
encourages youths to take ownership of the environment by
safeguarding, nurturing and cherishing it for future generations. It will
be part of MOE’s National Education calendar for local schools.
In conjunction with this year’s event, more than 130 primary and
secondary schools, junior colleges and ITEs organised environmentrelated activities to promote energy efficiency, recycling, nature
appreciation and litter-free surroundings. More schools are expected
to join in next year.
There were 11 recipients (across five categories) who received the
EcoFriend award from NEA for their contributions to the environment.
They were selected from a pool of over 300 nominees.
1
Ascendas Land (S) Pte Ltd
City Developments Limited
Eastman Chemicals Singapore Pte Ltd
MSD International GmbH
Pfizer Asia Pacific Pte Ltd
3
April 2011
May 2011
10 May 2011
MOU Signed With UK
Met Office
The stage has been set for NEA to further boost its climate change
research capabilities through an official MOU signed with the UK
Met Office. NEA’s Meteorological Service Singapore (MSS) will
work with the UK Met Office Hadley Centre, a leading centre for
climate prediction, to expand its current programme on climate
science and lay the groundwork for the establishment of a centre
for climate research.
2
In recognition of its efforts, the Ministry of Manpower was presented
with the “Best Public Sector Agency in Energy Management”
commendation. It recognises an outstanding public sector agency that
has demonstrated exemplary performance and commitment to energy
management efforts and has been proactive in implementing energy
efficiency improvements.
This collaboration will enable MSS to produce reliable projections of
Singapore’s rainfall, temperature, wind and sea levels for different
time scales up to year 2100. These projections will augment NEA’s
Vulnerability Studies to determine the impact of climate change
on Singapore’s urban weather, water resources and coastal areas.
24-25 May 2011
Inaugural National
Energy Efficiency
Conference (NEEC)
& Energy Efficiency
National Partnership
(EENP) Awards
Ceremony 2011
NEA, in partnership with the Economic Development Board and Energy
Market Authority, organised the inaugural National Energy Efficiency
Conference to bring together energy efficiency experts and industry
energy professionals to share best practices and case studies. The
conference was held on 24 and 25 May 2011.
It comprised three plenary sessions focusing on industrial energy
efficiency policies and programmes, energy management systems
and high impact energy efficiency retrofits. Separate tracks on energy
efficiency opportunities in industrial systems, high-performance
facilities, energy management information solutions and energy
efficiency benchmarking were held to cater to specific target groups.
More information on the conference and presentation slides can be
found at www.neec2011.sg.
52
15 June 2011
ASEAN Dengue Day
15 June 2011 was officially designated by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as ASEAN Dengue Day — an annual
campaign day to advocate dengue prevention and control.
The theme for the inaugural ASEAN Dengue Day was “Dengue
is everybody’s concern, causing socio-economic burden, but it is
preventable.”
A ceremony to observe ASEAN Dengue Day was held at the Biopolis,
with Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for the Environment and Water
Resources, and Dr Shin Young-soo, the World Health Organization
(WHO) Regional Director for the Western Pacific, gracing the occasion.
To mark the significance of the day, the Environmental Health Institute
(EHI) was officially inaugurated as a WHO Collaborating Centre for the
Reference and Research of Arbovirus and their Associated Vectors.
In his address, the Minister noted that the designation by the WHO
demonstrates its appreciation of EHI as a value partner and takes the
partnership to a higher level, and urged EHI to forge closer links with
other institutions so that working together, the region as a whole
would be better prepared to tackle arboviral disease.
Dr Shin reiterated that dengue cannot be fought merely at the level of
a health response as it is also an environmental problem, and this
requires everyone, from households to national governments to work
together to eliminate mosquitoes.
Apart from the inauguration ceremony, NEA also organised a series
of community road shows to create public awareness and reinforce
the key message of personal responsibility. NEA and the Ministry of
Health also co-organised a dengue symposium titled Tackling The
Dengue Challenge.
1 July 2011
3R programme to improve
waste management
and recycling rate in the
hotel industry
To improve waste management in the hotel industry, the Singapore
Hotel Association (SHA) and National Environment Agency (NEA)
jointly launched the “3R (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) Programme for
Hotels”, in conjunction with the Singapore Green Hotel Award 2011.
This initiative aims to help hotels achieve better waste management
and increase waste recycling rates. This is part of ongoing outreach
efforts to encourage different industry sectors to play their part to
recycle and contribute towards the recycling rate target of 70%
by 2030. Currently, it is estimated that hotels in Singapore produce
about 60,000 tonnes of solid waste a year and less than 10% of the
waste is being recycled.
The 3R programme, a voluntary commitment by hotels, will require
the hotel partners to set up a system to reduce solid waste, which
entails the formation of a committee. The green committee will
conduct waste audits, set waste reduction and recycling goals,
and review existing practices. The NEA will provide training to the
committee so that they are equipped with relevant knowledge and
skills to develop their 3R plans.
Waste Management
Symposium 2011
On 5 July 2011, 220 delegates congregated at Marina Mandarin
Singapore for the annual Waste Management Symposium.
They comprised environmental experts, representatives of
regulatory institutions and private industry professionals.
The event, jointly organised by the Waste Management &
Recycling Association of Singapore (WMRAS) and NEA, provided
insights into the opportunities and trends for the waste
management market in Singapore as well as the region.
Two Memorandums of Understanding were signed during the
Symposium. The first was between WMRAS and Harry Elias
Partnership LLP, and the second was between WMRAS and the
Singapore Business Federation.
Engineering Manager of Shangri-La Hotel, Singapore.
WasteMET Asia, an inaugural conference and exhibition for
Asia’s solid waste management and environmental technology
industries, was announced at the Symposium. It is a partner
event to the CleanEnviro Summit Singapore, an international
event organised by NEA and slated to take place in July 2012,
alongside the World Cities Summit and Singapore International
Water Week.
July 2011
2012 — Our Milestone Year
At the event, Senior Minister of State for Ministry of the Environment
Ms Grace Fu presented the Singapore Green Hotel Award to
Mr Thomas Schmitt-Glaeser, Resident Manager and Mr Edwin,
June 2011
5 July 2011
CELEBRATING
10
YEARS OF NEA
To commemorate NEA’s 10-year journey in keeping Singapore clean and green, NEA will embark on a yearlong celebration to pay tribute to the collective efforts rendered by our staff, partners and the community
that has helped provide a quality living environment for all to enjoy. The year-long celebration in 2012 will
include an array of engaging activities including Staff Appreciation Day, Youth Environment Day (YED) and an
NEA 10th Anniversary Exhibition which showcases NEA’s commitment to the environment. NEA will also be
doing its part in giving back to the society through various fundraising events such as a Charity Dinner and
Charity Run. Stay tuned for more announcements on upcoming happenings!
Photograph courtesy of Shangri-La Hotel, Singapore
53
54
The
Change to
Euro 5
REGULATORY UPDATES ON
ENVIRONMENTAL
AND POLICY MATTERS
The Switch from Euro 4 to Euro 5 Emissions Standards
We are all too familiar with the haze that envelops Singapore from time to time. For some,
the ashy smog goes only so far as to cause some breathing discomfort. For others, it can be
detrimental to health.
The culprit? Minute particulate matter, some of it with an aerodynamic diameter of less than 2.5
μm (PM 2.5) — 1/20 the size of a human hair strand.
Health Hazards
Measurements:
μ (micro) = 10-6 (one millionth)
μm = micrometre
μg/m3 = micrograms per cubic metre
ppm = parts per million
According to the American Heart Association (AHA), short-term exposure to particulate matter
from air pollution contributes to acute cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Over the long
term, prolonged exposure can reduce life expectancy by a few years. PM 2.5, in particular,
leads to an increased risk of myocardial infarction (heart attack), cerebrovascular accident
(stroke), arrhythmia (inconsistent heart rate), and heart failure exacerbation within hours to
days of exposure in susceptible individuals. It can also cause decreased lung function, and the
development of chronic bronchitis.
Although the annual haze hazard from forest-burning is a contributor, much of Singapore’s
PM 2.5 air pollution comes from local sources. They include diesel vehicle emissions, industrial
activities, wind-blown dust and sea salts.
The Implementation Plan
Each PM 2.5
particle is less
than 1/20 of a
hair’s thickness.
Human hair
In a bid to improve existing air quality standards in Singapore, NEA has drawn up a set of
blueprints which will progressively see the country switch from Euro 4 to Euro 5 emission
standards. The following implementation plan to convert diesel vehicles to Euro 5 has since
been approved:
•
Emission standards for diesel vehicles will be revised to Euro 5 from 1 January 2014
•
Near Sulphur-free Diesel (NSFD) — diesel fuel with sulphur content less than 10 ppm — will
be mandated from 1 July 2013 to pave the way for the implementation of Euro 5
55
Euro 5 Technology
Did you know ?
Euro 5 diesel vehicles emit 80 per cent
less particulates than
Euro 4 diesel vehicles.
Cleaner
air out
Exhaust in
Arguments for the Implementation
Formed in 2008, the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Sustainable
Development (IMCSD) developed a national framework alongside key
strategies for Singapore’s sustainable development. One of the targets
for clean air was to reduce PM 2.5 levels in ambient air to 12 μg/m3
by 2020. Singapore’s annual average of 17 µg/m³ still exceeds the US
Environmental Protection Agency’s (USEPA) standard of 15 µg/m³ — 14
years since it was adopted by the US.
A 2006 study commissioned by NEA estimated that for every µg/m³
increase in PM 2.5, the economic cost on the health of Singaporeans is
about US$19 million per year.
On 1 October 2006, Euro 4 emissions standards were implemented
for diesel vehicles to reduce PM 2.5 levels in order to meet the USEPA
standard of 15 µg/m³. However, emissions standards need to be further
tightened for the government to achieve its target of 12 µg/m³ by 2020,
as mapped out in the Sustainable Singapore Blueprint. Studies have
proven that Euro 5 diesel vehicles emit 80 per cent less particulates
than Euro 4 diesel vehicles.
Key Considerations
Availability of diesel vehicle models that conform
to Euro 5
The local motor industry needs time to negotiate with their overseas
principals on the allocation of vehicles at the required emissions
standards, clear existing stock of commercial vehicles, and train
maintenance personnel. European vehicles would be able to comply by
early 2012 while Japanese models, in 2014.
Availability of NSFD
Euro 5 diesel vehicles require higher quality diesel. NSFD is necessary
for the fuel injectors and after-treatment devices to function properly.
Oil companies, as a group, have all agreed to supply NSFD by 2014.
Development in International Practice
Key automotive manufacturing countries and regions — which include
the EU, US and Japan — are currently on Euro 5 or Euro 5-equivalent
standards for vehicles. South Korea is following the EU schedule
to implement Euro 5. Hong Kong will adopt Euro 5 once there is a
sufficient supply of Euro 5-compliant vehicle models.
Soot and ash are
trapped on the
channel walls
Diesel Particulate Filter Exhaust Flow
There are a few technologies that have been implemented in Euro
5-practising countries to help vehicles comply with new emissions
standards. One of the prototypes widely used at the moment is
the Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF). Here are some interesting facts
about it:
1. DPFs reduce PM emissions by more than 90 per cent
2. DPFs need to be regenerated periodically to burn off trapped PM
to ensure that the engine continues to function as specified
3.Regeneration results in ash accumulation which over time
creates a resultant back pressure that affects engine
performance. When that happens, they need to be cleaned or
changed completely
Exhaust Gas Recirculation
Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) is another Euro 5 technology that
has been adopted in most Euro 5-compliant heavy vehicles.
EGR functions by re-circulating part of the engine’s exhaust gas
to some of the excess oxygen in the pre-combustion mixture.
EGR lowers combustion chamber temperatures which in turn
reduces the amount of nitrogen oxide (NOx) produced. NOx is a
smog-causing pollutant responsible for acid rain and is itself a
greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming.
Selective Catalytic Reduction
Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) can be said to be a step ahead
of EGR with its ability to deliver near-zero emissions of NOx.
In SCR technology, automotive-grade urea, also known as Diesel
Exhaust Fluid (DEF) is injected into a high temperature exhaust
stack where it interacts with exhaust gases to break NOx into two
benign components: water vapour and nitrogen.
Innovative Clean
Enviro-Solutions for
Asia’s Growing Cities
1 – 4 July 2012 | Sands Expo and Convention Center | Marina Bay Sands | Singapore
The inaugural CleanEnviro Summit Singapore (CESS) is a global
platform for leaders, senior government officials and policy
makers, regulators and industry captains to identify, develop
and share practical solutions to address environmental
challenges for tomorrow’s cities. Organised by Singapore’s
National Environment Agency (NEA), CESS will facilitate the
sharing of insights on the latest environmental market trends
through its plenary sessions and business forums.
A myriad of activities that visitors can expect include the Clean
Environment Leaders Summit, Clean Environment Regulators
Roundtable and WasteMET Asia exhibition and conference
that showcase the latest innovations in waste management,
environmental technology and recycling solutions for Asia.
Online registration will open in February 2012.
Who Should Attend
Enquiries
· Ministers, Governors and Mayors
For more information, visit www.cleanenvirosummit.sg
· Policy makers and Regulators
and www.wastemetasia.sg.
· Heads and Senior Officials from International Organisations
· CEOs, Business Strategists and Industry Leaders
Enquiries: [email protected]
· Technical Experts and Practitioners
· Academia
Organised by:
Strategic partners:
Supported by:
Knowledge Partner:
Partner event:
Co-located events:
Managed by:
For more on Singapore:

First issue`s PDF - National Environment Agency

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