Waste Management

Waste management in Singapore is overseen by the Inter-Ministerial Committee for Sustainable Development.

Singapore has a well-developed sewage system that adequately provides for all household, industry and commercial developments. All used water (waste water) is collected and treated at water reclamation sites. All solid wastes in Singapore are collected and disposed of by incineration or recycling by one of four plants. Singapore recycles 56% and incinerates 41% of all waste, which avoids methane emissions from landfills. The waste heat generated is then used to generate electricity, and accounts for 2 to 3% of the country total electricity supply. Only 2% of waste generated ends up in landfill, occupying Singapore’s only landfill on Samakau Island. This is a manmade offshore landfill site opened in 1999 and was created by enclosing sea space between two islands.