WASTE MANAGEMENT LAW & POLICY IN JAPAN AND SOUTH KOREA, WITH PARTICULAR FOCUS ON FOOD WASTES: LESSONS FOR SINGAPORE

Abstract

The annual generation of waste in Singapore was 1,280 tonnes/day in 1970 and reached 8,289 tonnes/day in 2013. This growth rate, as well as our usual disposal methods, are no longer sustainable and viable due to land scarcity. The day will come when we run out of land for incineration plants and landfills.

The annual generation of food waste in Singapore was 558,900 tonnes in 2007 and reached 796,000 tonnes in 2013. As Semakau Landfill only accepts inert wastes that are inorganic, the majority of food waste is incinerated with the remaining 10% to 15% recycled. Food that is wasted causes adverse environmental, economic and social impacts. Diverting food waste from incineration might extend the lifespan of our landfill. Food waste can be converted into animal feed, compost and biogas.

As the demand for animal feed and compost is limited due to scarcity of land for their utilization, this paper recommends the conversion of food waste into biogas, which can be used to generate electricity.

The government has been studying overseas food waste recycling efforts and best practices, in particular, developed Asian cities (such as Tokyo, Seoul and Taipei) which have the same urban setting as Singapore, in a bid to improve food waste recycling rates. This paper examines the laws governing food waste recycling in Japan and South Korea. Their experiences and success can provide invaluable lessons for Singapore if she were to adopt similar laws. This paper calls for legislation to mandate food waste separation at source and separate collection, a pay-as-you-throw system for food wastes, and the recycling of food wastes into biogas, backed by policies, education, enforcement and incentives, to raise awareness of the issues and fundamentally change the wasteful behaviour of consumers.