Recycling of Domestic Waste: Early Experiences in Singapore

Abstract

Rapid economic growth in Singapore has resulted in a large increase in refuse output. Landfill sites and incinerators are now reaching capacity levels and the need to build new ones is putting pressure on Singapore's limited land resources. In response to this as well as to rising collection, infrastructure and operating costs, a waste minimisation strategy was initiated by the Ministry of the Environment in 1990. By 1995, it has resulted, among other things, in the establishment of 1,313 waste recycling centres and the undertaking of various pilot recycling projects in housing estates. Despite some good initial participation rates from residents in pilot projects, findings from a 2 yr old recycling project in a public housing estate show that the present level of participation by residents there is low with the core reasons being that of inconvenience, lack of incentives and unfamiliarity. For better results, it is suggested that future efforts should improve on the operational, publicity, educational and financial aspects of recycling schemes. © 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.