🌆CASE STUDY - Semakau Landfill Flashcards
Where is Semakau Landfill?
Singapore
What is the population of Singapore?
5.6 milion
Why are such large amounts of waste produced?
Due to the urban nature of the entire country
How has waste output increased?
From 1260 tonnes per day in 1970 to 8559 tonnes per day in 2016, a 6 fold increase
How much of its waste does Singapore recycle?
More than half
What waste disposal method has Singapore adopted?
Waste-to-energy as it incinerates rubbish to generate electricity
How much does incineration reduce the volume of waste by?
90%
Where is the 10% of non-combustible waste and ash sent?
To the Semakau Landfill
Why is Semakau unique?
It is Singapore’s only landfill
How are environmental impacts reduced at the incineration plants?
They are fitted with electrostatic precipitators, lime injectors and fabric filters to treat and clean flue gas from the combustion process
What is heat from incineration used for?
Generating steam in boilers, which drive turbines and produce electricity
How much electricity was generated by incineration plants in 2005?
938,000MWh
What capacity does the landfill have?
63 million m3
How was the landfill created?
The island was dug out with a 7km perimeter embankment
What was the embankment lined with?
An impermeable membrane to prevent leachate entering the sea
What happens to leachate generated at the plant?
Treated and the effluent is discharged into the sea
What happened in July 2005?
The landfill was opened for recreational activities and now receives thousands of visitors
What was planted around the island?
13.6 hectares of mangroves to replace those uprooted during the construction of the landfill
What is located around the perimeter bund of the island?
A network of monitoring wells to indicate pollution should there be a leak in the impermeable membrane
How do the mangroves aid the island?
They act as secondary indicators of pollution should there be a leak
What happens when the landfill cell is filled to ground level?
It is covered with earth and grass to allow a new ecosystem to thrive
Why is it crucial that Singapore has an efficient system of waste collection and disposal?
Very limited land area
Dense population
How is wasted collected?
How often is it collected?
Bin trucks
Once a fortnight
Where does the waste collected go?
Goes to recycling and incineration plants
Semakau, offshore landfill
How much of the waste produced in 2012 was recycled?
60%
How much of the waste produced was transported to Semakau?
3%
How long is Semakau estimated to last before becoming full?
What happens after this?
1999- 2045
Singapore will once again have the dilemma of where to put their waste
How much of Singapore’s energy does waste burning generate?
2-3%
What could be done with the ash from incineration in the future?
Advantages of this?
Used for pavements (currently being tested)
Sends less to landfill
What is the other use of Semakau?
Activities that happen here?
Eco Park
Bird watching and stargazing
How does Semakau enhance biodiversity?
Home to more than 700 plants, animals and endangered species
What percentage of toxic gases and metals are removed with the pollution filters in the incineration plant?
99%
What heat and power complex is in Copenhagen?
Amager Bakke
Where is the Amager Bakke complex?
Copenhagen
How much did the Amager Bakke complex cost?
$611m
How many homes does the Amager Bakke complex cost?
150,000
How many tonnes of waste can the Amager Bakke complex treat?
400,000t
Why is the Amager Bakke complex unique?
Ski slope on roof to offer recreation
Redditch crematorium
. Uses heat from burning to heat a swimming pool
. Reduces gas bill by 40%
What was the Samaku landfill originally home to and who took it over?
Subsistence fishermen and it was taken over by the Singapore government
How much did the Singapore Semakau Landfill Site cost (phase 1 and 2)?
Phase 1 - 1999 - $610 million
Phase 2 - 2015 - $36 million
How big is the Semakau Landfill?
3.5sqkm
What was set up in 2017 on the island?
Singapore’s largest wind turbine and a solar generation plant
What could 90 hectares of the island be turned into?
A self-sustaining eco-park
How many public recycling bags are there in Singapore and how often are they collected?
6000 public bins - every 2 weeks
