🧍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 area does the landfill cover?
350 hectares
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?
It is treated in a dedicated leachate treatment plant to national discharge standards, 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
