Singapore Case Study

Question 1

Where is it (3)

Answer 1

SE Asia
3rd richest nation by GDP per capita
Densely populated = 4.2 million

Question 2

Increase of waste (3)

Answer 2

Rapid industrialisation + rising prosperity
1970s - 2000s = 6-fold increase

Question 3

Current waste approach (5)

Answer 3

Avoid creating waste
Public campaign by gov = 3Rs
Companies must pay for collection + disposal
26 cash for trash schemes around city = encourages recycling
60% of Singaporeans recycle now

Question 4

Timeline (3+)

Answer 4

Late 1970s = gov changed from landfill to incineration
Early 2000s= 2.4m tonnes incinerated in 2000 = begins landfill site on Semakau (filled in 2040)

Question 5

2017 onwards

Answer 5

4 incineration plants - 3% of Singapore’s energy use

Question 6

Success (3)

Answer 6

Electricity from heat = power 125000 4 bedroom flats
Waste reduced by 90%
Semakau topped = vegetation = rare species = Malaysian plovers

Question 7

Singapores target

Answer 7

Zero waste, zero landfill target

Question 8

Failures of waste to energy plants (3)

Answer 8

Semakau = filled by 2040
Incinerators only last 10 years
2.98 million tonnes still to be incinerated

Question 9

Conclusion of waste to energy plants (4)

Answer 9

Economically and environmentally better than landfill
Lack of space = incineration is most effective way
Recycling = only 60% success rate = not enough for zero target
Singapore needs to increase public uptake of the 3Rs = to reach target