How Singapore Handles Six Million Pounds of Trash Daily | WSJ A to B

Summary

Singapore, facing a trash crisis with its only landfill expected to be full by 2035, turns to waste-to-energy incineration plants to manage its 16.3 billion pounds of solid waste annually. These plants convert trash into 120 megawatts of electricity for 240,000 households, while reducing landfill volume by 90%. The country also explores recycling incinerated ash and aims to increase recycling rates to 70% by 2030, emphasizing the importance of consumer education in waste management.

Takeaways

• 🚮 Singapore produced approximately 16.3 billion pounds of solid waste in 2022, with nearly half ending up in its only landfill, Semakau Landfill.
• 🗑️ A significant portion of the Semakau Landfill is already 90% full, and it is estimated that the landfill will be completely filled by 2035.
• 🌍 Given Singapore's small size, it is one of the most densely populated countries in the world, making waste management a critical issue.
• 🔥 Incineration is the current key to Singapore's trash problem, with 42% of waste going to waste-to-energy plants where it is burned, leaving only ash.
• ♻️ 55% of all waste is recycled according to the National Environment Agency (NEA), while only 3% of solid waste is sent to the landfill.
• 🏭 One incineration site collects around 6 million pounds of municipal solid waste a day, which is then processed to generate electricity.
• 🌡 The incinerators reach temperatures of about 1800 degrees Fahrenheit, and the heat generated is used to create steam, which is converted into electricity.
• 🔋 The electricity generated from waste-to-energy plants can power approximately 240,000 households per hour.
• 🌿 The TuasOne waste-to-energy plant is one of the highest electricity generation facilities and is a key part of Singapore's waste management strategy.
• 🌤️ Incineration plants generate slightly more greenhouse gas emissions than natural gas for the same amount of electricity produced but less than coal oil.
• 🚧 The ash and non-incineration waste are transported to Semakau for final disposal, with measures in place to prevent environmental contamination.
• 🔄 Singapore is exploring ways to recycle incinerated bottom ash into new materials and aims to increase recycling rates to 70% by 2030.

Q & A

How much solid waste did Singapore generate in 2022?

Singapore generated around 16.3 billion pounds of solid waste in 2022.

What is the current state of Singapore's only landfill, Semakau Landfill?

A portion of Semakau Landfill is already 90% full, and it is estimated that the island will be completely filled by 2035.

What percentage of Singapore's waste is recycled according to the National Environment Agency (NEA)?

According to the NEA, 55% of all waste is recycled.

What is the primary method Singapore uses to deal with its trash?

The primary method Singapore uses to deal with its trash is incineration.

How much of the trash collected in 2021 went to waste-to-energy plants in Singapore?

In 2021, 42% of trash collected went to waste-to-energy plants.

What is the role of incineration in waste management in Singapore?

Incineration is used to reduce the volume of waste, with the heat generated from the process creating steam in boilers, which is then converted into electricity.

How much electricity can one incineration site generate per hour, and how many households can it power?

One incineration site can generate about 120 megawatts per hour, which can meet the demand of about 240,000 households.

What measures are in place to prevent the landfill from contaminating the surrounding environment?

Measures include the use of an impermeable membrane to prevent leachate from getting into the sea, and wastewater treatment before pumping water out to the sea.

What is the volume of ash produced as a byproduct of the incineration process?

The amount of ash left is roughly 10% of the original volume of the waste.

What is the government's goal for recycling rates by 2030?

The government hopes to increase recycling rates to 70% by 2030.

Why is there a need for consumer education regarding recycling in Singapore?

Consumer education is needed because currently, about 40% of items placed in recycling bins cannot be recycled due to contamination.

What is the historical context of waste management in Singapore before the establishment of waste-to-energy plants?

In the 1960s, before waste-to-energy plants were built, waste was taken to Lorong Halus, where it was dumped and buried.