How Singapore fixed its big trash problem | CNBC Reports

Summary

The video script highlights the global waste crisis, with 2 billion tonnes of trash generated annually, expected to rise to 3.4 billion by 2050. It emphasizes the environmental and health impacts, particularly on the poor, and explores sustainable waste management solutions like Singapore's waste-to-energy plants. The script calls for collective action to reduce, reuse, and recycle, urging citizens, businesses, and governments to address the issue for future generations.

Takeaways

• 🌏 The world produces over 2 billion tonnes of trash annually, enough to fill 800,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools.
• 🔥 Approximately one-third of global waste is either openly dumped or burned, posing environmental and health risks.
• 📈 By 2050, the annual rubbish generation is expected to rise to 3.4 billion tonnes, highlighting the urgency of effective waste management strategies.
• 🏭 Waste management includes collection, treatment, and disposal, with sources ranging from residential to industrial facilities.
• 😷 The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a roughly 40% increase in medical waste, adding to the complexity of waste management.
• 🏘️ Often, the poor are most affected by inadequate waste management services, either due to lack of access or improper waste disposal in their communities.
• 🌐 Plastic waste makes up 12% of global waste, but it is overshadowed by food and organic matter, as well as paper and cardboard scraps.
• 🔥 Open dumping of waste, which accounts for 33% of global waste disposal, is increasingly recognized as harmful and governments are seeking more sustainable alternatives.
• 🌳 Singapore, a densely populated country, has successfully recycled over half of the 7 million tonnes of waste generated in 2019.
• 🔄 The Tuas South Incineration Plant in Singapore is a prime example of waste-to-energy conversion, reducing waste volume by 90% and generating electricity.
• 🚫 Despite high recycling rates in developed nations, high-income countries generate a disproportionate amount of global waste relative to their population size.

Q & A

How much trash does the world generate annually?

The world generates more than 2 billion tonnes of trash every year.

What is the comparison of the amount of trash generated to the volume of Olympic-sized swimming pools?

The annual trash generation is enough to fill over 800,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools.

What proportion of the world's waste is openly dumped or burned?

About a third of the world's waste is being openly dumped or burned.

What is the projected increase in annual rubbish generation by 2050?

By the year 2050, the amount of rubbish generated annually is expected to increase to 3.4 billion tonnes.

What percentage of the global waste is plastic waste?

12% of the 2 billion tonnes of waste generated globally is plastic waste.

How has the COVID-19 pandemic affected the amount of medical waste?

With COVID-19, the overall medical waste has increased by about 40%.

What is the main challenge faced by the poor regarding waste management services?

The main challenge faced by the poor is the lack of waste management services due to where they live or waste being dumped by communities.

What are the three main ways trash is treated and disposed of after collection?

The three main ways trash is treated and disposed of are by burning in an incinerator, using a landfill, or dumping it openly without any processing.

What is the significance of the Tuas South Incineration Plant in Singapore?

The Tuas South Incineration Plant is the largest waste incineration facility in Singapore, capable of converting waste into energy.

How much waste is collected daily at the Tuas South Incineration Plant?

In 2019, about 1.08 million tonnes of waste was collected, which is equivalent to about 3,000 tonnes of waste daily.

What is the purpose of the Semakau Landfill in Singapore?

The Semakau Landfill is an off-shore landfill designed to handle incinerated rubbish and is enclosed by a 4.3-mile perimeter rock embankment.

What is Singapore's strategy to extend the life of the Semakau Landfill?

Singapore is working with different government agencies, businesses, and communities to extend the life of the Semakau Landfill, including the possibility of recycling incineration bottom ash into NEWSand for non-structural uses.

What is the current recycling rate among high-income countries?

High-income countries, which account for 16% of the world’s population, generate 34% of global waste but have high rates of recycling.

How did China's ban on imported waste in 2018 affect global waste management?

China's ban on 24 types of imported waste in 2018 forced other countries to reconsider their waste management strategies, as they could no longer export their waste to China.

What is the role of citizens in improving the waste management system?

Citizens play a key role in changing the waste management system by reducing waste, participating in recycling and recovery programs, and being willing to pay for proper waste management services.