Possible ideas

More recyclable collectors

More recyclable collectors companies that focuses on recycling should be given the opportunity to operate in Singapore. They own the necessary recycling technology and capabilities to handle recycling. If contracts for collection of general waste and recyclables are separated, it provides an opportunity for specialised companies to venture into Singapore. This also creates a good investment opportunity for the government to improve the recycling rates in Singapore and kick start an economy for recycled materials.

Use coporate social responsibility activity

Organisations and NGOs partnering with major packaging waste industries (F&B and consumer goods) to reduce plastic packaging of their products. These industries can account for this as their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activity. (CSR) is a management concept where social and environmental concerns are integrated in their business operations and interactions with their stakeholders. They can increase their brand reputation and have a positive impact on the environment.

3D Printing

Shredding recycled plastic for 3D Printing. There are companies coming up with machines to produce plastic filaments to be used for 3D printing machines. For example, 3D printing for prosthetics and other medical devices. This increases the demand for recycled plastics and reduces new plastics used for the 3D printing process. In addition, it contributes to the advancement of the biomedicine industry and a circular economy.

Improve waste management centre

Artificial intelligence systems can be programmed to support the waste management sector in Singapore. A $21million funding program by NEA, Environment Technology Research Programme (ETRP) aims to improve technological capability and support companies and researchers in waste management research. Their main aim is on projects in waste management. For example, energy recovery, materials recovery and special waste treatment

Use of pyrolysis technology

Pyrolysis technology convert plastics to oil and fuel. The plastics is converted to gas then converted to liquid, followed by acid removal process and finally, the separation or refining. This helps us to conquer shortage of landfill space, improve the recycling efforts of plastics, aid Singapore’s petrochemical segments for economic growth.

More recycling chutes/Centralised Chute for Recyclables on every floor

Of the 16 BTO projects with the chutes, most of the blocks are located in Punggol, Sengkang, and Dawson. As sorting could be done at the sorting facility, residents can just throw their recyclables into the recycling chute without sorting. Making it more convenient to recycle is definitely a plus point as residents could drop recyclables into the chute at any time, without having to travel to the nearest recycling bin far away. Treelodge@Punggol was HDB's first eco-precinct and was the first BTO project with this feature. Treelodge residents have to discard lesser than those staying in another estate in Punggol - 40.4kg to 49.9kg per household in a month vs 50.7kg to 77.2kg. After a year of data collection of those with similar household size staying in Treelodge vs other estates, the data showed that the amount of recyclable waste collected from Treelodge is 3x more than the other estate.

Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)

This policy shifts the cost of managing post-use products to the producers of those products. EPR laws ensure the companies are held responsible for the collection, treatment and disposal of their products after they’ve been used. Businesses (brand owners, manufacturers, importers of packaging and packaged goods, as well as supermarkets) will have to report the type and amount of packaging they have used to the NEA, and create plans to reduce them. Collected recyclable material can undergo processing and be used back into new packaging.