Singapore's recycling rate falls to 52% in 2023, decline from 10 years ago

SINGAPORE: The overall recycling rate in Singapore has declined from 62 per cent to 52 per cent over the last decade, according to the National Environment Agency’s (NEA) latest statistics on waste and recycling.

In particular, paper recycling dropped from more than 50 per cent in 2013 to 31 per cent in 2023. This is largely due to structural factors such as freight costs and commodity prices, the agency said in a media release on Wednesday (Jun 19).

In 2023, about 6.86 million tonnes of solid waste were generated, of which 3.55 million tonnes were recycled. This amounts to an overall recycling rate of 52 per cent, down from 57 per cent in 2022.

Under Singapore’s Zero Waste Masterplan, the country aims to increase its overall recycling rate to 70 per cent by 2030.

The drop is due to the amount of construction and demolition waste - which is almost completely recycled - "dropping significantly" last year, said NEA.

Construction and demolition waste, which is a key industrial waste stream that is generated in large amounts, decreased by more than 40 per cent in 2023 compared to 2022, as there were fewer demolition projects, the agency explained.

Sharp year-on-year changes in the amount of waste would result in "huge fluctuations" to the overall recycling rates, NEA added.

The latest statistics also showed that the domestic recycling rate remained at 12 per cent, while the non-domestic recycling rate decreased from 72 per cent in 2022 to 67 per cent.

DECREASE IN DOMESTIC WASTE

The domestic waste generated per capita - collected from households and trade premises such as schools and hawker centres - also decreased by more than 15 per cent over the last decade.

In 2023, the daily domestic waste generated per capita was 0.88kg, down from 1.08kg in 2013.

Non-domestic waste per dollar Gross Domestic Product generated at industrial and commercial premises also fell from 40 tonnes in 2013 to 26 tonnes last year - a more than 30 per cent drop.

The decrease in waste generated indicates that households and companies have taken "positive steps" to reduce and reuse, said NEA.

The agency added that it will continue to study new ways to close the various resource loops. This includes looking into using mixed materials from Singapore's only landfill Semakau - which is made up of incineration ashes and other waste materials - for reclamation.

During a speech at the joint opening of the Singapore International Water Week and CleanEnviro Summit on Wednesday, Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu said that the government is exploring new technologies that could generate higher-value products from mixed solid waste, while also reducing carbon emissions.

NEA will assess the information gathered on the industry’s interests and the commercial viability of these technologies, she said. 

Where suitable, pilot trials may be conducted to evaluate the potential of expansion to full-size disposal facilities, added Ms Fu.

NEA on Wednesday highlighted that there is a "greater urgency" for everyone to build a sustainability culture to reduce, reuse, and recycle. 

"By reducing waste and recycling right, we can do our part to combat climate change and ensure that Singapore remains clean, green, and liveable," it added.