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Circular Economy Singapore
Advancing Singapore’s Circular Economy: Opportunities and Challenges
Singapore is making significant strides toward embracing a circular economy, driven by the pressing need for sustainable growth and climate resilience. The Zero Waste Master Plan, supported by the Resource Sustainability Act of 2019, forms the backbone of Singapore’s efforts to reduce waste and increase recycling. Key goals include a 30% reduction in waste sent to landfills by 2035 and achieving a 70% overall recycling rate.
Learning from the European Union
The EU’s circular economy model offers valuable lessons for Singapore. The EU emphasizes a waste hierarchy that prioritizes recycling over energy recovery, measurable targets for waste reduction, and extended producer responsibility (EPR) for e-waste and packaging. Notably, the EU has banned certain single-use plastics and mandated that all plastic packaging be reusable or recyclable by 2030.
Collaboration Opportunities
Singapore and the EU share aligned goals and can benefit from bilateral collaboration in the following areas:
1. Policy Integration: Enhancing Singapore’s Zero Waste Master Plan using insights from the EU’s Circular Economy Action Plan.
2. Plastics Recycling: Adopting EU strategies for reducing single-use plastics and improving recovery rates.
3. Green Public Procurement (GPP): Leveraging EU expertise to strengthen Singapore’s eco-labeling schemes and procurement policies.
4. Research and Innovation: Jointly exploring cutting-edge solutions for circularity in waste management and recycling.
Innovation as Our Competitive Edge
Singapore’s strength lies in its ability to innovate. We’ve seen this in projects like chemical recycling into NEWoil and turning incinerator ash into construction materials. But innovation cannot exist in isolation. It must be scaled, commercialized, and supported by strong policy frameworks. For instance, the introduction of Green Public Procurement (GPP) mandates could create a thriving market for recycled and eco-friendly products, much like the EU’s eco-labeling schemes.
Singapore also has a unique opportunity to foster public-private partnerships. The collaboration between Alba and Wah Hua to digitalize waste collection in Jurong is a prime example. Scaling such initiatives nationwide, while integrating global best practices, could place Singapore as a model for the ASEAN region.