Hanoi (VNA) - Singapore's daily domestic waste generation per capita has declined steadily over the past decade, falling from more than 1.05 kg in 2014 to 0.85 kg in 2024, according to data released by Singapore’s National Environment Agency (NEA) on July 23.
Waste generated at industrial and commercial premises has also decreased. Daily non-domestic waste generated per billion SGD of gross domestic product (GDP) dropped from approximately 35 tonnes in 2014 to around 23 tonnes in 2024.
However, Singapore's overall recycling rate fell from 60% to 50% over the same period.
The NEA attributed the decline in recycling rates to two main factors. First, there has been a decrease in the volume of construction and demolition waste, as well as used slag generation. Since these waste streams are almost entirely recycled, the reduced quantities resulted in a significant impact on the overall recycling rate.
Second, the paper recycling rate saw a decline from 52% in 2014 to 32% in 2024, driven by factors such as the cost of collecting and freight as well as commodity prices.
Looking ahead, the agency said it will continue efforts to reduce waste generation and improve recycling. Key focus areas include food, paper, and plastics, which account for the bulk of unrecycled waste in Singapore./.
