SME Sustainability Hub

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Stage 1 (LEARN): Building awareness

Learn about the importance of proper waste management in Singapore and how it can benefit your business.

In this page:

1.1 Understanding waste management and why it matters

Waste management presents many positive opportunities for businesses. With proper waste management strategies, you can monitor and improve the use of your inputs such as raw materials and minimise outputs like solid and liquid waste. The monitoring of these factors can lead to improved resource efficiency, reduced disposal costs and an enhanced corporate image1.

In 2023, about 6.86 million tonnes of solid waste were generated in Singapore, of which 3.55 million tonnes (52%) were recycled. Waste generated by the non-domestic and domestic sectors were 4.97 million tonnes and 1.89 million tonnes respectively in 2023. At the current rate, Singapore’s only landfill, Semakau Landfill, is projected to run out of space by 2035. It is crucial for businesses to actively participate in waste management efforts to minimise the burden on Semakau Landfill and to extend its operational life past 2035.

Active waste management efforts by businesses will also help to minimise the burden on Semakau Landfill, which is expected to run out of space by 20352.

Singapore’s key waste management strategy focuses on waste minimisation and recycling, or simply the 3Rs (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle). 

Reduce: avoid waste at source so as to minimise the quantity of waste that needs to be treated or disposed Reuse: to use an object or material again, either for its original or similar purpose, without significantly altering the physical form of the object or material Recycle: the process of transforming waste materials into reusable form which may or may not be similar to the original product

 

DID YOU KNOW?
There are positive signs that companies have taken steps to reduce and reuse waste. Singapore's daily non-domestic waste generated per dollar of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has decreased by more than 30 per cent over the last decade - from 40 tonnes in 2013 to 26 tonnes in 2023.

Towards zero waste and a circular economy 

In Singapore’s journey towards a Zero Waste Nation, we are prioritising on closing three resource loops: food, packaging, and electrical and electronic.

1 1 Waste Main

The Resource Sustainability Act

Introduced in 2019, the Resource Sustainability Act, is an integral part of Singapore’s strategy to build a sustainable, resource-efficient and climate-resilient nation. The Act gives legislative effect to the regulatory measures targeting the three priority waste streams of e-waste, food waste and packaging waste, including plastics. These waste streams have relatively high generation and low recycling rates.

Food waste

Disposal requirements 

Under Part 5 (Food Waste) of the Resource Sustainability Act, large commercial and industrial premises that generate large amounts of food waste are required to segregate their food waste for treatment and reporting. 

The types of buildings and their corresponding thresholds can be found in the Resource Sustainability (Food Waste Segregation, Treatment And Reporting) Regulations 2024.
Packaging waste

Disposal requirements 

Under the Mandatory Packaging Reporting (MPR) scheme, producers of packaged products, such as brand owners, manufacturers and importers, as well as retailers such as supermarkets, will be required to submit packaging data and 3R plans to the NEA3.

Companies that meet all the following criteria are required to comply with MPR requirements under the Resource Sustainability Act: 

  1. Carries on a business of supplying regulated goods in Singapore
  2. Meet the prescribed threshold criteria which is an annual turnover of more than S$10 million
  3. Imports or uses specified packaging

To find out more about the MPR requirements, visit the NEA website.
E-waste

Disposal requirements

Under the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) approach, producers of regulated electrical and electronic products bear the responsibility for the collection and treatment of their products when they reach end-of-life4. To find out more about the EPR System, visit the NEA website.

 

1.2 Benefits of proper waste management

Proper waste management can make good business sense. The benefits of practising the 3Rs go beyond reducing waste sent to disposal sites. It also yields many positive outcomes such as: 

20250421 Waste Stage 1.2 Benefits of Proper Waste Mgt

Resources for you

Training - Waste Management

Training
Learn about the importance of proper waste management in Singapore and how it can benefit your business.

Zero Waste Manager Course

Training
The course supports businesses to build competencies in waste management and integrate 3Rs into organisational culture.

Zero Waste Masterplan

Guide
The Zero Waste Masterplan sets out Singapore's strategies towards our vision of a Zero Waste Nation.

Packaging Partnership Programme

Programme
The PPP supports companies in pursuing sustainable packaging waste management practices and fulfilling regulatory requirements.

1 National Environment Agency, '3R Guidebook for Industrial, 3R Guidebook for Hotels
2 National Environment Agency, 'Waste Statistics and Overall Recycling', (2023)
3 National Environment Agency, 'Mandatory Packaging Reporting', (18 Oct 2024)
4 National Environment Agency, 'Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) System for E-waste Management System', (21 Jun 2024)

Read Next: Stage 2 (MEASURE): Identify relevant areas for first-step interventions