LIKE Jakarta, Singapore has faced the problem of waste management. In 2000, there were 7,600 tons of waste in Singapore every day. The dump is not enough anymore.
However, Singapore has successfully implemented a number of rules quickly and efficiently. According to Eugene Tay, executive director of Singapore-based Zero Waste SG nonprofit, big cities in Asia can learn a lot for garbage from Singapore. "They need to focus more on efforts to 'reduce' and 'reuse' waste, throwing is the last option," Tay said.
Beginning in 2001, the government initiated a program to increase recycling levels. The government has also created a garbage disposal site in Semakau Island, accompanied by promoting waste segregation and recycling activities in residential areas. Garbage collection system was intensified in schools, offices, malls, and industry. By the end of 2005, 56% of Singapore's households had realized the recycling program.
Singapore also uses incineration facilities or burning garbage. Thanks to the incineration, the amount of waste that is discarded becomes less and produces electricity.
Singapore has four energy generators from waste. From there, 3% of the country's electrical energy is met. Recycle level was maintained at 60%. According to the National Agency for the Environment of Singapore, another powerhouse from garbage is being prepared and operating by 2019.
Now only 2% of 'Lion Country' trash ends up in landfills, as for 38% as a source of electricity and 60% of waste is recycled. While in Sweden in 1975, only 38% of the waste is recycled. Now more than 99% of Swedish waste is recycled in various ways.
In Sweden, recycling centers must be within 300 meters of the residential area. The majority of households also sort out recyclable waste, including food waste.
They then handed over the sorted garbage to the available containers. "Half Swedish waste is burned to produce energy, reusing materials means less energy is needed to produce goods than burning materials and producing new goods from scratch," explains Weine Wiqvist, CEO of the Swedish Waste and Recycling Management Association or Avfall Sverige .
Sweden even imports garbage. In 2014, waste imports reach 800 thousand tons.
According to predictions Avfall Sverige, Sweden will import another 1.5 million tonnes this year and 2.3 million tonnes by 2020. Its imports are from the UK and Norway.