Singapore’s rubbish problem - 29th September 2023

On the small island of Singapore, rubbish is a big problem. The country's 6 million people produced 7.4 million tonnes of garbage last year. Only 57 percent was recycled.

The country only has one site for rubbish – Pulau Semakau, which is an island. The problem is that if things stay the same, by 2035 this site will be completely full.

So the government's working on improving the situation. In 2019, a new project began. The plan is to cut the amount of rubbish by one third and to recycle 70 percent of waste by 2030.

Desmond Lee's a manager with the National Environment Agency (NEA).

Desmond Lee: "Because this is the only landfill in Singapore, that is due to the small area in Singapore, the small size of Singapore, and the competing land needs, it's difficult to find another place to, another location to replace this landfill. So, the, so it's imperative that we continue to use Semakau Landfill as long as possible to and if possible to extend its life beyond 2035."

Most of the rubbish which can't be recycled is burnt and then the ashes from the fire are taken to Semakau. But environmental groups dislike the present situation; for them, it creates pollution of the air, and it damages the sea close to Semakau.

The NEA disagrees and says the air's cleaned and that the ground’s protected by a kind of wall. And when the ashes are placed under the ground, mangrove trees are planted. The place has become a centre for birds and animals. Some are now calling it 'the Garbage of Eden'.