The approach to Singapore’s sustainability is all-round and multi-pronged, with Public Utilities Board (PUB), National Environment Agency (NEA) and Singapore Food Agency (SFA) working together to manage resources and enhance environmental resilience.
Formed under the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment (MSE), the three agencies serve to strengthen Singapore’s food and water security, foresee and overcome complex sustainability challenges, and mitigate climate change while optimising energy efficiency.
Maintaining Safe and Secure Water Supply
Singapore stands as a leading example of sustainable water management, demonstrating excellence in providing clean and safe drinking water, treating and reclaiming used water, minimising distribution losses, reducing flood-prone areas, and transforming waterways into vibrant community spaces, and most recently, managing floods and protecting our coastline.
As Singapore turns the page to the next chapter of its water story, PUB is gearing up to tackle three key challenges that will shape Singapore’s water future.
With effects of climate change intensifying, PUB is developing cutting-edge solutions to combat extreme weather patterns and rising sea levels with a focus on enhancing flood resilience through innovative urban water management techniques and creating a climate-ready Singapore.
Singapore’s water demand is projected to nearly double by 2065. As such, PUB is actively collaborating with businesses and households to implement initiatives and solutions that enhance water efficiency, and ensure the security and future-readiness of the nation’s water supply.
Concurrently, long-term investments in infrastructure and the improvement of weather-resilient water sources, such as NEWater and desalination, remain a key focus.
Addressing Singapore’s increasing water needs also requires forward-thinking infrastructure. PUB is implementing the Deep Tunnel Sewerage System Phase 2 (DTSS2), a marvel of modern engineering, to optimise used water management and NEWater production.
Coupled with artificial intelligence (AI) and digitalisation, PUB continues to push the boundaries of efficient water resource management.
PUB has embarked on a transformative journey to become a “Smart PUB”. This initiative leverages modern technology and AI to enhance productivity and operational efficiency in the face of three main challenges: climate change’s impact on water, growing demand for used water treatment, and a changing workforce.
Additionally, PUB’s staff participate in training, including in emerging areas such as sustainability, to ensure they remain competent in an evolving operating environment.
Enabling a Liveable and Sustainable Environment
NEA plays a crucial role in sustaining a clean and comfortable living environment in Singapore. The agency’s work is diverse and comprehensive, formulating policies and public initiatives that benefit Singapore’s environment, economy, and society in the long run.
Particularly in the area of sustainability, NEA focuses on addressing resource scarcity, insufficient waste management capacity, and climate change.
Under the Singapore Green Plan 2030, NEA has set ambitious targets. The national overall recycling rate is targeted to increase to 70%, while the waste-to-landfill per capita per day is set to reduce by 20% by 2026 and 30% by 2030.
As part of its continuous efforts to explore innovative technologies and contribute to local and global sustainable development and climate mitigation initiatives, NEA has established various collaborations.
Among these is a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed with Keppel Seghers for a Joint Feasibility Study on carbon capture for waste-to-energy (WTE) facilities in Singapore.
With Singapore’s limited land and dense urban population, effective and targeted management of waste streams is key to achieving the Zero Waste Nation vision.
To support this national goal, several measures have been approved and introduced to reduce priority waste streams. These include a disposable carrier bag charge, a beverage container return scheme, and a food waste reporting framework.
Concurrently, NEA is developing the next generation of waste management infrastructure and capabilities. For example, the agency is evaluating solutions for reusing incineration ash and non-incinerable waste, as well as landfill materials, to extend Semakau Landfill’s lifespan beyond 2030.
In response to the proliferation of digital devices, NEA has implemented measures to close the electrical and electronic waste (e-waste) loop. Through NEA’s Extended Producer Responsibility scheme, there are now close to 800 e-waste collection points islandwide, including community centres, shopping malls, major electronic retail outlets, and government buildings.
As an agency with multiple public touchpoints, NEA collaborates with various stakeholders to achieve environmental ownership. This approach aims not only to minimise waste generation and disposal, and increase energy efficiency, but also to gain public trust by demonstrating commitment to its goals.
NEA is also intensifying efforts to drive infrastructure enhancement and innovation, establish a high-performing and future-ready organisational culture through effective financial and manpower management, and promote sustainable procurement practices.
The effects of climate change intensify Singapore’s vulnerability to transboundary environmental threats. Consequently, international partnerships with strategiccountries are vital in protecting and advancing Singapore’s interests.
To foster collaboration and knowledge exchange, NEA engages ASEAN and global counterparts via bilateral and multilateral platforms to share Singapore’s expertise in environmental management.
Bolstering Food Security and Safety
Food is a topic close to the hearts of many Singaporeans. As a country that imports more than 90% of its food, Singapore is susceptible to disruptions in global supply chains, as seen during the COVID-19 pandemic and amid geopolitical conflicts across the globe.
There is also the far-reaching impact of climate change on farming practices and crop production, as well as the prevalence of foodborne diseases.
Despite these mounting challenges, SFA continues to ensure and secure a supply of safe food for Singapore.
Enhancing Food Security
To ensure food security, SFA plays a key role in supporting the local agri-food sector and strengthening the resiliency of Singapore’s food supply chains.
SFA actively supports local farms to enhance their production capability and capacity. A combination of business and macroeconomic factors, such as delays in farm development during the pandemic and business headwinds arising from rising energy prices and other costs, have hindered the progress of local food production.
To better support our farmers through these trying times, the agency is continuously co-funding their efforts to innovate, leverage productive technology, and adopt energy-efficient farming solutions. As of end 2023, SFA has committed over $23 million to 60 Agri-Food Cluster Transformation Fund projects.
In addition, source diversification remains a key food security strategy for Singapore. Diversification reduces the impact of disruption from any single source as our importers can turn to alternative sources quickly to stabilise our food supply. Since 2019, SFA has secured 42 new import sources of livestock, meat, and eggs.
Ensuring Safe Food for All
There is no food security without food safety. SFA utilises a science-based risk management approach to ensure food safety, whereby the inspection, sampling, and testing regime is tiered based on the risk profile of food item.
By harnessing joint responsibility of industry stakeholders and consumers, these efforts have resulted in Singapore consistently having one of the lowest incidences of foodborne disease outbreaks in the world.
As the bedrock of SFA’s integrated food safety programme, NCFS continues to strengthen its capabilities to investigate food poisoning outbreaks, identify unknown hazards in new food and production systems, and support faster responses to food incidents and emergencies.
The agency is also working towards introducing a Food Safety and Security Bill, which will strengthen Singapore’s food safety regime to better protect consumers and public health, and keep pace with emerging challenges in safeguarding food security.
SFA will continue to work closely with other government agencies, the industry, and consumers to safeguard food safety and security in Singapore.
A Collective Effort
Two mega facilities, jointly known as Tuas Nexus, are currently under construction in Singapore. These facilities comprise NEA’s Integrated Waste Management Facility (IWMF) and PUB’s Tuas Water Reclamation Plant (TWRP).
The first phase of this ambitious project is expected to be completed by 2025, marking a significant milestone in Singapore’s environmental management efforts.
Tuas Nexus is set to become Singapore’s first integrated water and solid waste treatment facility. Its innovative design will enable it to be energy self-sufficient through the synergies between IWMF and TWRP.
This integration is projected to play a crucial role in realising Singapore’s zero-waste vision and advancing its circular economy. The facility is expected to bring about an annual reduction of more than 200,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide, equivalent to removing 42,500 cars from Singapore’s roads.
The facility will process various waste streams, including 5,800 tonnes per day of incinerable waste, 250 tonnes per day of household recyclables collected under NEA’s National Recycling Programme (NRP), 400 tonnes per day of source-segregated food waste, and 800 tonnes per day of dewatered sludge from TWRP.
Notably, Tuas Nexus will provide Singapore’s primary means of treating source-segregated food waste. This process involves separating inorganic materials from food waste, which is then converted into a slurry for co-digestion with used-water sludge to produce biogas.
The biogas generated at Tuas Nexus will be used to power the facility itself, with surplus electricity exported to the national grid, potentially powering up to 300,000 four-room HDB flats. Furthermore, as the sludge from TWRP will be incinerated on-site, it eliminates the need for transportation to other treatment facilities, thereby reducing the overall carbon footprint.
While the integration of these distinct treatment processes is complex, the benefits are substantial, including higher energy recovery and lower carbon emissions. The plant layout has been meticulously designed to maximise land use efficiency.
Additionally, the facility will be equipped with advanced technologies to ensure clean air emissions and minimise solid residues for disposal at Semakau Landfill, further contributing to Singapore’s environmental sustainability goals.