The United Nations General Assembly had proclaimed in December 2022 that every year henceforth, 30 March would be International Day of Zero Waste. It aims to raise awareness about – and eventually – meet targets of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Importance of Achieving Zero Waste

Due to population growth and economic expansion, countries around the world generate tons of waste each year.

From 2.24 billion tonnes of solid waste in 2020 to 3.88 billion tonnes in 2050, the World Bank estimates that annual waste generation will increase by 70% in 30 years. This waste is either sent to landfills or incinerated, varying from country to country.

In Canada approximately 97% of the waste requiring final disposal is sent to landfills and 3% is incinerated. In Turkey, 81 million tonnes of waste was disposed of in controlled landfill sites and 450 thousand tonnes of waste was disposed of in incineration plants in 2022.

One of the problems of landfills is that they contribute to climate change due to the methane gas generated.

Here in land-scarce Singapore, about 79% of waste is incinerated. Subsequently, the incinerated ash and other non-incinerated waste goes to the country’s only landfill at Pulau Semakau. However, as reported by Channel News Asia in 2023, Semakau is already half full and will reach full capacity by 2035.

If we lose our one and only landfill, where else can Singapore’s trash go?

Zero Waste… in a Nutshell

Our government has already put in place a Zero Waste Masterplan. One of the targets is to reduce the amount of waste Singapore sends to landfills by 30% by 2030, plus achieve 70% recycling rate by the same year. This involves moving towards as more circular economy where resources are reused endlessly instead of being disposed of. Our “throwaway culture” needs to change and here are some simple ways we can practise it in our daily life.

#1 Cut Down on Single-Use Packaging

Photo credit: Pexels

Started in 2017, the Bring Your Own (BYO) Singapore movement encourages the public to bring their own reusables or refuse single-use disposables when dining out or shopping. Since then, many retailers have been charging for plastic or paper bags, including H&M, Uniqlo, Miniso, Valu$ and all major supermarkets.

As part of its sustainability efforts, the majority of takeaway packaging at SaladStop! is made from 80% recycled PET. Customers are also encouraged to bring their own bowl to enjoy a free standard topping or receive a 80 cents discount for a hot beverage or smoothie when they bring their own cup. Going one step further, SaladStop! also launched two Net-Zero stores at CapitaSpring and Marina Bay Link Mall, making them the first net-zero F&B establishment in Southeast Asia.

#2 Reduce, Reuse Plastic

Plastic is one material that doesn’t biodegrade. You can literally make a mountain out of plastic and it probably won’t break down for the next 1,000 years! In Singapore, only 6% of plastic was recycled, out of more than a million tonnes of plastic waste generated, in 2022.

One organisation that aims to increase awareness of plastic recycling is Plastify. It conducts fun educational, sustainable workshops to recycle plastic waste. Mainly using an injector, also known as an injection molding machine, plastic shavings from your everyday plastic containers can be hand-molded into reusable goods like coasters and Jenga blocks.

#3 Don’t Shun Ugly Food

Food waste is one of the biggest contributors to what we throw away in Singapore. In 2022, it accounted for 11% of total waste generated.

When choosing fruits and vegetables from the supermarkets or wet markets, we naturally will want to pick the choicest – apples without any bruises, xiao bai cai without any withered or burnt leaves. However, if nobody purchases the blemished produce, they will go to waste and eventually get dumped.

At NTUC FairPrice outlets, you’ll find blemished produce packaged as “Imperfect Fellas” and sold at marked down prices of $1 or $2. Consumers benefit by getting “more for less” and this initiative also prevented about 1,119 tonnes of fruit from going to waste, as reported in FairPrice Group’s Sustainability Report for 2022.

You can also purchase ugly but edible food online from UglyFood. Condition of the items are listed and the company promises a refund if items reach you spoilt, so you can shop be better confidence.

If you need more convincing about buying ugly foods, join the Ugly Food Workshop, happening monthly at Crane @ OUE Downtown Gallery and hear it straight from the advocates.

#4 Buy Only What You Need

Besides cutting down on packaging, buying from bulk bins allows you to purchase only what you need, thereby reducing food waste. Sundry goods stalls at Singapore’s wet markets have been pioneering this method of purchase since times past. If you need 100g of dried shrimp or 500g of black glutinous rice, just ask the towkay at the sundry foods stall to weigh them up for you.

Photo credit: Scoop Wholefoods

Perhaps a more modern version of the above can be found at Scoop Wholefoods. Customers are encouraged to bring their own refillable glass containers to purchase items by weight, ranging from nuts to grains to snacks. Alternatively, you can buy a glass container or use the free brown recycled paper bags provided at the store.

#5 Share Your Books

Finished reading that novel you bought? Donate it instead of leaving it to collect dust on your home bookshelf. As of 2023, you can find book exchange corners at nine public libraries in Singapore, including Woodlands Regional Library and Bishan Public Library.

You can also drop off your books at Dignity Mama stores located at major hospitals, Thryft’s book corner at Sprout Hub @ Henderson or Book Beyond Borders.

Another well-known book collection drive is NTUC FairPrice’s annual Share-A-Textbook initiative. During the campaign, donors can drop off pre-loved textbooks at any FairPrice stores, afterwhich the books will be sorted and distributed by volunteers. In 2022, NTUC FairPrice collected over 725,000 textbooks from the community to benefit 25,000 students from low-income families.

#6 Repair, Don’t Throw

Photo credit: Repair Kopitiam

Instead of discarding your faulty electrical appliances, old clothes or furniture, give them a second lease of life at the Repair Kopitiam. Community meetup sessions are held on the last Sunday of every month at various locations where Repair Coaches will be on hand to fix your broken items or repurpose them. Repair Kopitiam also conducts SkillsFuture credit-claimable handyman courses, where you can pick up DIY home repair skills, e.g. how to repair light fixtures, use power drills, basic plumbing or replace zippers on clothing.

#7 Donate Your Clothing

Plastic, paper, glass or metal can be discarded at the blue recycling bins at every public housing estate. But when it comes to recycling old clothing or other textiles, drop them into the yellow Cloop recycling bins instead. Available at more than 390 locations islandwide, these bins collect new or used items including clothes, curtains, bags, pillows and soft toys. You can also earn points through the susGain app for every donation.

Ladies who wish to donate bras that are new or in good condition can drop them off at Perk by Kate located at 134A Telok Ayer Street. Their bra donation drive has benefited needy women in Africa as well as young ladies-in-need in Singapore.

For used sports shoes, find a collection bin here. An initiative by ActiveSG, donated items will be recycled into materials that could be used for jogging tracks, fitness corners and playgrounds.

#8 Buy second-hand

The saying “one man’s trash can be another man’s treasure” will resonate with advocates of a circular economy. Today, you’ll find second-hand shops and thrift stores more easily in Singapore, For pre-loved clothing, visit Refash, Lucky Thrifty, LPB Thrift, Nightingale Thrift Shop or Function Five Thrift Shop.

Many will be familiar with Cash Converters and the well-established Salvation Army Family Stores, which are literally emporiums filled with all kinds of quirky finds.