With a nationwide e-waste management system, recycling electrical and electronic debris (e-waste) will be more convenient for customers about which we are going to talk about in zero e-waste Singapore, according to the National Environment Agency (NEA). Information and communications technology (ICT) equipment, major appliances, light bulbs and tubes, and batteries are among the e-waste products that will be regulated. According to the NEA, these have been controlled because of their potential environmental impact, trash generation volumes, and widespread use. The public will be able to discard such things through “various collecting avenues,” including more than 300 e-waste recycling boxes located throughout the city. There will also be quarterly collection campaigns in residential estates, as well as bulky item disposal services for major household equipment offered by municipal authorities.
Some retailers will offer over-the-counter collection services, as well as additional collecting options. ALBA E-Waste, an approved NEA operator, will collect e-waste from these locations and channel it to certified e-waste recyclers. Before the equipment is processed for reuse or recycling, these e-waste recyclers will verify that any data held on data-containing devices is irreversibly wiped or destroyed, according to the agency. The new method is the result of NEA’s industry consultations, which began in 2015 with the goal of “co-developing a regulated e-waste management system for Singapore,” according to the agency.
The management system is based on the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) principle, which assigns producers responsibility for the end-of-life disposal of electrical and electronic products they sell in Singapore. Producers who sell regulated electronic and electrical equipment to customers in quantities greater than the available supply must enrol in and fund the Producer Responsibility Scheme (PRS). ALBA E-Waste Smart Recycling has been granted approval by the National Environmental Agency to run a system for collecting and appropriately handling regulated e-waste. “Producers who sell regulated items for industrial and commercial use will collect end-of-life products from their clients at no cost and send them to be appropriately processed and recycled,” according to the NEA.
Retailers having a floor size of 300 sq m or more must set up in-store collection services for the categories of consumer electrical and electronic items they sell under the Resource Sustainability Act. Over-the-counter services or e-waste recycling bins are examples of these collection services. “Customers will be able to get free take-back services for abandoned products of the same sort from these retailers on a one-for-one basis. Regardless of the brand or where the product was acquired, the abandoned products must be collected up when new products are delivered “NEA stated. According to the agency, e-waste is one of the “priority waste” streams recognised under Singapore’s Zero Waste Masterplan. Singapore creates roughly 60,000 tonnes of e-waste, according to estimates.
In addition to that in Singapore, non-recycled e-waste is burnt, resulting in resource loss as well as carbon emissions, contributing to global warming and climate change. Furthermore, the collection and processing of e-waste by these companies can lead to labour dangers and bad environmental policies. These include releasing dangerous refrigerants into the environment from refrigerators and air conditioners, as well as disposing potentially of hazardous undesired components with the regular trash. Heavy metals in the burnt e-waste contaminate the incineration ash, which is disposed of in Semakau Landfill.
We have also tried to address some frequently asked questions below regarding e-waste management practices in Singapore.
What exactly is the issue here?
Contamination occurs when inappropriate materials, such as food and liquids, are dumped into the blue recycling container, as well as goods that cannot be recycled. When this happens, the rest of the recyclables gathered will be contaminated, wasting everyone’s efforts. Food or liquid-contaminated recyclables cannot be recycled, making them any different from general waste. They will subsequently be disposed of, burnt, and dumped on the ground. That is why it is critical to place the appropriate items in the appropriate bin.
What is the state of e-waste management in other countries?
To motivate more HDB citizens to recycle using the current blue recycling bins in their estates, Zero Waste SG developed the “Let’s Recycle Together” campaign, which aims to educate them on how to properly recycle. Tzu Chi organises recycling events on the second Sunday of the month at over 30 locations across the island. Volunteers not only sort recyclables but also teach locals how to incorporate environmental preservation into their daily routines.
Why is there an issue with plastic garbage in Singapore?
According to the answer to the last FAQ we are addressing in zero e-waste Singapore, only 4% of all plastics in Singapore are recycled at the moment. As a result, most plastics are burnt after only one usage, losing 95 per cent of their material worth. It also worsens pollution by emitting greenhouse gases from incineration and even recycling procedures.