7156699

Home -

Singaporeans produce less waste, but recycling rate drops: environmental agency

Xinhua
| July 23, 2025
2025-07-23

SINGAPORE, July 23 (Xinhua) -- Singapore's daily domestic waste generation per capita has declined steadily over the past decade, falling from more than 1.05 kg in 2014 to 0.85 kg in 2024, according to data released by the National Environment Agency (NEA) on Wednesday.

Waste generated at industrial and commercial premises has also decreased. Daily non-domestic waste generated per billion Singapore dollars of gross domestic product (GDP) dropped from approximately 35 tons in 2014 to around 23 tons in 2024.

However, Singapore's overall recycling rate fell from 60 percent to 50 percent over the same period.

The NEA attributed the decline in recycling rates to two main factors. First, there has been a decrease in the volume of construction and demolition waste, as well as used slag generation. Since these waste streams are almost entirely recycled, the reduced quantities resulted in a significant impact on the overall recycling rate.

Second, the paper recycling rate saw a decline from 52 percent in 2014 to 32 percent in 2024, driven by factors such as the cost of collecting and freight as well as commodity prices.

Looking ahead, the agency said it will continue efforts to reduce waste generation and improve recycling. Key focus areas include food, paper, and plastics, which account for the bulk of unrecycled waste in Singapore. Enditem

7156723