Wild Woman in Hard Hat

Today, Chay Hoon was the sole representative of wildfilms at a field trip to the Tuas South Incineration Plant together with the Semakau guides. We were there to learn more about the process of dealing with all our rubbish.

It was an eye-opening trip.

The Plant deals with 3,000 tonnes of rubbish a day, reducing the volume by 90%. In the process generating electricity (Our NEA guide explained it's like a kettle of boiling water: the heat of the incinerator runs steam turbines that generate electricity). 20% of the electricity is used to run the Plant, the rest is sent into the national electricity grid. While the electricity generated amounts to only 2-3% of the national production, it is enough to light up all the streetlights in Singapore! Special effort is made to clean up the resulting smoke to reduce dust and harmful chemicals. Scrap metal is recovered from the incineration process. The resulting 10% is ash and sent to Semakau Landfill.

We got a very detailed briefing, and a look at the control room where a handfull of people efficiently run the entire Plant.


A very friendly sign tells us to wear protective gear.


A sight we certainly never imagined for our nature guides: in hard hats in an industrial setting. But to be better nature guides, it's important to understand the impact of our urban lifestyles.


We got a look at interesting parts of the Plant. From the burning flames in the incinerator, to the turbine that generates the electricity, and giant scoopers that pick up 8 tonnes of rubbish in one scoop!! We also saw a very large truck piled high with styrofoam. And watched it all slide into the system.


Some other interesting facts and stories:

Only household and industrial waste is processed at the incineration plants. Biohazardous waste such as hospital waste and other special waste are treated at a separate incineration plant. The Tuas South Plant is the largest in the world, and there are 3 other older plants in Singapore.

The Plant operates 24/7 with only an annual shut down for maintenance. But there are fluctuations in rubbish inflow. Our guide explained that during economic recession there is less industrial waste, although household waste remains more or less the same. Recently, the flow of rubbish has reduced slightly and it is hoped it will continue to reduce with recycling.

When other countries faced domestic resistance to setting up an incineration plant, they send the opposing parties to Singapore to view our incineration plant. This usually convinces them that an incineration plant can be operated with minimal impact. Apparently, one plant in Taiwan is in the middle of an urban area. So they have dressed up the towers and even have a restaurant there!

The enormity of the operations made us aware of the result of our urban lifestyle. Singapore's waste removal and treatment process is so efficient many of us are oblivious to the scale of the issue.

But every little bit counts. We all agreed during the discussions that recycling is the best way to reduce the volume. And recycling requires a mindset change. This is certainly something that Semakau guides can play a part in. And wildfilms, in documenting our shores and what impacts them.

For more about Semakau and the Landfill.