With the completion of the Phase II development of Semakau Landfill, Singapore now has the capacity to meet waste disposal needs for the next 20 years and beyond, says the NEA. The Republic’s waste disposal needs got a 16.7 million cubic metres boost on Saturday (Jul 11), with the completion of the Phase II development of Semakau Landfill.
This size of Phase II is the equivalent of nearly 6,700 Olympic-sized pools. According to the National Environment Agency (NEA), the nation now has the capacity to meet waste disposal needs for the next 20 years and beyond.
Phase II was first conceptualised by NEA in 2010 when Singapore’s sole landfill at Semakau island was estimated to be filled by 2016. Phase I currently has 6.5 hectres of sea space left. This will be kept as a reserve when landfill operations for Phase II begins in August 2015. The new 157-hectre development cost S$37 million to build.
NEA said that the landfill shows how sustainable waste management can co-exist with marine life and habitats. NEA had earlier embarked on two major projects to preserve the marine habitats in the development area. Over 700 colonies of corals in the lagoon were harvested and transplanted to Sisters’ Island from September 2014 to January 2015. Over the past month, NEA has also been working with nature groups to transfer fish within the lagoon to the open sea.
“The expansion of Semakau Landfill is testament to Singapore’s engineering capability and the success of its novel approach to waste management. Singapore’s only landfill represents a balancing feat between physical development and environmental conservation. While it is necessary to meet the waste diposal needs of Singapore, our priority has always been to ensure that it is done in an environmentally sustainable way,” said Minister of the Environment and Water Resorces Dr Vivian Balakrishnan at the launch of Phase II of the landfill.
The launch also marks the re-opening of the island’s educational nature tours to members of the public and nature groups from Jul 12. Tours were suspended in early 2014 when construction for Phase II began.
