The Singaporean-German Chamber of Industry and Commerce (SGC) has announced plans to establish a Plastics Recycling Association and a Centre of Excellence for recycling here, with the goal of turning Singapore into a regional hub for plastics recycling.
The plan, announced during a virtual book launch yesterday, will see European companies working together with local counterparts in the plastics recycling arena.
The SGC’s sustainability committee chairman Joachim Ihrcke unveiled the plan at the virtual launch of Grun Book, which means “green book”. The text gives an overview of Singapore and Germany’s sustainability journeys, and describes the plan for Singapore to become a recycling hub.
The launch was attended by Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu, who wrote the book’s foreword.
Calling Singapore and Germany “well placed” to help address waste challenges faced in South-east Asia, Ms Fu said pursuing sustainability through innovative processes will give businesses an advantage in the future economy and allow them to resonate with consumers who are environmentally conscious.
Recycling, particularly in the area of plastics, has long been a concern for land-scarce Singapore.
It was reported last year that 949,300 tonnes of plastic waste was generated here in 2018, but only 4% was recycled. Of that amount, only 7% was processed locally, while the rest was sent overseas.
The authorities here have been looking for ways to extend the life span of Semakau Landfill.
Mr Ihrcke said yesterday that the SGC plans to set up the Plastics Recycling Association within two months, and begin discussions on what kind of recycling projects it would like to embark on. He also hopes the PET recycling plant will be the first of many projects to come.
Read more here.
Source: The Straits Times, 13 August 2020