As Singapore contends with the prospect of Semakau Landfill reaching capacity, the imperative to re-examine waste management, recycling, and circular economy strategies has never been clearer. Speaking on CNA938 Rewind, Professor Johan Sulaeman, Director of SGFIN, highlighted that continued reliance on landfills is unsustainable. Progress lies in upstream interventions – from minimising waste generation and embedding design for reuse, to advancing recycling technologies and strengthening incentives for circular business models. With coordinated action across policy, regulatory frameworks, and consumer behaviour, Singapore has the opportunity to transform this pressing challenge into a model of waste resilience and sustainable innovation for cities worldwide.
