Thriving Weeds

Our Waste Audit Approach: Deriving a Business-Focused Waste Reduction Program

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 00:09:16 -0700

As sustainability regulations tighten and resource costs rise,organisations can no longer afford to treat waste as an afterthought. What was once viewed purely as an operational expense is now recognised as a strategic opportunity to improve efficiency, reduce environmental impact, and strengthen compliance readiness.

A Waste Audit is often the first and most critical step in this journey.

What is a Waste Audit?

A waste audit is a structured process that identifies how much waste your organisation generates, source of generation, the composition of waste streams, and matching it to the landscape of waste management practices locally and internationally. By analysing waste composition, businesses can uncover opportunities to reduce, reuse, or recycle materials and develop targeted waste reduction strategies and action plan. Waste reduction targets can be set more accurately.

A proper waste audit with cost benefit analysis provides granular data-driven insights that allow organisations to make informed operational and sustainability decisions, and most of the time linking monetary value to it. Request for this from your waste audit consultant.

First steps first – Baselining

Imagine that you have a new year resolution to lose some weight. You will need to measure your current weight, establish a weight loss program across a defined time period to achieve the weight loss objectives.

Apply the same concept to your waste reduction program. Measure the current weight of different waste streams, establish priorities using the baseline data, and...Read More

Circular Logistics: Transforming Waste Management in Warehouses

Mon, 17 Mar 2025 21:09:42 -0700

In today’s market, sustainable practices are no longer optional, they’re necessary. Every year, over 100 billion metric tons of material is consumed globally, yet a mere 8.5% is recycled back into the economy (Circle Economy, 2022). Singapore faces similar challenges, with solid waste disposal increasing seven-fold over the past 40 years. Recognizing this, the Singapore Green Plan 2030 has set ambitious targets, including cutting waste sent to the Semakau Landfill by 20% by 2026 (National Environment Agency, 2021).

Image source: https://www.adecco.com.sg/news/4-ways-to-prepare-your-supply-chain-for-a-crisis/

One key approach is circular logistics, which focuses on reducing waste disposal through resource efficiency and proper waste management within supply chain operations. By optimizing material use, minimizing waste generation, and integrating recycling processes, circular logistics presents a promising solution to Singapore’s waste management challenges.

What is a Circular Economy?

A Circular economy is an economic model designed to minimize waste and get the most value out of resources. Unlike a linear economy (take-make-waste), a circular economy created a closed loop system where input and output are continuously recycled within the system with zero to minimal waste (Ministry of Trade and Industry Singapore, 2020)

Introduction

Effective waste management is crucial for sustainable practices in the food production industry, particularly for small businesses. This blog post conducts a simplified cost benefit analysis for waste management systems in small food production businesses in Singapore. The goal is to establish a waste segregation system that separates recyclables cartons, plastic packaging and cans from food supplies, compostable food, and harder to compost food (e.g. bones, shells, husks). By implementing such a system, businesses can reduce their environmental impact, optimize resource utilization, and potentially benefit financially in the long run.

Current Challenges

Food production businesses in Singapore face challenges such as improper waste segregation, inefficient handling and disposal methods, and inadequate infrastructure. This lack of organization hinders their ability to address environmental concerns and leads to increased waste disposal costs.

For example, let's consider a food production company that produces 3,000 sets of bento meals per day. The packaging waste generated can include carton boxes, single use plastics for food packaging, plastic containers, styrofoam boxes, and other non-compostable materials.

Waste incineration cost from NEA’s IP (e.g. Keppel Seghers Tuas Waste-to-Energy Plant (KSTP), TuasOne Waste-to-Energy Plant (TWTE) etc.) is currently posted as $77/ton.

Assumptions on waste data in Food Production Factory

Recyclables (Cartons): 39,000kg / month

Recyclables (Metal): 2,000kg / month

Divertible waste (Food waste): 20,000kg / month

General waste: 11,000kg / month

Total Waste = 72,000kg/ month

Scenario A (Worst...Read More

Estimating Carbon Tax Payable by Consumers in Singapore to Incinerate Food Waste

Wed, 08 Mar 2023 20:43:07 -0800

Singapore disposed a significant amount of food waste, estimated to be around 663,000 tonnes in 2021. Currently, this waste is mostly incinerated, and the bottom ash is sent to landfill. However, shifting towards a food waste segregation approach can help address the issue of increasing bottom ash to the landfill and promote sustainable waste management practices. Food waste segregation is one critical step for the Singapore government’s way ahead in achieving net zero. Segregated food waste can then be used for other purposes, such as composting, anaerobic digestion, or animal feed.
Businesses can expect rising costs if food waste was not segregated. Disposed food waste in Singapore is currently is sent for incineration, which has greenhouse gas emissions. The current carbon tax can be imposed on the incineration plants, where the cost will be translated down to the businesses.
Estimated Carbon Tax on Food Waste
Assuming a carbon content of 40% in the food waste, the amount of CO2 emissions generated by incinerating 663,000 tonnes of food waste with a 40% carbon content would be approximately 973,524 tonnes of CO2 equivalent, or 973,524 tCO2e. Thus, if carbon tax was imposed on the emissions arising from incinerating disposed food waste would be:
From 2021 to 2023: S$5/tCO2e x 973,524 tCO2e = S$4,867,620
From 2024 to 2025: S$25/tCO2e x 973,524 tCO2e = S$24,338,100
From 2026 to 2027: S$45/tCO2e x 973,524 tCO2e = S$43,807,580
By diverting food waste from landfill and using it for other purposes, such as composting or anaerobic digestion, Singapore can reduce the amount of food waste...Read More

Digester, Composter, or Dryer in Singapore: Shopping Mall’s Food Waste Treatment After Segregation

Mon, 20 Feb 2023 19:00:17 -0800

We have previously covered on what are the types of businesses that will be affected by the Mandatory Food Waste Segregation requirements. Over here at Thriving Weeds, we suggest for affected businesses to first think of their food waste in the categories shown below. We will build onto the previous Case Study of Shopping Malls in this sharing on the different types of food treatment machines, and suggest what businesses can do in the way forward.
Figure 1: Top-level view on the common waste found in malls and the potential solutions to explore
Steps to Achieve Food Waste Segregation
1. Segregate between Pre-Consumer and Post-Consumer food waste.
2. F&B Shops can introduce 3/4-bin system
Soft Pre-consumer kitchen waste;
Recyclable packaging waste;
Contaminated packaging waste;
Hard Pre-Consumer kitchen + Post-Consumer food waste (bones etc) (May be optional)
3. Malls can deploy Grinders (depending on management outcome) + Dryer/ Digester/ Composter in bin centres.
4. Packaging waste
Understanding Digester / Composter / Dryer
Food waste can be processed using various methods, each with its own advantages and limitations. Some common ways of processing food waste include:
1. Digester: This involves breaking down organic matter in food waste using microorganisms. Greywater slurry is the output that can be diverted into the sewage...Read More

Mandatory Food Waste Segregation: What it means + Case Study

Thu, 19 Jan 2023 21:50:42 -0800

Food waste is a high disposal, low recycling waste stream in Singapore. In 2021, only 19% of the 817,000 tonnes of food waste was recycled.
In 2019, NEA has mandated that “owners and operators of commercial and industrial premises, where large amounts of food waste are generated, to segregate their food waste for treatment”. See below for more details.
The full legislation is expected to come online in 2024. Building managers that fail to comply may be fined and/ or jailed for repeat offences. To minimise operational disruptions, businesses should implement their food waste segregation plans now!
Types of Businesses Affected
New developments approved since 1st Jan 2021 will be required to have on-site food waste treatment systems in their plans. They will be required to implement on-site food waste treatment come 2024.
Existing commercial and industrial premises building managers are allowed to choose the location of food waste treatment method (on-site/off-site) depending on their business operations. However, on-site food waste segregation is a pre-requisite to comply with the Resource Sustainability Act (RSA).
Premises affected by Food Waste Segregation requirements imposed by NEA
Case Study: Shopping Mall with F&B Area > 3,000 m²
Categorising Food Waste
In a shopping mall, major food waste contributors are usually the F&B operators. Food waste from F&B operators can be classified into two major forms.
Pre-Consumer
Generated in the kitchen of the F&B operators. This can be easily managed as the food waste generated is less contaminated with packaging waste when segregation...Read More

What should I do with my waste in Singapore?

Fri, 06 Jan 2023 04:30:08 -0800

In Singapore, waste that was not segregated and/or recycled are sent to the Waste-to-Energy (WTE) plants for energy recovery. The ash residues, together with non-incinerable waste, are then sent to Semakau Landfill for disposal, which is expected to be at capacity by 2035. The Singapore Government has introduced the Zero Waste Masterplan to extend Semakau’s capacity beyond 2035. To understand what we can do as individuals or businesses, let’s first understand what are the key areas of concern in Singapore’s waste management.
The Scale of Solid Waste in Singapore
In 2021, an average of 1.6kg of waste was generated by everyone, everyday in Singapore! 55% of that was not recycled, causing a total of 3.11 million tonnes of solid waste disposed in 2021.
Some waste streams are harder to recycle than others. In Singapore, the top three waste categories in terms of annual disposed tonnage are (in the order of highest to lowest): (1) plastics, (2) paper/cardboard , and (3) food. Categories such as metals, construction and demolition, horticultural, wood, and scrap tyres waste are much better managed in its recycling efforts (Reason: homogenous waste and segregation at source).
Singapore’s Zero Waste Masterplan
To pivot into the next leg of waste management, the Singapore Government announced the The Zero Waste Masterplan in 2019. It has three main objectives.
Extend Semakau Landfill’s lifespan beyond 2035
Reduce amount of waste sent to landfill per capita per day by 30% by 2030
By 2030, achieve a 70% overall recycling rate:
81% non-domestic recycling rate
30% domestic recycling rate
To meet the targets, the Singapore Government is prioritising initiatives and policies on food waste, e-waste, and packaging waste (e.g. plastic,...Read More

Thriving Weeds

Our Waste Audit Approach: Deriving a Business-Focused Waste Reduction Program

Circular Logistics: Transforming Waste Management in Warehouses

Estimating Carbon Tax Payable by Consumers in Singapore to Incinerate Food Waste

Digester, Composter, or Dryer in Singapore: Shopping Mall’s Food Waste Treatment After Segregation

Mandatory Food Waste Segregation: What it means + Case Study

Types of Businesses Affected

Case Study: Shopping Mall with F&B Area > 3,000 m2

What should I do with my waste in Singapore?

The Scale of Solid Waste in Singapore

Singapore’s Zero Waste Masterplan

Case Study: Shopping Mall with F&B Area > 3,000 m²