28 March 2025

Singapore's Waste Crisis Demands Bold Action – And We Have a Solution

With Singapore generating over 7.2 million tonnes of waste annually and Semakau Landfill reaching capacity by 2035, the urgency for transformative waste management solutions has never been clearer. While our overall recycling rates have improved to 57%, packaging waste – which comprises over one-third of Singapore's domestic waste stream – continues to challenge our sustainability goals.

The regulatory landscape is rapidly evolving. Singapore's Resource Sustainability Act 2019 has introduced Southeast Asia's first Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) framework, with full implementation by 2025. Companies will soon bear complete responsibility for their packaging throughout its entire lifecycle, while our upcoming Beverage Container Return Scheme (BCRS) will introduce a 10-cent deposit system by 2026.

CLUBZERØ convened industry leaders including beverage brands, retailers and policy makers at its Singapore Reuse Roundtable for the official release of CLUBZERØ’s report: How Reuse DRS systems bring Economic Development Singapore, which outlines savings achieved across Singapore when moving to Reuse DRS. The report spotlights glass bottles as a primary place to initiate this.

The report highlights significant savings, beverage brands are projected to save over $14.2 million annually after year one through reduced glass production costs and EPR exemptions. NEA and Temasek Asset Managers are set to save $51.19 million annually after year one, by replacing the costs of waste collection, incineration, and landfill with DRS machines and a sortation centre.

Beyond cost savings, CLUBZERØ’s Reuse DRS diverts 16,676+ tonnes of glass waste annually from waste streams and avoids more than 13,300+ tonnes of CO₂ emissions. It also creates over 316 full-time jobs across logistics, operations, and industrial washing, generating social value throughout the reuse supply chain.

The convergence of regulatory pressure, environmental necessity, and economic opportunity creates the perfect conditions for reuse systems to thrive in Singapore. We're not just managing waste – we're creating a circular economy that benefits everyone: government, businesses, consumers, and our environment.

💬 “By far one of the best roundtables I’ve had an opportunity to attend and learn!” – PingPing Han , Hospitality Leader at KINN Hospitality Concepts

A huge thank you to all participants for your valuable insights and dedication to building a more sustainable, circular future. We’re excited to continue collaborating with you as we expand CLUBZERØ in Singapore and beyond.