Beyond the Bin: How Advance Recycling, Singapore’s Leading Recycler, Paves the Way for Zero Waste in Singapore

Empowering Singapore’s Circular Economy Through Comprehensive Recycling Services

In 2022, Singapore generated a staggering 7.39 million tonnes of solid waste, a 6% increase from the previous year, as economic activity recovered. This alarming statistic highlights the growing waste management crisis the island nation faces, with its limited land resources and ever-expanding landfills. As the world grapples with the urgent need for sustainable solutions, the concept of “Zero Waste” has emerged as a guiding philosophy and design framework to address this pressing issue.

Zero Waste goes beyond mere reuse, recycling, and conservation programs; it emphasises sustainability by considering the entire life-cycle of products, processes, and systems. At the forefront of Singapore’s Zero Waste movement stands Advance Recycling, a leading company with over two decades of experience in the recycling industry. Founded in 2004, Advance Recycling provides a one-stop, full recycling service for various materials, including plastic, metal, and e-waste. With a team of young and experienced staff, Advance Recycling is committed to offering an eco-friendly experience and driving Singapore towards a more sustainable future.

Singapore’s Looming Waste Challenge

As Singapore continues to flourish, with its expanding population and vibrant economy, the city-state confronts a troubling surge in waste production. In 2022 alone, the amount of solid waste generated reached an astonishing 7.39 million tonnes, highlighting the situation’s urgency. This surge in waste is putting immense pressure on Semakau Landfill, Singapore’s only landfill, which is now more than half full and expected to reach maximum capacity by 2035. With the landfill filling up at an alarming rate due to the daily disposal of over 2,000 tonnes of ash and non-incinerable waste, environmental experts are sounding the alarm on the urgent need for waste reduction and alternative solutions. The government is collaborating with local universities to explore repurposing ash into construction materials and introducing initiatives to promote waste reduction and recycling. However, Associate Professor Sulaemon emphasises that the well-known “reduce, reuse, recycle” strategy remains key in addressing the waste crisis and securing a greener future for Singapore.

 

The Power of Recycling: A Pillar of the Zero Waste Approach

Singapore recognises the importance of responsible recycling as a core principle of its Zero Waste approach. It involves systematically collecting, processing, and reusing materials that would otherwise end up in landfills. By adhering to effective recycling practices, Singapore significantly reduces waste going to Semakau Landfill, conserves precious resources, and minimises its environmental impact. The nation’s robust recycling industry brings about numerous environmental and economic benefits, such as reduced greenhouse gas emissions, conservation of natural resources, creation of green jobs, and economic opportunities for recycling companies like Advance Recycling. Through initiatives like the National Recycling Programme and the E-Waste Recycling Programme, Singapore encourages its citizens to actively participate in recycling efforts actively, taking significant strides towards protecting the environment, conserving resources, and building a sustainable future.

Advance Recycling: Pioneering a Comprehensive Approach to Recycling

Advance Recycling, a leading provider among recycling companies in Singapore, with over two decades of experience, is dedicated to minimising the environmental impact of waste and creating a greener future. Founded in 2004, the company provides a one-stop, full recycling service for various materials, including plastic, metal, and e-waste. With a team of young and experienced staff committed to delivering reliable, efficient, and eco-friendly solutions, Advance Recycling plays a vital role in extending the lifespan of Singapore’s only offshore landfill, Semakau Landfill, and improving the country’s sustainability by reducing energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions in the production process. Through its comprehensive approach to recycling, Advance Recycling actively promotes sustainability, encourages responsible consumption and production practices, and drives positive change, contributing to Singapore’s Zero Waste goals and a greener future.

Recycling Services Offered

At Advance Recycling, we’re passionate about providing a wide range of recycling services to help protect our environment and conserve our valuable resources. Our facilities are equipped with the latest technology, allowing us to efficiently process large quantities of recyclables, including metal, plastic, e-waste, and paper. We offer convenient on-site recycling collection, where our friendly team will come to your location, safely collect your scraps, and provide expert advice on whether the materials are recyclable, giving you a competitive quote based on current market prices. As a trusted recycling centre, we specialise in environmentally friendly plastic recycling solutions, focusing on materials like PP, PE, LDPE, HDPE, PET, and PVC while also recycling a wide range of metal materials, such as stainless steel, aluminium, lead batteries, high-nickel content, special alloys, and even precious metals. With our strict quality control standards and commitment to responsible recycling, you can trust that your materials are in good hands as we work together towards a greener, more sustainable future for Singapore and beyond.

Plastic Recycling in Singapore

One of Advance Recycling’s primary focuses is on providing environmentally friendly plastic recycling solutions, specialising in recycling a wide range of plastic materials, including PP, PE, LDPE, HDPE, PET, PVC, and others, which can take hundreds of years to decompose. As a trusted recycling centre, Advance Recycling plays a crucial role in minimising the impact of plastic waste on the environment by employing sorting, cleaning, and reprocessing technologies to ensure high-quality recycled plastics. We understand the importance of knowing the different types of plastics and their recyclability, as outlined in our comprehensive plastic recycling guide. It actively promotes responsible plastic consumption habits to foster a more sustainable approach to plastic usage in Singapore.

 

Metal Recycling in Singapore

Advance Recycling delivers significant economic and environmental benefits through its metal recycling services, specialising in recycling a wide range of materials, including stainless steel, aluminium (1000-6000 series), lead batteries, high-nickel content, special alloys, and precious metals such as gold-plated items. The company’s aluminium recycling services are becoming increasingly important due to aluminium’s widespread use in various industries, and by recycling this metal, Advance Recycling reduces the energy required to produce new products, saving valuable resources and reducing carbon emissions. The recycling centre understands the value of precious metals and ensures that they are recycled responsibly, adhering to strict quality control standards to guarantee that all precious metals are recycled with the utmost care and attention to detail. Advance Recycling also offers the opportunity for individuals to make extra cash by buying and selling their scrap metal, whether ferrous or non-ferrous, and trades ready-to-export materials such as stainless steel, aluminium (1000-6000 series), lead batteries, high-nickel content, special alloys, and precious metals.

E-waste Recycling in Singapore

E-waste, or electronic waste, refers to discarded electrical or electronic devices, which can pose significant environmental and health risks if not disposed of properly. As an e-waste recycling centre in Singapore, Advance Recycling specialises in recycling a wide range of electronic waste, including servers, connectors, PCB boards, desktops, CPUs, cables, and even hospital equipment. The company caters to individuals and businesses, working closely with clients to develop customised solutions that meet their unique needs, whether CPU disposal for businesses or hospital equipment recycling services. Advance Recycling is committed to minimising the environmental impact of electronic waste by repurposing electronic devices, reducing waste in landfills, and saving valuable resources. The company’s e-waste recycling process involves data wiping to ensure data security, dismantling, sorting, and component recovery, all handled by a team of experts dedicated to providing comprehensive e-waste recycling services in Singapore.

Beyond Recycling: Embracing Upcycling for a Circular Economy

In addition to recycling, Advance Recycling promotes the concept of upcycling in Singapore – transforming waste materials into new, higher-value products. Upcycling maximises resource recovery and offers both environmental and economic benefits. At Advance Recycling, we dive into upcycling e-waste to create innovative solutions, showcasing this practice’s environmental and economic benefits. Our initiatives include transforming discarded cables into sustainable water boots, repurposing electronic devices into drain covers, and upcycling copper for various purposes. By embracing upcycling, we demonstrate the immense potential for transforming waste into valuable resources, contributing to a more sustainable and circular economy.

Innovation & Collaboration: Pioneering a Zero-Waste Future Together

Advance Recycling is committed to continuous innovation in recycling technologies, as evidenced by our remarkable growth and expansion over the past four years. Through the dedication and expertise of our brilliant team members, the company has successfully tackled major projects and extended its services to both Singapore and China. In 2019, Advance Recycling obtained the International Basel-Convention Licensing, further solidifying its position as a regulated and trusted recycling provider. By 2020, the company had become the leading head-contents exporter in Singapore, and in 2021, we expanded our operations by setting up a new division focused on e-waste recycling. Looking ahead to 2022 and 2023, Advance Recycling is actively exploring a 70,000 sq ft. facility to operate in Singapore or EWTCOI, with plans to establish a new division dedicated to separating polymers from precious metals. The company’s commitment to innovation and collaboration is further highlighted by the testimonial from Yong Woon Siong, Director of Gnois Pte Ltd., who praised Advance Recycling’s knowledge, dedication to staying at the forefront of the industry, and ability to meet and exceed operational budget targets and expectations. By fostering partnerships with various stakeholders, including government, businesses, and communities, Advance Recycling is pioneering a Zero Waste future together, advancing Singapore closer to its sustainability goals.

The Road to Zero Waste: Challenges and How You Can Contribute

Challenges

While significant strides have been made towards achieving a Zero Waste future, several key challenges continue to hinder the complete elimination of waste in Singapore, including increased public awareness and behaviour change, technological limitations for processing specific waste streams, and the development of adequate infrastructure for waste disposal and waste collection. Encouraging individuals and businesses to adopt sustainable practices requires ongoing education and outreach efforts, while continued research and development are necessary to find innovative solutions for problematic waste streams and promote eco-friendly waste management. Furthermore, Singapore needs to invest in expanding its recycling facilities, upgrading existing infrastructure, and establishing efficient collection and transportation systems, which requires collaboration between the government, private sector, waste management professionals, and the community to ensure that the necessary resources and support are available to create a robust and sustainable waste management ecosystem.

How You Can Contribute

As an individual or business in Singapore, you can contribute to the Zero Waste movement by adopting the 3Rs principle: Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. Minimise your consumption of single-use items, opt for reusable alternatives, and choose products with minimal packaging. Properly segregate your waste paper and plastic scrap, place every piece of recyclable materials in designated bins, and consider composting organic waste if possible. In the workplace, encourage eco-friendly habits, implement a comprehensive recycling program with a focus on plastic scrap recycling, and partner with organisations like Advance Recycling to responsibly manage your company’s waste. Engage with your community, support local sustainability initiatives, and spread awareness about the importance of responsible waste management. By collectively taking action and supporting companies like Advance Recycling, we can all contribute to creating a cleaner, greener Singapore and move closer to achieving our Zero Waste goals.

Uniting for a Zero Waste Singapore – Advance Recycling Leads the Way

Singapore’s journey towards a Zero Waste future is challenging but necessary, and companies like Advance Recycling are at the forefront of this transformative movement. As Singapore grapples with growing waste production and limited landfill capacity, individuals, businesses, and the government must work together to embrace the principles of Zero Waste by adopting the 3Rs, properly segregating waste, and supporting innovative solutions. Despite the challenges ahead, with the commitment and dedication of companies like Advance Recycling and the collective efforts of the Singaporean community, Singapore can overcome obstacles and pave the way for a cleaner, greener, and more sustainable future, serving as a model for other nations. By working together and supporting the efforts of innovative recycling companies, we can create a brighter, more sustainable future for ourselves and generations to come, making the path to Zero Waste a journey worth taking.