about the series
Area in grey: Landfill area since 1999
"...Pulau Semakau is one of the southern islands off the main island of Singapore. It once occupied an area of about 70ha, with a coastline of more than 3km. However, the shape and size of the island were altered after plans were announced in the late 1980s to dump rubbish offshore when the existing landfills in the main island reached full capacity. In April 1999, the island was turned into Singapore’s only landfill."
"...was once the site of natural mangrove swamps that supported a rich variety of plants and animals, and is still a popular marine site for divers because of the underwater coral reefs off its shores. The origins of the island's name are unclear - the meaning of semakau is unknown, although semak is a Malay term for scrub or undergrowth."
From Singapore Infopedia
"Currently, about 1,400 tons of incineration ash and 600 tons of non-incinerable waste are disposed of at Semakau Landfill everyday"
"Scenic and idyllic recreational destination with pristine water, fresh air and a green natural environment thriving with vibrant and rich biodiversity... opened up in Jul 05 for sport fishing, intertidal walk, stargazing, recreational outing (bait fishing, cycling, barbacuing, camping...)
NEA's Summary Sheet on Pulau Semakau and who to contact
"was the world's first offshore landfill, and is now Singapore's only landfill. Taking up an area of 350 hectares and with a capacity which is expected to last until 2040, this environmentally friendly waste disposal plant is far from ordinary."
"When the rate of waste disposed by its citizens rose six-fold between 1970 and 2000, ambitious projects to curtail this growth were put in place. Singapore's National Environment Agency (NEA) formulated a range of strategies and programmes to achieve its objectives."
"...every day it takes shipments of over 2,000 tonnes of ash -- the charred remnants of 93 percent of Singapore's rubbish, burnt at its four incinerators"
"...National Environment Agency (NEA) predicts a new multimillion dollar incinerator will be needed every five to seven years, and a new landfill like Pulau Semakau every 25 to 30 years"
"...With nowhere to site another landfill, recycling, though not yet rolled out to the masses in condominiums or state Housing Development Board (HDB) skyscrapers, is no longer just nice to have, but a necessity"
"Waste incineration...creates dioxins where none existed before. Dioxin is known to increase rates of cancer growth... An incinerator is a major contributor to a whole range of major health problems"
A good read from Reuters
"...original Pulau Semakau which was not affected by the landfill construction has an enormous intertidal area which is rich in amazing wildlife..."
"situated offshore among the southern islands of Singapore. It covers a total area of 3.5 square kilometres and has a capacity of 63 million m³. "
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