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Global Briefing
Policies Driving The Change Towards Zero Waste
Understanding successful policies worldwide that have supported the change towards zero waste.
Abishek Balasubramanian, Head of Projects, and Clarette Teo, Research Intern, GA Circular
The Ministry of Environment and Water Resources has designated 2019 to be the Year Towards Zero-
Waste, with an aim to raise awareness of waste issues and build a strong Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle (3R) culture. The goal is to pave the way towards Singapore becoming a zero-waste nation by adopting the circular economy. The circular economy is a topic that is receiving widespread global attention in light of the increasing public awareness about the various challenges of waste management, ranging from food waste to the leakage of packaging waste into the oceans. This article aims to explore the paths that other countries have taken in their drive to reduce waste, focusing on Pay-As-You-Throw and Extended Producer Responsibility, two mechanisms used by other countries in both Asia and Europe to support their transition towards a circular economy.
Pay-As-You-Throw (PAYT)
Pay-As-You-Throw (PAYT) or volume- based waste fees are systems that have been successfully implemented in Asian cities, such as Taipei or Seoul, to reduce the amount of waste generated and drive recycling. In both of these countries,
households and businesses are required to purchase designated garbage bags to dispose of waste. In Seoul, RFID smart bins as a PAYT scheme has also been implemented for food waste. Residents who do not comply are subject to fines and penalties. This directly creates a monetary incentive for consumers to reduce the amount of waste they generate.
In terms of waste reduction, these policies have met with success in both these cities. Since its implementation in Seoul, PAYT has led to the reduction of mixed- waste generated per capita by 36% from 1995 to 2014. Taipei, too, has also seen a similar decline in per capita mixed-waste generation by 31% and in average monthly expenditure on waste collection by 75% between 2000 and 2015. This achievement is even more impressive considering that fact that most other countries typically face increasing per capita waste generation amounts yearly.
Not only do the PAYT systems incentivise lower waste generation, they also promote recycling as recyclable materials are exempt from PAYT charges in both these cities. This incentivises consumers to segregate their waste to minimise the amount that needs to be disposed of through
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