In this week’s blog post! I will be exploring more about food waste and the resultant pollution. This issue is especially prominent in Singapore from my observation. 

Food is among the five largest sources of waste in Singapore. In fact, we generate approximately 800,000 tonnes of food waste every year, which is equal to 2 bowls of rice per person, every day (NEA, 2020).  

Why are we like that?  

In this week of the blog post! I will be exploring more about food waste and the resultant pollution. This issue is especially pertinent in Singapore. Food is among the five largest sources of waste in Singapore. In fact, we generate approximately 800,000 tonnes of food waste every year, which is equal to 2 bowls of rice per person every day (NEA,2020). Food waste has increased by 30% over the past decade and it is not expected to slow down anytime soon (NEA,2020). The increase is due to the waste culture in Singapore, and we should be concerned about it. As we advance as a nation economically, the increase in wealth among the middle classes naturally fuels the consumption of food and products. We are growing less concerned about the amount of food we are consuming and unconsciously wasting more food in the process. 

Worryingly, we do not adopt practices of regulated disposal. In countries such as South Korea and Taiwan, they embrace pay-as-you throw system and allocated government waste bags to separate food waste respectively (Straits Times, 2016). Whilst the convenient rubbish chute just around the corner of our housing makes us unaccountable for the waste we produce. Consequently, making us prone to adopt waste culture habits.   

 

“Zero waste” no more  

While we have often heard of Singapore’s attempt to achieve “Zero Waste” Singapore by 2030, the increase of food wastage can seriously hinder the progress. Food waste can further complicate recycling efforts by corroding and contaminating resources. As seen when 35% of 12,000 tonnes of recyclable waste is discarded each year. This can really undermine our diligent effort in achieving that goal.  Now you may consider that food waste only produces harmful effects only when it is wasted. However, it is worth to note that the entire process of bringing the food to your table; harvesting, processing, transportation, packaging consumes a large amount of energy resources, which produces a large amount of greenhouse gases.  

 

Food waste is one of the top contributing factors to greenhouse gases emission and climate change. The figure below puts things into perspective. The increase in greenhouse gases can affect us in many detrimental ways. Data has shown that from 1972 to 2014, the annual mean temperature has increased from 26.6°C to 27.7°C. As a result of warmer weather, there will be more mosquitoes breeding ground and health problems such as heat stroke and dengue fever. Furthermore, once the food goes to the landfills, it decomposes. This causes the release of Methane gas, which is reported to be at least 28 times more potent in trapping heat energy (Jain, Briegleb, Minschwaner, & Wuebbles, 2000). If we are able to manage our food resources more effectively, such that if we cut down on food wastage, we would be able to cut down our emission levels significantly. 

Check back next week to find out how it also affects biodiversity across the world. 

  

References 

Samantha (2015) 1 in 4 buys more food than needed: Survey. Retrieved from https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/1-in-4-buys-more-food-than-needed-survey

Kenneth (2019) “Masterplan to push Singapore towards zero-waste future”. Retrieved from https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/masterplan-push-singapore-towards-zero-waste-future

Jain, A. K., Briegleb, B. P., Minschwaner, K., & Wuebbles, D. J. (2000). Radiative forcings and global warming potentials of 39 greenhouse gases. Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres, 105(D16), 20773–20790. https://doi.org/10.1029/2000JD900241 

NEA. (2020) Food Waste Management. Statistics on food waste. Retrieved from https://www.nea.gov.sg/our-services/waste-management/3r-programmes-and-resources/food-waste-management 

NEA .(2020) Food Waste Reduction Programme. Retrieved from https://www.cgs.sg/programmes/food-waste-reduction-programme/home 

Straits Times (2017) “NEA to audit waste at food places, malls and hotels”. Statistics on food waste. Retrieved from https://www.gov.sg/news/content/the-straits-times—nea-to-audit-waste-at-food-places-malls-and-hotels 

Straits Times (2016) South Korea cuts food waste with ‘pay as you trash’. Retrieved from “https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/south-korea-cuts-food-waste-with-pay-as-you-trash