Singapore Polytechnic supports nation’s vision of zero waste through technological breakthroughs
04 Jun 2018
Singapore Polytechnic (SP) has signed a three-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Waste Management & Recycling Association of Singapore (WMRAS) to help boost innovation, encourage technology adoption and improve safety in the environmental services industry. This is the first time WMRAS is partnering a polytechnic to support the Environmental Services Industry Transformation Map (ITM) which aims to create a vibrant, sustainable and professional industry.
The Environmental Services industry is an important part of Singapore’s zero waste vision as more than 78,000 professionals and 1,700 companies in the cleaning and waste management sectors keep Singapore clean daily.
Enhancing innovation and technology adoption
As demand for environmental services grows, innovative solutions will be needed to improve productivity and promote growth. The collaboration with WMRAS provides a platform for SP to support the industry through new technological solutions.
Electronic waste recycling is one area where SP is applying its expertise. Singapore is one of the top three electronic waste producers in Southeast Asia, amounting to 60,000 tonnes annually. Only six percent of electronic waste is being recycled and the current electronic waste recycling operations are also hazardous and dangerous due to the use of chemicals.
To tackle this challenge, SP’s Advanced Materials Technology Centre (AMTC) has developed a proprietary blend of chemical formulations for electronic waste recycling. The new ‘green’ formulation is not only free of hazardous chemicals but also provides companies a comparable yield of precious metals, such as gold and silver, in just 30 minutes. Using the new formulation enables companies to save up to 50% in time and up to 20% in cost as compared to current formulations. By adopting this new chemical formulation, waste management companies can potentially increase their revenue and productivity while ensuring the safety of their workers.
To support Singapore’s zero waste vision, the centre has also developed an innovative process that allows 100 percent of incineration ash to be transformed into foam glass, a high performance and long lasting material for thermal insulation.
Another unique and sustainable technology involves the recycling of solar panels. Using SP’s technology, valuable materials such as silicone, glass and copper can be recovered and recycled instead of being incinerated. This allows companies to recover more than 90 percent of the material cost used to produce the solar panel.
Upskilling the workforce
To help the industry meet high global safety standards, SP and WMRAS have jointly developed a new Chemical and Workplace Safety Programme (CWSP) for chemical/waste management companies.
Under the programme, related companies and professionals will undergo a two-day workshop in late 2018 to build up their chemical and workplace safety and health capabilities. Through the training, participants will learn how to reduce occupational diseases, injuries and fatalities from potential exposure to hazardous chemicals. They will pick up new knowledge and skills which will allow them to achieve a pollution-free and zero waste environment.
In addition, both SP and WMRAS will provide consultancy services to the chemical/waste recycling companies to ensure knowledge learnt in the CWSP are implemented in the workplace. Both SP and WMRAS will also help companies to analyse the risks of their critical controlled chemical components and improve safety.
END
Dr Amy Khor, Senior Minister of State, Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources & Ministry of Health and Mr Lim Peng Hun, Deputy Principal (Academic), Singapore Polytechnic (1st from right), witnessed the signing of the MoU between Singapore Polytechnic (SP) and the Waste Management & Recycling Association of Singapore (WMRAS). Ms Melissa Tan, Chairman WMRAS (2nd from left) and Dr Rajnish Gupta, Director of SP’s Department of Technology, Innovation & Enterprise (2nd from right), were the signatories of the MoU.
Dr Amy Khor finding out more about the foam glass that was converted from incineration ash. The process of converting 100 percent of incineration ash to foam glass is one of Singapore Polytechnic’s technological breakthroughs.
For Media Enquiries:
Frank Chua
Communications Specialist
T: 6870 7043
M: 9771 7871
Email: frank_chua@sp.edu.sg
Shakeel Rashid
Associate Communications Specialist
T: 6772 1350
M: 9199 1921
Email: shakeel_rashid@sp.edu.sg
About Singapore Polytechnic (www.sp.edu.sg)
Established in 1954, Singapore Polytechnic (SP) is Singapore’s first polytechnic. It has 10 schools that offer 46 full-time courses for close to 16,000 students. SP adopts a proven creative teaching and learning framework and offers students a holistic, authentic and industry-relevant curriculum, innovative and vibrant learning spaces, and enriching overseas programmes.
The Polytechnic is committed to producing competent and versatile graduates who are also imbued with sound values, so that they can be work ready, life ready and world-ready. SP has more than 200,000 graduates and among them are successful entrepreneurs, top executives in multi-national and public-listed corporations, and well-known professionals across various industries and leaders in government.
SP clinched the inaugural ASEAN People’s Award in 2015 for its contributions toward the region’s community-building efforts. SP is also the first polytechnic to be awarded the President’s Award for the Environment in 2010 and the President's Social Service Award in 2011.
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