Victoria Vaughan, Straits Times 6 Oct 09;
GARBAGE trucks could become a thing of the past if a new research centre at Nanyang Technological University (NTU) succeeds in one of its first projects.
The Residues and Resource Reclamation Centre (R3C), the latest facility to be launched under Nanyang Environment and Water Research Institute (NEWRI), has submitted a proposal to government agencies and industries for funding to look into the creation of community resource recovery centres to deal with household waste at a local level.
Such facilities would separate waste at source and convert into energy and useful nutrients on site to cut down on waste and save energy used in collection, explained Mr Wang Jing-Yuan, director of the centre.
The nutrients would be used to fertilise Singapore's soil and the energy to power homes in the vicinity, he added.
The project will also look at developing toilets which take as little water as possible to flush, to cut down on waste water and reclamation further along the process.
Mr Wang, allaying fears of bad odours in neighbourhood, assured: 'We have an expert on odour control and we can use a photo catalyst - a light - to remove odours.
NTU submits proposal to convert waste into energy
Byron Ho, Channel NewsAsia 5 Oct 09;
SINGAPORE: Waste collection could become a much simpler process if a new research centre at Nanyang Technological University (NTU) succeeds in one of its projects.
The Residues and Resource Reclamation Centre has submitted a proposal for government agencies and industries to fund community resource recovery centres.
Centre Director Wang Jing Yuan said Monday that such facilities will separate the waste at source, and convert it into energy and other useful materials such as fertilisers.
The energy obtained from the waste can also be used to power up homes in the community.
Associate Professor Wang said the team will embark on the project next year.
The project is part of a five-year programme to find a sustainable urban waste management solution for the future.
- CNA/yb
NTU studies new way of managing garbage
Victoria Vaughan, Straits Times 17 Oct 09;
GARBAGE trucks and their signature odour could become a less common sight in Singapore if a new research centre at Nanyang Technological University (NTU) is successful in one of its first projects.
The Residues and Resource Reclamation Centre (R3C) wants to establish community resource recovery centres to deal with household waste at a local level.
Such facilities will separate waste at its source and convert it into energy and useful fertiliser on site. This will cut down on waste collection and the energy used to collect it, explained Mr Wang Jing-Yuan, the centre's director.
Mr Wang allayed fears that such an innovation would create an unpleasant smell in the neighbourhood: 'We have an expert on odour control and we can use a photocatalyst - a light - to remove odours,' he said.
The R3C is the latest facility to be launched under the Nanyang Environment and Water Research Institute, and it has submitted a proposal to government agencies and industries for funding.
It is hoped that funding will be granted early next year to develop the technology and analyse the possible savings to both households and the Government, Mr Wang added.
Currently, it costs the Government $77 a tonne, and between $8 and $10 a month for each household's waste collection.
The R3C was launched last week at NTU alongside two other research facilities: the DIH-NTU Water and Environment Research Centre and Education Hub - a collaboration with a Danish waste water consulting firm, and the Singapore Membrane Technology Centre, which will look at more efficient waste water purification methods. Both these facilities have been active for a year.
Guest of honour Tan Yong Soon, permanent secretary at the Ministry of Environment and Water Resources, praised NTU's research for being 'relevant to the needs of industry'.
'Through R3C's research, Singapore could get a larger foothold in...recycling waste (which) is now seen as a profitable resource creation enterprise in its own right,' said Mr Tan.
The three research centres will receive a total of $95 million from the Economic Development Board, Environment and Water Industry Development Council, NTU and industry partners.
