Singapore, July 11, 2024 – The Lao PDR high-level delegation concluded a weeklong study tour learning about and observing Singapore’s advanced waste management practices as part of the ASEAN Municipal Solid Waste Management Enhancement (AMUSE) project which is funded by BMZ and implemented by the GGGI and GIZ. The initiative was organized by GGGI in Lao PDR in coordination with National Environmental Agency (NEA) and Green Nudge aiming to support Vang Vieng, a tourist destination city in Lao PDR in developing a sustainable waste management and cost recovery system based on circular economy principles, with a focus on reducing waste, keeping products in use for as long as possible, and supporting natural systems. The AMUSE project focuses on improving the cleanliness of medium sized towns by introducing sustainable waste management practices, developing a policy framework for investing in and managing organic waste in Vang Vieng district.

Consisting of 15 participants the delegation included officials from the Department of Environment (DOE) of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE), Vientiane Province Natural Resources and Environment Department (PoNRE), Vang Vieng district authorities such as the Urban Development Administration Authority (UDAA), District Office of Natural Resources and Environment (DoNRE), village authorities, a private waste recycling provider, and tourism businesses. The study tour was a collaborative effort between the National Environment Agency (NEA), under the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment of Singapore (MSE) and GGGI Lao PDR.

Singapore, with its limited land area and a population of 5.9 million, generates significant amounts of waste daily. However, the country is renowned for its innovative waste management approaches that contribute to a sustainable circular economy. The delegates explored waste-to-resource and waste-to-energy initiatives and observed best practices in source separation within communities and tourism businesses.

“I am particularly impressed by the way Singapore’s success in encouraging more sustainable waste disposal behaviors among tourists and the millions of visitors who come to the country,” Ms. Hatsady Khounsy the Director General of UDDA Vang Vieng district said. “It is also encouraging to see the environmental compliance exhibited and practiced by hotels, resorts and shopping malls. This has given me valuable lessons on how to encourage good waste management practices from our business entities,” Ms. Khounsy added.

Over four days, participants engaged in sessions designed to help them understand Singapore’s sustainable solid waste management strategy and action plan, including the adoption and enforcement processes overseen by the NEA.

The learning trip featured a series of field visits to showcase Singapore’s waste management value chain. Highlights included site visits to the Tuas South Incineration Plant (TSIP) and E-waste Recycling Facilities (EWR2) managed by Chye Thiam Maintenance (CTM), one of the leading global processors. These visits provided significant insights into advanced waste management technologies and offered valuable onsite training opportunities. The delegates observed the step-by-step operations of these facilities, from waste intake to final product generation. Additionally, waste sorting and management practices within communities, tourism, and business entities, serving more than 20,000 tourists daily, were showcased to the delegates. This exposure provided tangible experiences in public and community engagement in sustainable solid waste management and demonstrated waste-to-resource best practices in the tourism and hospitality sectors.

“This South-South Knowledge exchange has given the participants insights into how a comprehensive city-wide waste management system can be built, operated and managed. The study tour explored how to engage the public and create behavior change campaigns which will be crucial to Vang Vieng district in ensuring residents and tourists are able to get clear messages on how to utilize the infrastructure” Mr George Asiimwe, Senior Officer and Waste Unit Lead from GGGI Lao PDR explained.

The lessons learned will be instrumental in developing regulations, laws, and policies for green growth enforcement in the country, contributing to the overall improvement of waste management systems and environmental sustainability. Mr. Bounchan Malavong, Mayor of Vang Vieng district, Vientiane Province said that “We will share the learnings from Singapore with our colleagues and continue working to improve waste management practices in Vang Vieng.”

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About the ASEAN Municipal Solid Waste Management Enhancement (AMUSE)