Tiffany (Tian Yi) Zhang

What were some economic factors behind Singapore’s plastic waste exports stagnating after 2020?

Started July 2, 2024

Abstract or project description

Singapore’s plastic waste exports consistently declined since 2013, but suddenly stagnated after 2020. By considering the local and global context surrounding 2020-2022, this study illuminates some economic factors behind this plateau in Singapore’s waste exports. Demand decreased because global attitudes increasingly discouraged the waste trade and the price of a major substitute for recycled waste plummeted. Costs of production from regulations and freight costs pushed down the supply of plastic waste exports but were outweighed by the sharp hike in plastic waste generation in Singapore caused by the impact of COVID-19 lockdowns on Singaporean consumer behavior. Meanwhile, importing countries’ reliance on the plastic waste trade and Singapore’s limited recycling capacity make it difficult for the quantity of Singapore’s plastic waste exports to change. This study illustrates the situation with a microeconomic model, but maintains that further investigation is essential to come up with practical solutions.