Waste service is an organization that handles waste in a city or municipality. Its roles and responsibilities are vast, and they are often plagued by inefficiency. This inefficiency is usually a result of a poorly-defined organizational structure, high bureaucracy, poor transparency, low salaries, corruption and nepotism, and complex procurement processes. Inefficiency is often exacerbated by political influence over technical decisions.
A reliable, professional waste service can provide a variety of waste services. For a small fee, a company can deliver various sizes of dumpsters, including large and small roll-off containers. Many companies also offer recycling services. In the case of the former, most of these companies have a recycling facility that can safely and quickly process recyclable materials.
The cost of a waste service is influenced by the amount of waste the city generates. The typical household waste is composed of paper, plastic, rags, glass, and metal. Construction and demolition debris are also a part of the collected waste. Small amounts of hazardous waste are also included, including batteries and discarded medicines. Commercial waste, on the other hand, is generated in office buildings, factories, and other commercial premises.
The costs of garbage and recycling services have increased significantly in Singapore over the last decade, and the government is increasingly outsourcing this work. More private companies are entering the market. The government, for its part, is now outsourcing 20 per cent of garbage collection. This trend is gaining momentum in Asian countries. In Singapore, Century waste for example, the cost of collection and disposal of refuse tripled in the last decade. As a result, the Ministry of the Environment established a private limited company called SEMAC Pte Ltd.
The composition of municipal solid waste varies considerably by region. In low-income countries, waste is largely composed of organic materials and is more than fifty percent moisture. In high-income countries, waste is characterized differently. Some cities also include industrial and construction waste in their waste stream. Consequently, they face different waste management challenges.
There are private firms in Southeast Asia that are dedicated to collecting municipal solid waste. These companies will play a key role at the Tuas transfer station and the Pulau Semaku landfill. Furthermore, several cities in the People’s Republic of China are finalizing agreements with foreign companies in the waste-to-energy industry.
Waste management is a critical challenge for countries in the region. Insufficient government funding, a lack of skilled personnel, and inadequate long-term planning are some of the common problems. The problem is compounded by the increasing volume of waste. This means that the limited resources of waste collection agencies are stretched thin. As a result, waste management should be given top priority.
The FMO has several contracts for waste hauling, composting, and recyclables processing. A three-year contract awarded to a waste hauling contractor in 1997 has recently been extended through 2002. The contract covers the rental of waste containers, compactors, and hauling services. The contractor is compensated based on a per ton tip fee. In FY2000, the total cost of this contract was $825,900.