WASTE MANAGEMENT

Waste Management Strategy and Performance

In land-scarce Singapore, general waste is sent to the waste-to-energy incineration plant, where energy is generated. The resulting incinerated ash is then transported to our only landfill, Semakau Island, for disposal. With Semakau Landfill expected to be fully filled by 2035, Singapore aims to achieve a 70% overall recycling rate by 2030 to curb waste generated.

CDL engages NEA-licensed vendors to collect, treat and recycle waste from our managed buildings and construction sites.¹ We target to reduce our waste intensity by 16% (from 2016 levels) for office and industrial buildings and 12% (from 2016 levels) for retail buildings by 2030. We also intend to cap the waste intensity from our construction sites at 40 kg/m² by 2030.

We continuously invest, innovate, and adopt leading-edge technology such as Prefabricated Prefinished Volumetric Construction (PPVC) to significantly reduce construction waste. As a real estate developer and asset manager, most of our waste is generated by our contractors and tenants. Generated waste from both construction sites and managed buildings are disposed of in accordance with local waste regulations.

1	CDL generates negligible hazardous waste from our operations.

Lifecycle Approach to Waste Management

CDL remains steadfast in managing our waste efficiently and seeks to reduce, reuse, and recycle our waste across every stage of our project lifecycle. Adopting the waste management hierarchy approach, we focus on reducing waste at the source before considering reusing and recycling.

Stage in Project Lifecycle	Key Waste Management Initiatives	Benefits
Design	Adopt PPVC technology for large-scale residential developments² where applicable	Reduce waste generation and pave the way for cleaner and safer construction sites
Design	Adopt Building Information Modelling (BIM) and Virtual Design and Construction (VDC) technology	Reduce construction waste through early identification of potential construction issues
Construction	Adhere to CDL’s Construction and Demolition Waste Policy since 2009 for the adoption of sustainable construction practices	Increase use of sustainable products by contractors and improved recycling rates for construction waste
	Identify materials for reuse or recycling with reference to BCA’s Demolition Protocol	Reduce waste generation and associated costs required to re-purchase materials
	Reuse furnishings in our show flats, wherever the design or theme permits
Operation of Assets	Implement recycling programmes for light bulbs, paper, plastic, aluminium cans, etc	Divert waste from landfill
	Introduce recycling programmes for our corporate office and managed buildings, where relevant
	Pilot food waste systems for segregation and onsite treatment

Waste Reduction Performance

In line with the principles of a circular economy, our holistic EHS management system framework ensures a regular review of our waste minimisation efforts and recycling initiatives across all our properties.

In 2021, general, non-hazardous waste generation remained consistent for corporate office and managed buildings, compared to 2020 due to the stabilisation of office and retail operations.

In the same year, about 551 tonnes of recyclable waste were collected from our managed buildings, 95% of which was paper. Since 2017, we have engaged tenants across all managed buildings to participate in our paper recycling programme. At our retail properties, recycling bins and facilities are provided to encourage the recycling of paper, plastic and metal by shoppers and tenants. In 2021, City Square Mall reported a recycling rate of 26%, which is above the national recycling rate of 12% for large malls.³ Out of 514 tonnes of recyclable waste, seven tonnes were attributed to food waste composted.

In 2021, construction waste disposed of at all CDL active construction sites amounted to 6,914 tonnes, with a waste intensity of 87.6kg/m². This is higher than waste intensities in 2020 due to the resumption of construction activities in 2021.

The use of PPVC became mandatory for selected residential non-landed Government Land Sale (GLS) sites from 1 November 2014 onwards. Prior to this regulation, CDL voluntarily embarked on a pioneering effort to build Singapore’s first large-scale PPVC residential development (The Brownstone EC) in early 2014, setting the benchmark and world record of engaging close to 4,100 modules that were prefabricated offsite and assembled on-site.

The latest publicly available recycling rate for large malls in Singapore is 12% in 2020 as per NEA reported findings from the 2021 Mandatory Waste Reporting Exercise.

Waste Disposed of and Recycled for CDL’s Operations in Singapore

Note:
•	Waste generated is based on the weight of waste that CDL directs to recovery and disposal.
•	Waste tonnage reported is based on information provided by engaged waste collectors and recyclers. Should information be unavailable, the tonnage of general and recyclable waste is estimated based on data extrapolation from one week of weighing, or as appropriate per operating conditions.
•	Waste recycled for CDL Corporate Office is reported from 2019 onwards.
•	Waste disposal figures for CDL Managed Buildings have been restated to remove corporate office waste disposal quantities as they are reported separately in this report.
•	Of the recycled waste from CDL construction sites, 1% consists of recycled wood and 5% consists of recycled steel. The remaining percentage consists of recycled mixed waste and recycled demolition waste.
*	A more accurate value of waste disposed for Piermont Grand was obtained. Hence, this value was adjusted to reflect the new total.

Waste Disposed and Waste Disposal Intensity of CDL’s Operations in Singapore (Tonnes)

Note:
•	Waste intensity figures for CDL active construction sites are for incinerated waste.
*	A more accurate value of waste disposed of at Piermont Grand was obtained. Hence, this value was adjusted to reflect the new total.

NATURAL CAPITAL