Abstract
Singapore's planning narrative has often been framed as one of turning resource constraints into opportunities, the triumph of human ingenuity over natural limits. This chapter explores and critiques this planning rhetoric through an examination of Singapore's experiences with water and waste management, focusing on municipal, as opposed to industrial, processes and policies. The trajectory of Singapore's water and waste reforms, as with any society, is influenced by unique global and local demands, contingencies and constraints. The recycling of waste is at the forefront of several government agency agendas, is promoted by non-governmental advocacy groups, and is on the minds of many Singaporeans. The 'Keep Singapore Clean' campaigns, first launched in 1968, exemplify Singapore's modernist approach in the domain of waste management. Climate change poses new challenges to water security and governance in Singapore since its water supply continues to depend on the natural climate to a large extent.