In 2023, CLI initiated a pilot programme introducing food digesters at two malls, Funan and Tampines Mall, as well as at an industrial facility, 2 Senoko South Road. The digesters utilised aerobic digestion, employing microorganisms in the presence of oxygen and water, in order to recycle food waste into greywater and/ or compost. The pilots were partially funded by the CIF, an internal platform to drive ideas and promote innovation within CLI.

The three pilots spanned between 5 to 11 months and saw an average recycling rate of 3.5% for the two malls and 15% for the industrial facility. In 2023, the total amount of food waste collected was 111,040 kg. The pilots faced several challenges which include higher than expected utilities consumption, odour and pest issues, digester downtime, input limitations (e.g. inability to process hard/fibrous materials), manpower requirements to ensure operation, high tenant staff turnover and data reporting limitations. Lessons learnt from this exercise were shared and CLI will continue to explore ways to address food waste.

This includes continued engagement with CLI’s food and beverage tenants, and preparing for food waste collection to be processed at Tuas Nexus, Singapore’s first integrated facility which is designed to treat food waste at an industrial scale. Tuas Nexus is currently expected to be completed in phases from 2026 onwards.