The global waste recycling market revenue was likely to increase from $265.61 Bn in 2017 to $282.1 Bn in 2018.

In fact, the revenue from plastic recycling industry, itself posed a tremendous business opportunity and the market size is estimated at $37.6 Bn in 2018.

By 2026 the global plastic recycling market is expected to reach $56.03 Bn.

What is leading this growth in the recycling industry?

Now, technology has opened even more avenues and made the entire process of recycling much more sophisticated. There are more ways to now recycle the wastes, be it plastic or paper. However, not many people are skilled enough to make most of these solutions.

Realizing the need for skilling workers as per the new technological changes reshaping the recycling industry, SembWaste has signed MoU with the Building Construction And Timber Industries Employees’ Union.

SembWaste and BATU will set up a company training committee to design training programmes for employees and upgrade their skills, supported by the National Trades Union Congress’s Employment and Employability Institute (NTUC’s e2i), NTUC LearningHub and the National University of Singapore.

“This will position the company to exploit technologies faster, better, and in turn, workers will be able to keep up with the technologies," said NTUC secretary-general Ng Chee Meng.

Under the training initiative, SembWaste has introduced Asia’s first Econic refuse collection truck with enhanced safety features.

It is suppose to have better visibility, a blind-spot camera system, and a low-entry concept that shall allow drivers to make eye contact with other road users.

Additionally, the company has also invested in driving simulators to train truck drivers in "safe and defensive driving".

All of these programs and policies are done with an objective to maximise workers’ potential and equip them with proper safety knowledge.

Senior Vice President of waste management at Sembcorp Industry Neo Hong Keat said, "In this industry, people (are our) greatest asset. We want our people to do their job safely and effectively. We want to make sure every worker can do their job properly so they can go back to their families at the end of the day."

As the recycling industry continues to mature it will require more people to take up roles in the sector, and the ones already working in the space have to upskill themselves. The possibilities in the industry makes it an attractive option for job seekers.

Let's see how the industry grows and how these partnerships like SembWaste and BATU empower workers in the sector. 

Image Credits: Flickr