Singapore’s first after-death facility receives more applications

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Singapore’s first after-death facility receives more applications

More than 1,900 applications for inland ash scattering services at Singapore's first such facility were received on September 28 as the National Environment Agency NEA announced the opening of another site by 2024, the National Environment Agency said on Wednesday.

There were more than 1,900 applications for inland ash scattering services at the Garden of Peace Choa Chu Kang as of September 13th, 2022. The inland ash scattering garden at Choa Chu Kang Cemetery Complex opened in May 2021 and received about 900 applications in the year 2021.

A new inland ash scattering site in Mandai is expected to be operational by 2024, the NEA said, as it anticipates more demand for after-death facilities and services.

The Garden of Serenity will be introduced at the new Mandai Crematorium Complex, said NEA, adding that more cremators and building fittings will be progressively installed in tandem with demand. The new complex, initially expected to be completed by end of 2022, was delayed due to financial difficulties in 2021, according to its main contractor Greatearth Construction.

With Singapore's ageing population, the annual death rate is projected to double from 20,000 in 2016 to 40,000 in 2040, said NEA in its Integrated Sustainability Report 2021 2022.

The projected double of annual deaths would drive demand for after-death services infrastructure and industry manpower.

It added that our priority is to ensure adequate provision of after-death facilities in Singapore and to improve the service standards of the funeral industry in Singapore.

NEA also operates Singapore's public after-death facilities, providing cremation, burial, columbarium and ash scattering services, as well as providing after-death facilities.