Chye Thiam Maintenance CEO Edy Tan is championing sustainability with innovative material recovery and automated cleaning solutions

ENVIRONMENTAL services firm Chye Thiam Maintenance (CTM) made headlines in 2024 when it unveiled plans to deploy Singapore’s first driverless road sweepers by the end of the year.

These autonomous vehicles can operate in high-risk and complex environments, freeing up manpower for more specialised tasks and enhancing workplace safety.

“The idea of using driverless road sweepers emerged from our vision to embrace automation and improve operational efficiency,” says CTM chief executive Edy Tan, the second-generation leader of this family-run business that was founded in 1979.

Such innovation is typical of the forward-thinking approach Tan has championed since taking the helm of CTM a decade ago, transforming the company from a traditional cleaning services provider to a pioneer in sustainable waste management. It also resulted in the 50-year-old being honoured with this year’s EY Entrepreneur Of The Year – Environmental Services award.

Tan’s journey in environmental services began with an early hands-on role in the family business upon completing his National Service. He returned to CTM in 2000 after pursuing further studies in the United Kingdom, gradually working his way through various departments and roles.

After being appointed CEO in 2014, Tan set out to diversify the company’s environmental solutions business to incorporate advanced material recovery and waste management facilities. In 2018, the company invested S$5 million into a material recovery facility in Sungei Kadut, which now plays a key role in Singapore’s waste management strategy.

Tan’s pioneering efforts continued through the disruption of the Covid-19 pandemic. In 2021, he expanded CTM’s capabilities by investing over S$4 million in an e-waste recycling plant in Tuas, a timely response to Singapore’s national push for better e-waste management. The facility specialises in recycling electronic waste, addressing a growing environmental concern as more electronic products reach the end of their lifecycle.

Today, both facilities now recover over 40 per cent of recyclables, significantly contributing to Singapore’s waste reduction goals and easing the burden on Pulau Semakau, the nation’s sole landfill, which is projected to reach capacity by 2035. As a result of these efforts, CTM now serves about two-thirds of the nation’s public waste collectors.

“Our materials recovery facilities have become a key pillar in our business model, playing an essential role in helping our clients meet their sustainability goals. As we continue to see a global shift towards sustainable practices and the circular economy, we anticipate that this sector will grow rapidly in the coming years,” says Tan.

However, these investments come with considerable risks, particularly the potential for cost overruns during development. Tan overcame these challenges by implementing strong controls through his trusted in-house team and collaborating with local experts for R&D and facility construction.

Grooming talent to spur innovation

Tan is committed to developing his employees and fostering a culture of innovation and growth within CTM. “Innovation has always been at the core of CTM’s philosophy. The environmental services sector, while traditionally centred on manual operations, is experiencing rapid changes due to technology, environmental policies, and evolving customer demands,” he says.

To promote innovation, the company actively engages its employees at all levels, giving them a platform to share ideas and take ownership of new projects. CTM also invests in training and continuous learning to help its workforce stay abreast of the latest industry trends and technologies.

To this end, the company has forged partnerships with educational institutions and industry bodies to promote knowledge exchange and remain on the leading edge of advancements in the environmental services sector. CTM has also established a Centre of Excellence, where employees can experiment with state-of-the-art technologies.

“We believe that innovation stems from collaboration and a culture that encourages experimentation. We have developed our own Centre of Excellence to drive this, and this platform has been instrumental in empowering our team to continuously innovate and explore state-of-the-art technologies,” Tan says.

These efforts have not only helped CTM stay ahead of the competition, but have also made the company an attractive workplace for talent interested in environmental sustainability.

Paving the way for long-term success

Looking ahead, Tan sees even more opportunities for growth and innovation. Among other initiatives, CTM plans to consolidate its material recovery and e-waste facilities to create operational synergies and to further expand into regional markets.

Furthermore, the company aims to digitalise its service delivery to offer data-driven insights to clients, and is also looking at how it can further incorporate robotics into its work processes. “Ultimately, we want to remain at the forefront of environmental services by continually pushing boundaries and embracing new ways to create value for our stakeholders,” he says.

As an experienced business leader, Tan has advice for aspiring entrepreneurs – remain steadfast in your vision and be prepared to adapt. He also urges businesses to stay ahead of trends and never wait for competitors to catch up.

He says: “The environmental services industry is going through a major transformation, offering countless opportunities for those who can innovate and bring sustainable solutions to the table.”