SINGAPORE — The Singapore government has opened a landfill island, made entirely from garbage incinerator ash, to its citizens in a bid to share its "rich natural environment."

"Throughout the planning, design, and construction of the landfill island, and since it came into operation, painstaking efforts have been made to protect the island's ecosystem and preserve its rich natural environment and biodiversity," the National Environment Agency said in a statement.

The Semakau landfill is about eight kilometers (five miles) south of Singapore. The Nature Society of Singapore and the Sport Fishing Association of Singapore are among the independent groups organizing visits to the dumpsite, the statement said.

Source: Associated Press