From the beginning, the problem of locating a new landfill was framed within the context of land scarcity in Singapore (Tan et al., 2009). “Frames” are defined here as “underlying structures of belief, perception, and appreciation” (Schön & Rein, 1994: 23). In turn, the frame of land scarcity on mainland Singapore constrained attention to the option of an offshore landfill. Furthermore, the established precedent of an operational offshore landfill such as Fresh Kills in the United States and Singapore’s extensive experience with coastal land reclamation were additional factors that had likely and posi-tively moderated the feasibility of an offshore landfill.