Efforts to get diners to return trays and crockery paying off
SINGAPORE – Efforts to make sure diners return their used trays and crockery at hawker centres, coffee shops and foodcourts are paying off, with more than nine in 10 observed to clean up after themselves in April 2024.
This is up from the 65 per cent tray and crockery return rate noted in August 2021, before warnings and fines were issued from the following month.
The update came from the National Environment Agency (NEA) and Singapore Food Agency (SFA) on June 12, alongside the launch of the annual Go Green SG campaign, a nationwide movement led by the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment (MSE).
In its second edition, the campaign aims to rally citizens, organisations and the community to take action for more sustainable living. This year’s focus is on public cleanliness, in alignment with the 2024 Year of Public Hygiene as designated by MSE.
Those who did not return their used trays and crockery, as well as clear their tables, could face fines of up to $2,000 for repeat offences.
Enforcement began in September 2021,with patrons receiving verbal warnings from officers if they did not clean up after themselves. This was followed by written warnings for repeat violations.
From June 2023, verbal warnings were no longer issued, and diners who left dirty and uncleared tables received written warnings even for first offences. More than 5,000 written warnings were issued to first-time offenders of table littering over the past year.
Only nine were repeat offenders, who were issued fines.
Speaking at the launch of Go Green SG 2024 at Republic Polytechnic on June 12, Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat said that the success of the tray return scheme was achieved through a mix of enforcement, good infrastructure and public education.
“This was done through enforcement of table-littering regulations, and also through partnerships with town councils, hawker centre operators and cleaning contractors to optimise tray return infrastructure, and to make it easy for the public to do this.”
NEA said it will work with hawkers’ associations, town councils, operators and cleaning contractors, to make further infrastructural adjustments, such as shifting less-used racks to more popular return points, or utilising mobile trolleys to create additional tray and crockery return points when required.
DPM Heng said public hygiene has become an increasingly important challenge as cities grow and become denser.
This includes maintaining a hygienic environment, clean air and water, and safe food production systems.
“So, it is very apt that MSE has designated 2024 as the Year of Public Hygiene, after recent campaigns on climate action and zero waste.”
MSE designated 2018 as the Year of Climate Action to raise awareness on the need to take collective action to fight climate change, and 2019 as the Year Towards Zero Waste to build national consciousness to care for the environment.
Diner shocked by the need to wipe table on top of having to clear food tray and litter
SINGAPORE: A viral video emerging from Tekka Hawker Centre has sparked widespread public discussion regarding the regulations imposed by the National Environment Agency (NEA) concerning cleanliness in public dining areas.
The TikTok video, which was posted on Friday, 13 October, features a diner, identified as Pankaj, challenging two supposed NEA enforcement officers on the specifics of new public dining cleaning regulations.
In May 2021, the NEA mandated that diners at public places must clear their tables of used trays, crockery, and litter after meals, in line with Section 17(1) of the Environmental Public Health Act (EPHA).
Offences under this section could invite a range of penalties, including fines up to S$2,000.
As of 1 June 2023, first-time offenders who don’t return their used items will receive a written warning, second-time offenders will be slapped with a S$300 composition fine, and further offences could incur court fines.
However, the recently surfaced video has unveiled a potential discrepancy or misinterpretation in these rules.
Pankaj is seen questioning the NEA officers about the extent of the diner’s responsibility in cleaning the table, particularly concerning food or drink spillages.
While Pankaj and several netizens believed the mandate only required diners to clear solid waste and return trays and utensils, the officers insisted that diners should also wipe the table clean of any spills.
The heated exchange between Pankaj and the officers revolves around the clarification and perhaps the ambiguity of the guidelines, “Are you saying to me that if I dirty the table, I am supposed to wipe the table?”
Pankaj was recorded saying. The officers affirmed, adding that it is indeed the responsibility of diners to ensure the table is clear and clean after their meal.
The viral footage has ignited a flurry of reactions online, with numerous netizens expressing astonishment and confusion over the cleaning requirements.
Many were under the impression that the NEA’s regulations simply required them to return trays and dispose of litter, not to clean spillages.
Several comments pointed out practical issues, such as a lack of cleaning materials available to diners, “What happens if we don’t have any tissues especially men..men usually don’t have tissues w them..how to clean?” queried one user.
Others used sarcasm to vent their frustrations and disbelief, “Normally at the hawker centre after I eat I will sweep, mop the floor and wash the dishes,” a netizen quipped.
Interestingly, a review of previous NEA announcements and news reports, includinga joint press release on 30 August 2021, reveals no explicit mention of the obligation for diners to wipe tables clean of spillages, indicating a possible miscommunication or misinterpretation of the regulations in place.
No drop in table cleanliness standards at coffee shops since tray return policy: Grace Fu
SINGAPORE: The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) has not seen a fall in table cleanliness standards at coffee shops since the tray return policy was implemented, said Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu.
"The rate of feedback received on table cleanliness in coffee shops has decreased," she added in a written parliamentary reply on Tuesday (Sep 19).
Ms Fu was responding to a question from MP Jamus Lim (WP-Sengkang), who asked if there had been any reduction in cleanliness standards for tables in coffee shops since the requirement for diners to return their used trays and crockery kicked in.
Those who do not return their used trays and crockery will have their particulars noted by enforcement officers.
First-time offenders will receive a written warning, while repeat offenders face a composition fine of S$300 (US$220) or be charged in court.
The National Environment Agency (NEA) and SFA previously said that 73 written warnings had been issued as of Jun 7.
The agencies added that enforcement will not be taken against those who are observed to be unable to clear their tables, such as frail elderly, the less abled, or children.
Woman asks if the authorities should also ‘do something’ about the ‘unhygienic situation’ of dirty tables instead of simply penalizing diners for not returning trays & dishes:
Tray return points at Hong Lim hawker centre so full that diners leave dirty dishes on floor
Photos of uncleared dirty dishes at Albert Food Centre went viral recently, but it is not the only hawker centre with the problem.
Stomper Tan shared photos of a similar mess at the Hong Lim Market & Food Centre.
"It was very unhygienic and messy on the tables and shelves," said the Stomper.
The photos show that the tray return points were so full that diners just left their trays of dirty dishes on the nearby tables and seats as well as on the waste bins and the floor.
The Stomper said: "I heard from the cleaners that the contractor owed them salaries and sometimes only put very few of them to work; hence it was not easy for those few to clear everything at levels 1 and level 2."
The good news is that after the Stomper took the photos, the hawker centre was closed for two days of spring cleaning on March 13 and 14.
Stomp has contacted the Jalan Besar Town Council, which operates the hawker centre, the National Environment Agency and the Federation of Merchants' Associations Singapore for more info.
Failure indeed. Now the cleaners don’t even bother to clean the tables anymore. Hygiene in sg has just plummeted big time. Another policy failure!
Efforts to get diners to return trays and crockery paying off
SINGAPORE – Efforts to make sure diners return their used trays and crockery at hawker centres, coffee shops and foodcourts are paying off, with more than nine in 10 observed to clean up after themselves in April 2024.
This is up from the 65 per cent tray and crockery return rate noted in August 2021, before warnings and fines were issued from the following month.
The update came from the National Environment Agency (NEA) and Singapore Food Agency (SFA) on June 12, alongside the launch of the annual Go Green SG campaign, a nationwide movement led by the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment (MSE).
In its second edition, the campaign aims to rally citizens, organisations and the community to take action for more sustainable living. This year’s focus is on public cleanliness, in alignment with the 2024 Year of Public Hygiene as designated by MSE.
In May 2021, NEA and SFA jointly announced that they would take stricter measures to promote cleanliness at hawker centres, foodcourts and coffee shops.
Those who did not return their used trays and crockery, as well as clear their tables, could face fines of up to $2,000 for repeat offences.
Enforcement began in September 2021, with patrons receiving verbal warnings from officers if they did not clean up after themselves. This was followed by written warnings for repeat violations.
From June 2023, verbal warnings were no longer issued, and diners who left dirty and uncleared tables received written warnings even for first offences. More than 5,000 written warnings were issued to first-time offenders of table littering over the past year.
Only nine were repeat offenders, who were issued fines.
Speaking at the launch of Go Green SG 2024 at Republic Polytechnic on June 12, Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat said that the success of the tray return scheme was achieved through a mix of enforcement, good infrastructure and public education.
“This was done through enforcement of table-littering regulations, and also through partnerships with town councils, hawker centre operators and cleaning contractors to optimise tray return infrastructure, and to make it easy for the public to do this.”
NEA said it will work with hawkers’ associations, town councils, operators and cleaning contractors, to make further infrastructural adjustments, such as shifting less-used racks to more popular return points, or utilising mobile trolleys to create additional tray and crockery return points when required.
DPM Heng said public hygiene has become an increasingly important challenge as cities grow and become denser.
This includes maintaining a hygienic environment, clean air and water, and safe food production systems.
“So, it is very apt that MSE has designated 2024 as the Year of Public Hygiene, after recent campaigns on climate action and zero waste.”
MSE designated 2018 as the Year of Climate Action to raise awareness on the need to take collective action to fight climate change, and 2019 as the Year Towards Zero Waste to build national consciousness to care for the environment.
More at https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/environment/good-habits-needed-to-uphold-public-hygiene-an-increasingly-important-challenge-dpm-heng
Amy Cock's fleet of black kukujiaos have invaded Joo Seng Food Place big time!
Diner shocked by the need to wipe table on top of having to clear food tray and litter
SINGAPORE: A viral video emerging from Tekka Hawker Centre has sparked widespread public discussion regarding the regulations imposed by the National Environment Agency (NEA) concerning cleanliness in public dining areas.
The TikTok video, which was posted on Friday, 13 October, features a diner, identified as Pankaj, challenging two supposed NEA enforcement officers on the specifics of new public dining cleaning regulations.
In May 2021, the NEA mandated that diners at public places must clear their tables of used trays, crockery, and litter after meals, in line with Section 17(1) of the Environmental Public Health Act (EPHA).
Offences under this section could invite a range of penalties, including fines up to S$2,000.
As of 1 June 2023, first-time offenders who don’t return their used items will receive a written warning, second-time offenders will be slapped with a S$300 composition fine, and further offences could incur court fines.
However, the recently surfaced video has unveiled a potential discrepancy or misinterpretation in these rules.
Pankaj is seen questioning the NEA officers about the extent of the diner’s responsibility in cleaning the table, particularly concerning food or drink spillages.
While Pankaj and several netizens believed the mandate only required diners to clear solid waste and return trays and utensils, the officers insisted that diners should also wipe the table clean of any spills.
The heated exchange between Pankaj and the officers revolves around the clarification and perhaps the ambiguity of the guidelines, “Are you saying to me that if I dirty the table, I am supposed to wipe the table?”
Pankaj was recorded saying. The officers affirmed, adding that it is indeed the responsibility of diners to ensure the table is clear and clean after their meal.
The viral footage has ignited a flurry of reactions online, with numerous netizens expressing astonishment and confusion over the cleaning requirements.
Many were under the impression that the NEA’s regulations simply required them to return trays and dispose of litter, not to clean spillages.
Several comments pointed out practical issues, such as a lack of cleaning materials available to diners, “What happens if we don’t have any tissues especially men..men usually don’t have tissues w them..how to clean?” queried one user.
Others used sarcasm to vent their frustrations and disbelief, “Normally at the hawker centre after I eat I will sweep, mop the floor and wash the dishes,” a netizen quipped.
Interestingly, a review of previous NEA announcements and news reports, including a joint press release on 30 August 2021, reveals no explicit mention of the obligation for diners to wipe tables clean of spillages, indicating a possible miscommunication or misinterpretation of the regulations in place.
https://gutzy.asia/2023/10/14/diner-shocked-by-the-need-to-wipe-table-on-top-of-having-to-clear-food-tray-and-litter/
No drop in table cleanliness standards at coffee shops since tray return policy: Grace Fu
SINGAPORE: The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) has not seen a fall in table cleanliness standards at coffee shops since the tray return policy was implemented, said Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu.
"The rate of feedback received on table cleanliness in coffee shops has decreased," she added in a written parliamentary reply on Tuesday (Sep 19).
Ms Fu was responding to a question from MP Jamus Lim (WP-Sengkang), who asked if there had been any reduction in cleanliness standards for tables in coffee shops since the requirement for diners to return their used trays and crockery kicked in.
The rules have been in place since Sep 1, 2021, for hawker centres and Jan 1, 2022, for coffee shops and food courts.
Those who do not return their used trays and crockery will have their particulars noted by enforcement officers.
First-time offenders will receive a written warning, while repeat offenders face a composition fine of S$300 (US$220) or be charged in court.
The National Environment Agency (NEA) and SFA previously said that 73 written warnings had been issued as of Jun 7.
The agencies added that enforcement will not be taken against those who are observed to be unable to clear their tables, such as frail elderly, the less abled, or children.
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/tray-return-rule-table-cleanliness-standards-coffee-shops-hawker-centre-grace-fu-3784646
Check out this coffee shop @ Slumpenis:
Woman asks if the authorities should also ‘do something’ about the ‘unhygienic situation’ of dirty tables instead of simply penalizing diners for not returning trays & dishes:
PSA: Things just got serious.
It's messy as fuck yet again....
Tray return points at Hong Lim hawker centre so full that diners leave dirty dishes on floor
Photos of uncleared dirty dishes at Albert Food Centre went viral recently, but it is not the only hawker centre with the problem.
Stomper Tan shared photos of a similar mess at the Hong Lim Market & Food Centre.
"It was very unhygienic and messy on the tables and shelves," said the Stomper.
The photos show that the tray return points were so full that diners just left their trays of dirty dishes on the nearby tables and seats as well as on the waste bins and the floor.
The Stomper said: "I heard from the cleaners that the contractor owed them salaries and sometimes only put very few of them to work; hence it was not easy for those few to clear everything at levels 1 and level 2."
The good news is that after the Stomper took the photos, the hawker centre was closed for two days of spring cleaning on March 13 and 14.
Stomp has contacted the Jalan Besar Town Council, which operates the hawker centre, the National Environment Agency and the Federation of Merchants' Associations Singapore for more info.
https://stomp.straitstimes.com/singapore-seen/tray-return-points-at-hong-lim-hawker-centre-so-full-that-diners-leave-dirty-dishes
雅柏熟食中心托盘架碗碟堆积 餐桌凌乱招致批评
网民在社交媒体上传照片，批评雅柏熟食中心（Albert Food Centre）归还托盘处堆满碗碟，导致许多食客把餐具留在餐桌上，引起网民担忧卫生问题。
署名Kong MaLa的用户昨天（10日）在Facebook上传照片和视频，指昨晚7点在雅柏熟食中心看见托盘架堆满碗碟和餐具，在一旁的清洁工人推车也十分凌乱。
根据照片和视频，熟食中心地上满是垃圾，许多餐桌上也有食客留下的托盘、碗碟、餐具还有纸巾，不少网民留言表示非常不卫生，还会引来鸽子。
还有网民指出，这样的情况在其他熟食中心也发生。一名网民就说：“还有很多其他熟食中心桌上和地上，都有未归还的托盘和剩下的食物。”
部分留言指，食客现在需要帮忙清理碗碟，熟食中心就趁势减少清洁工人的人数，认为有关当局应该对熟食中心采取行动，不少网民对此说法表示认同，并指时常遇到熟食中心归还托盘处都堆满碗碟，无法归还，建议有关当局派人巡逻。
被网民点名出现类似凌乱情况的，还包括竹脚巴刹熟食中心、芳林熟食中心。
另一名网民留言说：“熟食中心现在还需要聘请清洁工公司清洗餐具，为何不对这些公司采取行为？”
https://www.8world.com/singapore/albert-food-centre-tray-return-mess-2076956
Birds having themselves a free big fat spread at tray return stations......
RUBBISH DUMP MUCH?
Albert Food Court in Bugis is now dirty and messy as fuck!
Meanwhile, NEA is doubling down on drilling this "heroic" way of life into the consciousness of Sinkies.
FUCK AMY KHOR THAT CB OLD CUNT!!!!!!!
When you have stupid women and effeminate men running the country, bad things happen.