Debated in Parliament on 8 Mar 2021.
Mr Christopher de Souza asked the Minister for Sustainability and the Environment what can be done to place more emphasis on civic-mindedness in the current self-return concept for trays, utensils and cutlery in hawker centers.
Since the early 2000s, the National Environment Agency (NEA) has been encouraging hawker centre patrons to return their trays and used crockery through measures such as behavioural nudges, improving tray return infrastructure and publicity campaigns. We launched the Tray Return Programme in July 2020.
The COVID-19 pandemic has given added impetus, as used tissues, wet wipes and food remnants can become biohazards and pose a health risk to diners and our cleaners. Table litter also attracts birds and other pests, which bring about public health concerns.
In our latest efforts, NEA launched the Clean Tables Campaign in February 2021. Diners are encouraged to clear their used tissues and wet wipes, and return all crockery and trays after dining. By doing so, we not only help to safeguard public health, but ease the workload of our cleaners, whose average age is around 60 years old today.
As part of the campaign, NEA has introduced posters, banners and audio announcements with refreshed content to remind patrons to clear their tables after dining. These will be progressively rolled out to hawker centres, coffeeshops and food courts islandwide. NEA will install more tray return racks at hawker centres. The campaign will reach out to the wider community through community volunteers and educational institutions, to foster greater community ownership of dining places.
Hawker centres are an integral part of our hawker culture and are community dining rooms meant for all to enjoy. I encourage everyone to play our part in keeping our hawker centres clean and safe.
PAPERCUTS