Criteria Determining Persons Unable to Return Trays at Hawker Centres and Communication of Criteria to Enforcement Personnel

Mr Gerald Giam Yean Song asked the Minister for Sustainability and the Environment (a) what criteria are used by National Environment Agency (NEA) officers to determine if an elderly or disabled person is unable to return their tray at hawker centres; (b) whether all NEA officers and tray return ambassadors are briefed on these criteria so they do not advise or issue summonses to such persons for not returning their trays; and (c) whether notices in hawker centres can make clear that such persons are not obligated to return their trays.

The National Environment Agency does not take enforcement action against persons who have genuine difficulties returning their trays due to frailty or physical disability. This is a pragmatic approach in view of the difficulties they may face. All relevant officers have been briefed on the enforcement approach for table littering and will exercise the necessary discretion based on their observations on site.