SINGAPORE - The first day of tray return enforcement kicked off on Wednesday (Sept 1) with most patrons at some hawker centres here diligently clearing their own trays. However, cleaners said that some patrons still attempted to flout the rules and left used crockery and litter on tables. When The Straits Times visited Redhill Food Centre on Wednesday morning, the centre's toilet attendant Mdm Ong Hong Luan, 76, said: "Some (errant patrons) come in very early at 4am to 5am to eat before working, before any of the cleaners come in. "They left their trays because they thought no one would see and catch them," said Mdm Ong in Mandarin. From Wednesday, enforcement will be taken against those who do not comply with advice to clean up after themselves in hawker centres - after a three-month advisory period. First-time offenders will be given a written warning, while second-time offenders will face a $300 composition fine. Subsequent offenders may face court fines, which can go up to $2,000 for the first conviction. Enforcement of the rule requiring diners to clear used crockery and table litter at coffee shops and foodcourts has been pushed back to January next year (2022). The Straits Times also visited Serangoon Gardens Market and Food Centre, where people could be seen returning their trays to designated tray return stations during breakfast and lunch. Announcements were regularly broadcast at the hawker centre in English, Mandarin, Malay and Tamil to remind patrons to observe safe distancing and to return their trays after use. National Environment Agency (NEA) officers were also on hand to patrol the market, and remind people to return their trays. The tray return stations at both hawker centres in Redhill and Serangoon Gardens were cleared frequently by cleaners to ensure ample space. Cleaners were also going around to wipe the tables clean after patrons had left. Mr Oh Tiong Li, 53, cleaning supervisor at Redhill Food Centre, hoped that NEA enforcement officers would be "empathetic to seniors", especially those using canes and wheelchairs, and not warn or fine them indiscriminately. "It's not easy for them to return trays as they may not be able to move as well or the trays may be heavy for them," said Mr Oh. Retiree Wai Fooi, 78, who visits Redhill Food Centre regularly said: "If there is a tray return station nearby I still can return it. I have had surgery on both my knees. Now, my friends and I prefer to get our food in takeaway packets to eat at the hawker centre. It's easier to throw the packets away as they are lighter and more convenient." More on this topic Related Story More diners returning trays at hawker centres Related Story It's a shame we need fines to force us to clear table litter, return trays
SINGAPORE - Most diners at two hawker centres were seen returning their trays and used cutlery on the second day after dining-in was allowed to resume. When The Straits Times visited North Bridge Road Market and Food Centre at about 9.45am on Tuesday (June 22), more than 10 people were seen returning their trays. It is mandatory for diners to return their trays and clear their table of litter from June 1, but no enforcement action will be taken until Aug 31 as part of an effort to help diners adjust, the National Environment Agency (NEA) had said on May 14. But dining out was not allowed until Monday, after Singapore introduced the phase two (heightened alert) measures on May 16. The Covid-19 pandemic has underscored the need to maintain high public hygiene and cleanliness standards. Despite years of extensive educational efforts to change behaviour and mindsets of diners in public places, there are still some who do not clear their tables or return trays at food courts and hawker centres. Some diners were still seen not returning their trays when ST visited the hawker centres. Senior Minister of State for Sustainability and the Environment Amy Khor said NEA officers had advised 4,500 diners to return their trays on Monday. From Sept 1, enforcement action will be taken against those who do not clean up after themselves in public dining places. First-time offenders will be given a written warning. Second-time offenders will face a $300 composition fine and subsequent offences may lead to court fines, which can go up to $2,000 for the first conviction. The Singapore Food Agency will work with NEA to roll out enforcement progressively at coffee shops and food courts in the fourth quarter of this year. Most diners that ST spoke to said they were aware that returning trays is now mandatory. Mr Tan Toh Kian, who returned his tray after having his breakfast at the North Bridge Road hawker centre, felt most diners here do not have the habit of returning trays. The 59-year-old Grab driver said: "I've always been doing it because it's a good habit to have. It keeps the table clean for the next diner. I think making it compulsory is the only way to get people to adopt this habit." An enforcement officer from NEA reminds patrons to clear their own plates at North Bridge Road Market and Food Centre on June 22, 2021. ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG Another diner, Ms Rachel Cheng, said she was not aware that it was now mandatory despite returning her tray after her meal. The 26-year-old, who works in e-commerce, said: "Giving people fines seems a bit heavy-handed. It is a good social norm to cultivate but fines do seem punitive." A sign reminding patrons to clear their own plates on a table at North Bridge Road Market and Food Centre on June 22, 2021. ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG A hawker at Clementi 448 Market & Food Centre said making tray return mandatory benefits everyone, including hawkers. Ms Saadah Zulkifli, 24, said: "Sometimes the cleaner will take time to clean up the plates on the tables. There are tables directly in front of my store and it is unhygienic because birds will come and pick on the leftover food on the plates." More on this topic Related Story It's a shame we need fines to force us to clear table litter, return trays Related Story Mixed reactions to unconventional tray return systems in S'pore's F&B outlets
SINGAPORE - A national survey on public hygiene has found that some 47 per cent of Singaporeans think that clearing their own tables after eating at public places can deprive cleaners of their jobs. But this is not true, said Senior Minister of State for Sustainability and the Environment Amy Khor on Saturday (Feb 6). She said: "There will still be cleaners needed to maintain and upkeep the general cleanliness and hygiene of the food centre... they will still have to wipe down and disinfect the tables. "In fact, (diners returning their own trays) will help the cleaners, in terms of improving the welfare of the working environment." She was speaking to reporters on Saturday after a visit to Yuhua Village Hawker Centre and Broadway Coffeeshop in Jurong East, to launch a national campaign to encourage people to clean up after eating in public food places. The survey of 1,402 people conducted by the National Environment Agency (NEA) late last year had also found that 90 per cent of respondents felt that people should be required to do so. And 76 per cent said they do return their trays and used crockery most of the time in such places. However, the average tray return rate at most hawker centres is currently only around 30 per cent. NEA said this indicates the actual practice on the ground does not reflect individual espoused behaviour when it comes to tray return. Dr Khor said the Clean Tables Campaign, which aims to address this discrepancy, is timely due to the coronavirus pandemic. She said: "Used tissues, wet wipes and the remnants left on the table - they are potential bio-hazards. And they pose a threat to the people who have to clear this up when we leave them behind on the table." Cleaning up one's own table can potentially minimise the risk of infectious diseases spreading, she added. During her visit, Dr Khor spoke to diners at the two food centres, and demonstrated the folding of an origami "dustbin" box to be used to collect food remnants and litter. The NEA said: "In view of the current pandemic, NEA seeks support from the public to address table litter at our public dining places... Good public and personal hygiene is the first line of defence against diseases." More on this topic Related Story Robots that clean floors, chase pigeons away among technologies being tested at Tampines food centre Related Story More coffee shop chains to work with Public Hygiene Council to enhance hygiene standards From this month, posters and other visual cues, as well as audio announcements, will be rolled out progressively to all 111 hawker centres, coffee shops and food courts in Singapore. The NEA will also work with grassroots advisers, volunteers and educational institutions to reach out to the larger community, to foster greater ownership of dining places and encourage diners to keep public dining places clean. It will engage some schools and their students to design special table wraps for selected hawker centres. Mr Neo Swee Eng, 62, hawker association chairman at Yuhua Village Hawker Centre, said, on average, there are 12 cleaners deployed at the hawker centre daily. "It is a matter of hygiene to return the trays, so that we do not attract birds which will come and eat the leftover food," he said. Madam Cindy Chan, 65, a cleaning supervisor at Yuhua Village Hawker Centre, said diners there often return their trays. She added: "It would be a great help if more people do it. We still have many things to do and we can just focus on things like cleaning and wiping down the tables." More on this topic Related Story Coronavirus: SG Clean certificates dished out to hawker stalls meeting new hygiene standards Retiree Edmund Teo, 70, who was having breakfast at Broadway Coffeeshop, said he returns his trays. He added: "We cannot rely solely on the cleaners because how many can you have? Many of them are also aged and mobility may be an issue. "It should be a group effort - the cleaners as well as customers who are there, everyone must do their part."