By now, returning our own crockery and trays after dining at a coffee shop, hawker centre or food court probably seems like second nature to most of us.
But not all of us.
Just last Friday (9 June), the National Environment Agency (NEA) and Singapore Food Agency (SFA) jointly issued a news release that 73 written warnings have been issued since NEA and SFA stepped up enforcement against diners who do not return their crockery and trays.
And if you think that they stepped up enforcement a few weeks or months ago, you couldn’t be more wrong.
They just stepped it up on 1 June this year.
73 Written Warnings Issued in the First Week of June
According to the news release, 73 warnings were issued to diners who did not return their trays and crockery from 1 to 7 June.
The authorities added that “daily enforcement operations were undertaken at 95 hawker centres and 120 coffeeshops [and] food courts” and that most diners do clean up after themselves when dining in such premises.
Diners who received these warnings also had their personal particulars noted down by the enforcement officers.
For the unaware, NEA and SFA’s newest regulations dictate that those caught not returning their trays for the first time will be given written warnings.
Repeat offenders may face fines or charges in court.
Previously, written warnings were only given to those who insisted on not returning their trays and crockery even after being told to do so by enforcement officers.
However, despite the high number of written warnings issued in the first week of June, no fines were imposed as the officers did not catch any repeat offenders.
Those Unable to Clear Their Tables Will be Exempted
Despite the new rules, NEA and SFA emphasised that these rules will not be enforced for those who are unable to clear their tables.
“Each individual issued with a written warning had been observed by enforcement officers to be physically able to clear their tables,” the authorities noted.
Those exempted from the rules include frail elderly, the less abled and children.
“In such instances, family members or dining companions, if present, should help with the clearing of the tables,” the authorities explained.
Authorities Reminded the Public to Refrain from Littering at Tables
Apart from that, NEA and SFA also harped on the importance of not leaving litter at their tables after use.
“Diners are reminded not to leave behind any litter at the table, such as used tissues, drink cans, shells, and bones. Instead, litter can be returned together with the trays and used crockery,” the agencies highlighted.
The authorities also highly encouraged members of the public to maintain the cleanliness of tables in hawker centres, food courts and coffee shops, especially during peak periods.
“We thank the vast majority of diners who have displayed social graciousness at our hawker centres, coffee shops and food courts. We also urge the public to cooperate with enforcement officers if approached,” NEA and SFA concluded.
The rule regarding returning trays and crockery, as well as clearing table litter, was first introduced on 1 June 2021.
Enforcement action only began on 1 September 2021 for hawker centres and 1 January 2022 for coffee shops and food courts to allow diners to get used to the new rules.
Based on May 2023’s statistics, hawker centres saw an increase in the rate of tray and crockery return; the average percentage of diners who returned their trays and crockery increased from 65% in August 2021 to 91% in May 2023.
Similarly, coffee shops and food courts have managed to keep up their tray and crockery return rates of 90% in December last year.