Table-clearing enforcement to start at hawker centres
But enforcement of the rule for coffee shops and foodcourts pushed to next year
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.
To help diners adjust, there will be another advisory period, of two months, before enforcement begins at these places.
However, enforcement of the table-clearing rule begins at hawker centres as scheduled tomorrow, after a three-month advisory period.
It had been announced in May that enforcement at coffee shops and foodcourts would also be introduced progressively in the fourth quarter of this year.
During the coming advisory period, from Nov 1 to Dec 31, diners will be advised to clear their trays and litter and no enforcement action will be taken, the National Environment Agency (NEA) and Singapore Food Agency said in a joint statement yesterday.
Those who have been reminded of the rule but refuse to follow it after enforcement begins will have their particulars taken down, and a written warning will be issued to them.
Those who still do not follow the rule will face fines.
The agencies said: "Enforcement will not be taken against those clearly unable to return their trays, such as the frail elderly or young children unable to purchase and carry their own food to the table."
Enforcement action at hawker centres will follow a similar approach.
It was announced in May that it would be compulsory for diners to clear their tables and that the rule would be enforced after an advisory period.
Since then, the average tray and crockery return rate has improved to about 65 per cent, from about 30 per cent in February.
During a visit to the Sims Vista Market and Food Centre yesterday, Senior Minister of State for Sustainability and the Environment Amy Khor said diners, cleaners and hawkers have given positive feedback about this initiative.
She said: "Leaving a clean table behind shows consideration for the next diners. This also contributes to a safer and cleaner environment."
To complement existing tray and crockery return racks at hawker centres, about 300 trolleys will be progressively introduced.
Fifty new trays will be distributed to each of the 6,000 or so cooked food stallholders in the hawker centres.
There are also another 150 new permanent tray and crockery return racks in the pipeline, in addition to the 900 existing ones at hawker centres.
Coffee shops and foodcourts are now in the midst of installing tray return infrastructure.
Enforcement action will also apply to diners at steamboat and zi char outlets within hawker centres and coffee shops.
NEA said the law applies to all diners in such eateries.
It will take a pragmatic approach in situations where the stall has dedicated service staff to serve food to the table and to clear the crockery and utensils during and after the meal.
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