Storage sheds to be set up islandwide to encourage community cleaning
SG Clean Day initiative will now be a quarterly affair to 'instil sense of ownership in members of the public'
In a move to get more residents to pick up the habit of keeping public spaces litter-free, storage sheds with cleaning equipment will be set up at housing estates islandwide.
This was announced by the Public Hygiene Council (PHC) yesterday as it expanded the SG Clean Day initiative - which started in April this year - from an annual to a quarterly affair.
There will be no sweeping at all public parks, gardens, park connectors, open areas and ground levels of housing estates from 6am to midnight on SG Clean Day. This is aimed at raising public awareness about the amount of litter piled up without cleaners' intervention.
SG Clean Day is expected to become a monthly event next year. The expanded initiative was kicked off by the PHC, along with the National Parks Board and all 17 town councils, at Bukit Batok's Fuji Hill Park.
The PHC also launched a community storage shed, known as CleanPod, at the park, where residents got a glimpse of tools such as tongs, buckets and trolleys that they can use.
Twelve of these sheds were previously set up at public parks for residents to tap. More are expected to be rolled out across all town councils over the next few months.
Senior Minister of State for Sustainability and the Environment Amy Khor, the guest of honour at the event, noted how the pandemic has highlighted the importance of public health and hygiene.
"The Covid-19 pandemic has increased the demands on our cleaners. Having initiatives like this gives our cleaners some warranted time off and is a tangible way for us to show our appreciation for the work of the cleaners," she said.
Dr Khor cited the 2021 Public Cleanliness Satisfaction Survey conducted by Singapore Management University, where 97 per cent of the respondents agreed that residents must work together with cleaners to keep their neighbourhoods clean.
"I hope that SG Clean Day will help to further instil a sense of ownership in members of the public so they play their part and keep public spaces clean," she added.
Town councils will regularly disinfect equipment in the CleanPods, and residents are advised to wear gloves while picking up litter.
Since the start of the year, about 20,000 users have registered their interest for clean-up activities while 280 organisations and groups have used the CleanPods as at September.
PHC chairman Edward D'Silva said: "We can be proud to take ownership of our public parks, gardens and estate's cleanliness. Residents can now do so by utilising the shared tools in our CleanPods to organise their own litter-picking activities."
Bukit Batok MP Murali Pillai and Mr Lim Biow Chuan, coordinating chairman for PAP town councils, also attended the event, where tokens of appreciation were given to cleaners.
- Readers can find more information on CleanPods at www.publichygienecouncil.sg/cleanpod
- Those keen to help out at a beach clean-up can register at www.publichygienecouncil.sg/beachcleanup
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