DON'T LITTER OK ?

[Tigerwoods]

Stiffer penalties and more visible punishments for litterbugs

By Jeremy Koh | Posted: 06 June 2010 1444 hrs

 

SINGAPORE : Singapore may be clean and green. But its streets are not free of litter.

 

Between 2005 and 2009, the number of offenders increased more than ten-fold - to over 41,000, in part due to increased enforcement.

 

Seven in ten of those caught are locals.

 

Tougher penalties, like stiffer fines and greater public shaming, are being introduced to keep offenders at bay.

 

The National Environment Agency (NEA) is also stepping up public engagement efforts, while making it easier for people to bin their trash.

 

This year's anti-littering campaign is based on the findings of a new survey, and its key objective is to fight littering, by tackling social habits.

 

Environment and Water Resources Minister Dr Yaacob Ibrahim said: "The study shows that some people see occasional littering as alright. The message we want to tell them is, there's no such thing as occasional littering. A litter is litter, whether it's at your home, at your park, in the drain, it will affect all of us."

 

About 48 per cent of people surveyed also quoted "difficulty in locating bins" as the main reason for littering. Also, many litterbugs think they can get away.

 

A majority feel that Corrective Work Order (CWO) is effective.

 

That is why NEA has increased fines for first-time offenders - from $200 to $300.

 

Those on CWO will have to sweep town centres, so that the punishment is more visible.

 

Litter bins will be placed in areas where there's a greater need, while smoking areas will have bins with ash trays.

 

NEA also wants to ensure zero tolerance of litter.

 

Andrew Tan, CEO, National Environment Agency, said: "I cannot imagine how NEA on its part can be deploying double the number of people, triple the number of people, quadruple the number of people if the community itself does not now step in to say we do want to take action against litterbugs."

 

Besides training more volunteers to be Litter-Free Ambassadors, it's also launching an anti-littering publicity campaign.

 

The aim is to reduce litter in public places by 20 per cent and cut the number of litterbugs - from four in ten of the population - to three in ten by 2015. - CNA/jy

[questionedfish]

i cant help but feel that majority of litter bugs are foreign workers..

 

correct me if i'm wrong.

[Chewbacca]

Eh, I think the parking coupon tabs are mentioned. Those are considered littering as well?

 

It's just that....it's hard making sure that they don't fall off accidentally.

 

[Toapayohkid]

i cant help but feel that majority of litter bugs are foreign workers..

 

correct me if i'm wrong.

 

i think so. i see lots of them just drop their trash on their ground. but lots of singaporeans also litter.

[Metblue]

Eh, I think the parking coupon tabs are mentioned. Those are considered littering as well?

 

It's just that....it's hard making sure that they don't fall off accidentally.

I don't think it's hard at all. I always throw the parking coupon tabs into my car's cup holder and clear them once a week. If the tabs fall accidentally while tearing the coupon, they will fall into the car and not outside mah, cos usually we will be sitting in the car while tearing. Unless U always stand outside the car when you tear the coupons?

 

[Tigerwoods]

i cant help but feel that majority of litter bugs are foreign workers..

 

correct me if i'm wrong.

I don't litter because the boundaries of my home extends to everywhere I go.

Some people keep their house sparkling clean but outside they litter everywhere.

 

I do observe the public :

Ranking the Worst Litterers :

1. Foreigner workers

2. Teenagers

3. Old Men and Women

4. Adults without Kids

5. Adults with Kids

 

If you have some rubbish in your hand, do you litter or hold on to it untill you see a Bin ?

 

I wonder - Cigarette Ash how ah ??

[questionedfish]

Eh, I think the parking coupon tabs are mentioned. Those are considered littering as well?

 

It's just that....it's hard making sure that they don't fall off accidentally.

 

 

Oh yea! luckily now i read that parking coupon tabs are considered littering too. If not kena summon to know it's littering will be too late to argue alr

[Chewbacca]

I don't think it's hard at all. I always throw the parking coupon tabs into my car's cup holder and clear them once a week. If the tabs fall accidentally while tearing the coupon, they will fall into the car and not outside mah, cos usually we will be sitting in the car while tearing. Unless U always stand outside the car when you tear the coupons?

 

Yeah, because I usually turn off the engine before I start tearing, usually stand outside because it gets stiffy inside the car, even if for just 30 seconds.

 

Eh......have to be more careful next time.

[Tigerwoods]

I don't think it's hard at all. I always throw the parking coupon tabs into my car's cup holder and clear them once a week. If the tabs fall accidentally while tearing the coupon, they will fall into the car and not outside mah, cos usually we will be sitting in the car while tearing. Unless U always stand outside the car when you tear the coupons?

He may be riding Motorbike brudder...

[questionedfish]

I don't litter because the boundaries of my home extends to everywhere I go.

Some people keep their house sparkling clean but outside they litter everywhere.

 

I do observe the public :

Ranking the Worst Litterers :

1. Foreigner workers

2. Teenagers

3. Old Men and Women

4. Adults without Kids

5. Adults with Kids

 

If you have some rubbish in your hand, do you litter or hold on to it untill you see a Bin ?

 

I wonder - Cigarette Ash how ah ??

 

Cigarette ash is not littering. Read it in a newspaper..

[Kenneve888]

i cant help but feel that majority of litter bugs are foreign workers..

 

correct me if i'm wrong.

 

Wrong.

 

You go to any pub nearby and see for yourself. Smoked then flicked, machiam like damn sark likke that....totoally irresponsible.

[Tigerwoods]

i think so. i see lots of them just drop their trash on their ground. but lots of singaporeans also litter.

My house downstairs always got different groups ofteenagers chatting @ the Stone table at void deck and eat Instant noodles, and drink Pet bottles of soft drinks and smoke alot.

 

After their session, they leave a mess on the table and beside there is Green Rubbish Bin.

Civic minded score ZERO.

[Tigerwoods]

Cigarette ash is not littering. Read it in a newspaper..

In Japan, Pedestrians cannot WALK & SMOKE. They have to smoke at the corner and my Jap colleagues each has their "ASH Tray Pouch" to "Litter" their Cig Ashes and Cigs.

 

So Japan is more advance than SG and everyone is more Civic Minded.

 

Pet Bottles in office -

Plastic Bottle - Bin #1

Wrapper on the Bottle - Bin #2

Bottle Cap - Bin #3

 

Cigarette wrapper - Bin #2

Cig Box - Bin #4

[Ssbcc]

I have the same problem at my block. We have a big wheelie bin at the ground floor lift landing which as a paddle for you to step on to flip open the lid. What irritates me is that people too lazy to even put the rubbish into the bin. They just leave it lying around the bin or worse, on top of the bin. I mean, is it too much work to just step on the paddle and put your rubbish inside? People seem to have this maid mentality where they expect the maid to clean up after them.

[Seaweed]

ha ha..ok...if you tear the coupon...put the tabs on your roof...is it consider littering??? anyone know??? then after when you back to the car...the tap probably blown off by some wind already....if not you just move off and it will be gone as well...since no one at this time saw you putting the tap on your roof....you can't be held for littering as well.....??? so how ????

 

sorry for my nonsense !!! ha ha ha....but really i think this is a very grey area....

[Tigerwoods]

I have the same problem at my block. We have a big wheelie bin at the ground floor lift landing which as a paddle for you to step on to flip open the lid. What irritates me is that people too lazy to even put the rubbish into the bin. They just leave it lying around the bin or worse, on top of the bin. I mean, is it too much work to just step on the paddle and put your rubbish inside? People seem to have this maid mentality where they expect the maid to clean up after them.

Most think that there will be cleaners to pick up the trash and they are contributing to the Job creation...

 

Most conveniently forget the tissue paper they left behind as their habit is already evident with the Tissue Paperzzzzz left on Food court Hawker tables on the plates, in the drinking cups...

 

SG is not the cleanest litter free country. We spend Millions $ on cleaning up to maintain that image.

 

Japan is the cleanest I think...

[Damienic]

ha ha..ok...if you tear the coupon...put the tabs on your roof...is it consider littering??? anyone know??? then after when you back to the car...the tap probably blown off by some wind already....if not you just move off and it will be gone as well...since no one at this time saw you putting the tap on your roof....you can't be held for littering as well.....??? so how ????

 

sorry for my nonsense !!! ha ha ha....but really i think this is a very grey area....

 

I normally tear the tabs and place it in one corner of the dashboard and throw it away later when I get out of the car..

[questionedfish]

What about This:

 

You're driving on the expressway and a clear plastic bag got stucked on ur side mirror. You unwind ur window to swipe it away.

 

Is this considered littering? If you're the car behind, will you be annoyed?