More hawker centre diners returning trays as NEA advisory period kicks in ahead of fines, warnings

• Hawker centre cleaners said more diners were returning their trays 
• From Sept 1, diners risk being warned or fined if they do not return their dirty trays and crockery
• Some diners said they were unaware that the advisory period that runs till Aug 31 had begun
• SG Clean ambassadors were spotted at two of the three hawker centres TODAY visited

SINGAPORE — More diners in hawker centres are taking the initiative to return their dirty trays as the advisory period mandating diners to do so began on Monday (June 21).

Cleaners from three hawker centres told TODAY that they had observed more people  returning their trays and clearing their crockery after meals, as dining-in resumed on Monday at food-and-beverage establishments across the island with a maximum group size of two persons.

This follows a month-long ban on dining-in during Phase Two (heightened alert) to arrest the increase in Covid-19 cases.

Last month, the National Environment Agency (NEA) announced that from Sept 1, patrons at hawker centres risk being warned or fined if they do not clear litter on their tables and return their dirty trays and crockery after a meal. Later in the year, this will also apply at food courts and coffee shops.

From now until Aug 31, there will be an advisory period when NEA will not take enforcement action.

In the meantime, safe distancing ambassadors, SG Clean ambassadors, community volunteers and NEA officers deployed at hawker centres will continue to remind diners to clear their dirty trays, crockery and litter.

From Sept 1, first-time offenders will be issued with a stern warning, while second-time offenders will get a S$300 fine. Subsequent offenders may face court fines.

At Pasir Ris Central Hawker Centre, cleaners said that they had seen an increase of more than 50 per cent of diners  returning their trays and used crockery during the lunch period on Monday.

Ms Lesley Lim, 52, who has worked at the hawker centre for more than two months, said that it was common for diners to leave behind their dirty trays and dishes.

“Before this, many diners just didn't bother... some would leave behind prawn shells on the table and throw tissue paper in the basins,” Ms Lim said, adding that the situation today was “much better than before”.

While more diners playing their part had lessened the burden of cleaners, Ms Lim estimated that 30 per cent of diners are still not complying with the rules.

“Ultimately, cleaners are also human beings. We deserve to be respected.”

Mr Philip, 67, who has worked at the same hawker centre for the past month, welcomed the move to mandate diners to return their dirty trays and crockery.

Speaking to TODAY in Mandarin, Mr Philip, who declined to reveal his last name, said: “This would allow Singaporeans to work together (to keep hawker centres clean).”

NOT ALL DINERS AWARE OF ADVISORY PERIOD

TODAY did not observe any SG Clean ambassadors at Pasir Ris Central Hawker Centre when it visited at around 3pm, but it observed ambassadors making their rounds in pairs at Yishun Park Hawker Centre and Chong Pang Market and Food Centre around lunch time.

At Yishun Park Hawker Centre, most patrons returned their trays and only one or two tables had crockery left lying on them.

Diners there said that they were aware of the advisory period and had not been reminded by ambassadors or cleaners to return their trays.

Mr Jeremy Fong, 37, who works in the financial sector and was at Yishun Park Hawker Centre, said that he was not concerned about the advisory period as he usually returns his tray anyway.

Ms Clarinn Low, 50, a cleaner at Yishun Park Hawker Centre, said that she had observed more patrons returning their tray than before the advisory period.

“They know and there’s no need to remind them,” Ms Low said, adding that the enforcement reduces the work for cleaners.

With less need to interact with diners, it also reduced her chances of contracting Covid-19, Ms Low added.

However, crockery and trays were still visible on tables when TODAY visited Chong Pang Market and Food Centre on Monday afternoon.

Patrons there told TODAY that they had realised that the advisory period for the enforcement had kicked in only after observing other patrons returning their trays and SG Clean ambassadors around.

Mr Alex Tan, a 54-year-old taxi driver, said that he usually does not return his trays since cleaners will clear his table.

Mr Tan, who was having his lunch when approached by TODAY, said that he had yet to be reminded by anyone of the rule, but had seen others returning their trays to the collection points.

“So yes, I guess I will return my trays today,” he replied when asked if he would follow suit.

CLEANERS HESITANT TO REMIND PATRONS

Ms Seah Kwee Han, a cleaner at Chong Pang Market and Food Centre, said that while she observed more people returning their trays on Monday, there were still people leaving their trays and crockery behind.

She still helped to clear the tables of older and less mobile patrons because they found it difficult to walk to the tray return points.

Speaking to TODAY as she cleared crockery off two tables, Ms Seah, 51, said that she was hesitant to remind diners to return their trays because she did not want to upset them. She added that she would approach the SG Clean ambassadors to do so on her behalf instead.

Likewise, Ms Lim, the cleaner from Pasir Ris Central Hawker Centre, said that she did not dare remind errant patrons to return their trays and relies on colleagues to do so instead.

TODAY has asked NEA how many advisories were issued on Monday and whether the timeline for the three-month advisory period will be revised, in light of dining-in resuming on Monday, which reduced the intended advisory period that was meant to start on June 1.