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No change to Sept 1 start of tray return enforcement, despite curtailed advisory period: NEA

SINGAPORE — Despite a shorter-than-expected advisory period, the authorities will still begin issuing fines and warnings on diners who fail to return their trays at hawker centres from Sept 1, the National Environment Agency (NEA) said in a statement on Tuesday (June 22).

There will be no change and the enforcement for the tray return rule at food centres will begin on Sept 1, 2021 as earlier announced.

There will be no change and the enforcement for the tray return rule at food centres will begin on Sept 1, 2021 as earlier announced.

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SINGAPORE — Despite a shorter-than-expected advisory period, the authorities will still begin issuing fines and warnings on diners who fail to return their trays at hawker centres from Sept 1, the National Environment Agency (NEA) said in a statement on Tuesday (June 22).

The agency had announced in May that starting from June 1, there would be a three-month advisory period for the new rule, during which time officers will not take enforcement action on diners, to allow them to adjust to the practice of clearing their dirty trays, crockery and litter after a meal at hawker centres.

But due to the recent heightened alert phase from May 16 to June 13, dining in at eateries was not allowed up until Monday. 

NEA clarified on Tuesday that enforcement for the tray return rule will still begin on 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. 

Until Aug 31, safe distancing ambassadors, SG Clean ambassadors, community volunteers and NEA officers deployed at hawker centres will continue to remind diners to clear their tables.

On Monday, the first day dining-in at eateries was allowed again, hawker centre cleaners told TODAY that more diners were beginning to return their dirty trays and crockery — a welcome change to a longstanding issue.

The authorities here have for years tried to rid hawker centre diners of the habit through various initiatives and awareness campaigns.

The move now to fine diners for leaving their dirty trays behind represents a tougher stance towards enforcing an existing littering offence under Section 17(1) of the Environmental Public Health Act.

“The Covid-19 pandemic has underscored the need for all of us to maintain high public hygiene and cleanliness standards,” NEA said on Tuesday. 

“To strengthen environmental public health resilience amid the Covid-19 pandemic and beyond, NEA urges the public to practise good hygiene at our public dining places so as to protect other diners and cleaners, many of whom are also seniors.”

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