Reward people to catch litterbugs: Nee Soon MP

SINGAPORE — After kick-starting a monthly community cleaning project in her Nee Soon South ward, Member of Parliament Lee Bee Wah is pushing for another new idea to keep neighbourhoods spick and span: Reward people who catch litterbugs in action.

Her residents suggested replicating this idea from Taiwan, and Dr Lee is working with the National Environment Agency (NEA) to carry out a pilot in her ward soon.

“In Taiwan, every resident is an enforcement officer. They can video, they can take photos of the litterbug and submit to their NEA. And if there is successful prosecution, their NEA will give the resident who reported it half of the summons collected,” she said, on the sidelines of her ward’s monthly litter-picking today (Oct 11).

Channel NewsAsia reported that there could be challenges in implementing the idea, including the need to amend legislation.

NEA chairman Liak Teng Lit said the idea could work, but needed to be studied further. “If you look at the equivalent of what is happening on the road, many people today have their in-vehicle cameras and not many people dare to make funny claims about accidents because there is a risk that whatever you say could be contradicting what’s on the camera in someone else’s vehicles,” he said.

“So, certainly, having neighbours watching over the environment and watching over each other will be very helpful,” he added. “For the good citizens, there is nothing to worry about. In fact, people will be filming you doing good things and praising you rather than reprimanding you.”

About 120 volunteers picked up litter in Nee Soon South today, under the monthly HABIT @ Nee Soon South (Hold on And Bin IT, make it a HABIT!) programme started in the ward about three years ago. Organisers say they have seen a drop in the amount of rubbish collected while the number of residents volunteering for the programme has increased.

The NEA said it wants to replicate the project elsewhere in Singapore. It said representatives from Jurong and Queenstown have shown interest, and have attended Nee Soon’s litter-picking to learn more. CHANNEL NEWSASIA