Step up enforcement against littering during 7th lunar month

Every year, during the seventh lunar month, inconsiderate folks litter public areas. It appears that little action is taken against them.

The seventh lunar month takes place between Aug 19 and Sept 16 this year.

The public tends not to litter and burn joss paper indiscriminately at temples and columbaria as there is strict enforcement of the rules against littering and leaving offerings behind.

These same rules apply to public places, but it appears that there is a lack of enforcement by the National Environment Agency (NEA) and town councils.

As a result, public areas and Housing and Development Board (HDB) estates are strewn with litter during the seventh lunar month.  

Joss paper is scattered through the estates and this is made worse if they are dispersed by the wind.

Many people do not use the bins provided to burn the joss paper and instead do so on the ground. Ash from burned joss paper, often picked up by the wind, can be commonly found in void decks of HDB blocks, thus polluting the environment. Offerings of food left behind also litter the estates.

NEA should work closely with the Singapore Taoist Federation and the Singapore Buddhist Federation to educate their members on carrying out their religious practices in ways that are environmentally and socially responsible. 

NEA should also deploy more officers to enforce the rules. They can rope in volunteers from Taoist and Buddhist organisations to patrol the estates.

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