Singapore — Photos of a tray return station brimming with used cutlery and utensils have circulated on social media.
According to Cherokee Tomahawk’s post on the Umbrage Singapore Facebook group, the photos were taken on Jan 10 at 7:30 pm at the Kopitiam outlet inside Jurong Point.
The photos depict an overflowing tray return station with cutlery, utensils, leftovers, and trash.
A staff member was seen in one of the photos behind the tray return station attempting to clear the used dining ware, and they appeared to be severely understaffed.
According to a comment made by a netizen, he was informed by cleaning staff at these food courts that ever since the ‘self-return’ rule was implemented, operators of these food establishments have reduced headcounts to the point where a typical sector requires three employees has been reduced to two or even one.
Tray-clearing Initiative
The National Environment Agency (NEA) announced on May 14 of last year that beginning June 1, diners will be required to return their trays and clean up their table litter.
To assist diners in adjusting, no enforcement action will be taken until after Aug 31. They will only be advised to follow the rule during the three months.
From Sept 1, those who do not follow the advice to clean up after themselves in public dining establishments will face enforcement.
A written warning will be issued to first-time offenders. Second-time offenders will be assessed a $300 composition fine, and subsequent offenders may be assessed court fines of up to $2,000 for the first conviction.
The NEA stated that the decision, which comes amid a public health crisis, results from years of extensive educational efforts to change diners’ behaviour and mindsets in public places. /TISG
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Netizens say tray-clearing initiative solves one problem but creates another