Trash cans in Ang Mo Kio central get so full that litter gets dispersed around them.
By Acosta Andreana Cain
Nov 15, 2019
Full trash cans will result in trash being placed near the can, littering the place. Photo by: Acosta Andreana Cain
Litter is still seen in Ang Mo Kio Central even though there are many trash cans lined up along the area.
Besides the unpleasant view and smell, the litter also attracts pests like rats and cockroaches.
The litter issue in Ang Mo Kio Central has been a persistent issue in recent years, and residents have been complaining ever since.
“People who maybe buy things and throw it on the floor. [It’s the] responsibility of theirs,” said Nakeisha Lye, 15.
When the shops start closing around 10pm and the crowds start to disperse, litter such as plastic wrappers, cardboard boxes, plastic bottles and plastic bags get left behind.
In an email interview, Ms Pauline Tan, Public Relations & Community Liaison Manager of Ang Mo Kio Town Council, says, “We clean frequently and our cleaners make a point to clean one more time after shops close at night.”
She also adds that many large capacity bins provided by 800 Super, a commercial waste collector, are placed around the area. Shop owners are also given these large capacity bins for them to properly dispose of their waste.
“Residents don't see shared spaces as an extension of home. We wouldn't throw a drink can on our living room floor, but once we step out of home into the corridors, lifts and void decks, we no longer feel [a] responsibility to keep these common spaces clean,” said Ms Shila Naidu, a spokesperson for Habitat for Humanity Singapore.
However, this problem is not just exclusive in Ang Mo Kio and is also faced by other neighbourhoods.
Litters are seen around a bin even though there are two other bins nearby for waste disposal. Photo by: Acosta Andreana Cain
According to the National Environment Agency (NEA), they observed “an almost 22 per cent increase in the number of tickets issued for littering offences in 2018, compared to that in 2017”.
“The increase in the number of enforcement actions taken was largely achieved through the use of data analytics for better resource planning and deployment,” said Ms Ellis Kuai, Director of Environmental Public Health Operations of NEA, in an email interview.
Ms Tan adds that educational advisories are also handed out to shop owners and residents to guide them on responsible waste disposal. Posters and ‘anti-littering’ banners are also placed around residential areas for residents to be encouraged to keep the neighbourhood clean.
“If everyone plays their part and bin their litter as well as tie up their bags of refuse, it will help towards keeping the estate clean,” said Ms Tan.
Apart from education-related efforts, the Ang Mo Kio Town Council and Habitat for Humanity Singapore held a litter-picking activity on October 12, attracting more than 30 volunteers. At the end of the activity, 23kg of litter were cleared in the Ang Mo Kio Town Centre.
“We have over 70,000 cleaners in Singapore and yet litter can be found everywhere. We need to progress from being a cleaned city to a clean one,” said Ms Naidu.
Infographic by: Acosta Andreana Cain
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