More litterbugs nabbed after NEA increases anti-littering patrols
By Sharon See
POSTED: 29 Jul 2013 8:55 PM
File photo of cigarettes littering the ground. (AFP/File - Joel Saget)
SINGAPORE: Sixty per cent more litterbugs were caught in June compared to May, after the National Environment Agency (NEA) stepped up its anti-littering patrols.
It is an offence to flick cigarette ash onto the floor.
NEA told Channel NewsAsia that its 60 enforcement volunteers have the same enforcement rights as its officers, and they can ask litterbugs to clean up after themselves.
If they refuse, these enforcement volunteers then have the right to take down the offenders' personal particulars on behalf of NEA for further action to be taken against them.
Littering is an offence that carries a fine of up to $500.
NEA said it intensified anti-littering patrols from 24,000 patrol hours in May to 35,000 hours in June.
And the litterbugs it caught went up from 304 in May to 479 in June.
Channel NewsAsia understands that 50 other members of the public have expressed interest to be enforcement volunteers, and they will receive a two-and-half-day training over the next few weeks.
- CNA/de
