Complaints about such litter highest in 3 years, with 948 cases of feedback last year
COMPLAINTS about high-rise littering are at their highest in three years. According to figures from the National Environment Agency (NEA), there were 948 cases of feedback from members of the public about high-rise littering last year, up from 634 cases in 2008 and 589 in 2007.
The Straits Times understands that items of high-rise litter range from paper tissues to cigarette butts to soiled diapers and sanitary pads.
MPs interviewed were unfazed by the jump in figures, saying they often receive such complaints from residents. Some said the spike in complaints is in-line with Singapore's increasing population, with more now living in residential estates, while others said Singaporeans have become more educated and hence have less tolerance for littering.
Jurong GRC MP Halimah Yacob, who gets at least two complaints about such littering at weekly block visits, said the increasing number of foreigners living here could also be a reason, adding that she receives complaints about foreigners littering.
'Some are said to have thrown things out of the windows and others dump the rubbish along the corridor or near the rubbish chute rather than into it,' said Madam Halimah. 'This is due to a difference in culture and standards.'
Sociologist Pauline Straughan of the National University of Singapore said that the act of littering shows a total disregard for shared public space.
'We live in a dense city and there is an acute sense of our boundaries, but when it comes to public space we don't see it as our responsibility,' she said. 'For the high-rise litterbugs, they feel once they flick the stuff out of their window, it's no longer their problem.'
Getting to the root of the problem also seems to be an issue.MPs and town councils said most culprits deny littering when confronted, and catching them in action is time consuming and manpower intensive.
An NEA spokesman said feedback only provides a general idea of the incidences and often lacks details that could help in enforcement efforts. NEA has handled 14 cases of such littering in the last three years, with the culprits either fined or given Corrective Work Orders (CWO).
MP for Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC Charles Chong said there must be public education backed up by enforcement: 'I think the efficient way is to have more mechanisation. In areas where there is a serious littering problem, CCTVs should be installed to identify the culprits.'
Dr Straughan said people need to know such acts are not acceptable anywhere: 'When we make known that this anti-social behaviour is frowned upon, people are less likely to do it.'
Source: Straits Times, 20 Jan 2010.
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