Govt mulls harsher littering penalties

SINGAPORE: The government is considering harsher penalties for litterbugs.

The maximum fine for recalcitrant offenders may be raised to S$10,000, up from the current S$1,000.

Giving this update in Parliament, Second Minister for Environment and Water Resources Grace Fu said the National Environment Agency will increase enforcement hours by about 50 per cent.

More plain—clothes officers will also deployed at littering hotspots.

However, Ms Fu stressed that the enforcement and penalty system is only part of the solution.

She said: "We need the public’s support for more effective surveillance, enforcement and deterrence. Through greater community involvement, we can build a strong sense of social pressure against littering.

"Through effective and enhanced enforcement, we can send a strong message that it is better to dispose of your litter properly.

"In short, we will not tolerate littering and cannot rely solely on cleaners to keep Singapore clean. We need everyone to help us make the transition from being a ’cleaned’ city to a ’clean’ one."

— CNA/xq/al