NEA to step up enforcement checks on New Year's eve

The National Environment Agency is stepping up its anti-littering enforcement at year-end celebratory events, including those in Marina Bay, Orchard Road and other such event sites around Singapore. 

NEA will deploy 157 enforcement officers at 10 major Countdown locations across the island to take action against littering offenders and illegal hawkers. 

This is approximately 20 percent more than last year's deployment.

More than 40 officers will patrol countdown events held at the Marina Bay area. 

NEA also works with event organisers to implement litter-free initiatives during the countdown celebrations. 

At the Marina Bay area, event organisers will be placing more than 280 additional refuse bins on New Year's Eve to encourage party goers to bin their litter responsibly. 

The Esplanade Co Ltd will also have their emcees remind the crowd to throw their rubbish into the bins, and deploy about 350 cleaners to restore the area after the events. 

Members of the public are reminded to help keep the public areas clean by disposing of their litter into the refuse bins. 

From January to November 2012, NEA had issued more than 7,800 tickets to littering offenders. 

First-time littering offenders who discard minor litter such as sweet wrappers, cigarette butts, parking coupon tabs and others improperly are liable for a $300 composition fine. 

Repeat littering offenders and first-time offenders who throw larger items such as plastic bags, food wrappers, drink cups will be sent to court where they may be imposed with a Corrective Work Order (CWO) and/or a fine not exceeding $1,000. The CWO will require them to carry out public cleaning works for a maximum duration of 12 hours.