PSA: Fines For Diners Who Do Not Clear Trays at Hawker Centres From 1 Sep 2021

On Friday (14 May 2021), the National Environmental Agency (NEA) announced that it will be mandatory for diners at hawker centres, coffee shops and food courts to clear their tables of dirty trays, crockery and litter after their meals, from 1 June 2021.

But enforcement of this rule will only start from Wednesday (1 September 2021).

In my opinion, this measure is long overdue as we need to maintain good hygiene at our public dining places to protect other diners and cleaners, especially with the spectre of the COVID-19 pandemic hanging over us.

Here is all you need to know about this new measure.

FYI: Do note that NEA is not enacting a new law, as leaving litter on dining tables is enforceable as a littering offence under Section 17(1) of the Environmental Public Health Act (EPHA).

TL;DR: Tray Return Fine Singapore

• From 1 June 2021, it will be mandatory for diners at hawker centres to dispose of their litter and return the trays and dirty crockery after their meals.
• But from 1 September 2021, NEA will begin to take enforcement action and fine those who do not comply.
• NEA will also work with the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) to roll out enforcement progressively at coffee shops and food courts from January 2022.
• First-time offenders will be issued a written warning. Second-time offenders will face a composition fine of $300. Subsequent offenders may face court fines which can go up to $2,000 for the first conviction.
• However, NEA will not enforce against the elderly, people with disabilities, or children under 12 years old for not disposing of the litter and return the trays and dirty crockery.

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Advisory Period From 1 June 2021

To help diners adjust to this new law, there will be a three-month advisory period from 1 June to 31 August 2021. 

So take note when you dine out after the end of the further tightening of safe management measures.

During this advisory period, NEA will take an advisory approach and will not take any enforcement action and fine diners.

Instead, Safe Distancing Ambassadors (SDAs), SG Clean Ambassadors, Community Volunteers and NEA officers will walk around hawker centres, to remind diners to clear their dirty trays, crockery and litter.

Visual cues such as posters and banners will also be progressively installed at hawker centres to remind diners to clear their tables.

NEA is also in the process of setting up more tray return infrastructure across all the hawker centres to support diners to return their dirty trays and crockery.

While no enforcement will be taken during this period, diners are reminded to comply upon being advised.

NEA will also work with the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) to roll out enforcement progressively at coffee shops and food courts from January 2022.

Enforcement Starts From 1 September 2021

Once the advisory period has ended, NEA will start enforcement at all hawker centres on 1 September 2021.

Enforcement officers will continue to advise diners to properly clear their dirty tray, crockery and litter. You will just have to simply comply with the enforcement officers so that your particulars will not be taken down.

But, enforcement will only apply to diners who do not comply with the officers’ advice.

First-time offenders will be issued with a written warning.

Subsequent offenders may face composition or court fines.

NEA will monitor the ground situation and make adjustments over time to the enforcement posture accordingly.

Tray Return Fine Amount

First-time offenders will be issued a written warning.

Second-time offenders will face a composition fine of $300 which is similar to the quantum for other compoundable littering offences.

Subsequent offenders may face court fines which can go up to $2,000 for the first conviction.

Singapore Tray Return Fine Details

Here are the details about what constitutes an offence and what doesn’t:

It is an offence if a diner clears his/her dirty tray and crockery, but leaves behind tissues, empty drink cans, food remnants such as shells and bones or basically any litter.

Also, allowing litter to be blown onto the floor in a public place, and not picking it up, is a littering offence.

However, if you accidentally spill gravy or drinks on the dining table, NEA will not take enforcement action. As far as possible, you should help clean the spilt gravy or drink and keep the table clean.

As for dirty crockery and litter left behind by the previous diner, you will not be expected to clear it as it is the duty of the cleaners to do so. But, do help them if you can.

Enforcement Exemptions

NEA will not enforce against the elderly, people with disabilities, or children under 12 years old for not disposing of the litter and return the trays and dirty crockery.

But, family members or dining companions of these groups should help to dispose of the litter and return the trays and dirty crockery.

The enforcement officers will also educate children under 12 about the importance of clearing your table for the next diner.