This is a full version of NEA’s reply issued to the media agency; published in The Straits Times, 20 Jan 2025.
Everyone has a part to play to build a cleaner and greener Singapore
We thank Candice Yeo for the letter, “Spruce up Singapore to welcome SG60”, and share the same hope for a cleaner and greener Singapore for SG60 and beyond.
To uphold high standards of public hygiene and cleanliness, the National Environment Agency (NEA) adopts a multi-pronged approach, including enforcing against litterbugs, and closely collaborating with our stakeholders on educational efforts, outreach programmes and ground-up action.
NEA engages cleaning service providers to clean various public areas, such as roads, pavements, overhead bridges, beaches, parks, vacant lands, carparks and bus stops. During seasonal events such as the hot season that leads to heavy leaf shedding, cleaning frequencies would be increased to cater to the increased litter load.
For public drains, NEA and national water agency PUB collaborate closely, with NEA handling regular cleaning and PUB overseeing structural maintenance, to keep the drainage network clean and in good condition. NEA undertakes periodical cleaning and flushing to remove debris, litter, shed leaves and silt to allow stormwater to flow freely. PUB regularly inspects and upkeeps public drains, promptly repairing those with structural defects or scheduling upgrades to ensure their performance.
NEA, together with its many partners such as the Public Hygiene Council, also conducts activities such as litter-picking sessions, beach and park clean-up events, and appreciation days for cleaners. We will continue to engage the community to foster collective action and social responsibility towards keeping our environment clean.
In the Year of Public Hygiene, NEA had stepped up on five key areas to reinforce high standards of public hygiene and cleanliness, namely tackling cleanliness hotspots and unhygienic public toilets, enhancing vector control and industry capability, and rallying community efforts.
NEA will continue with these efforts and scale up to more areas as we strive for cleaner neighbourhoods for SG60 and beyond.
Tony Teo
Group Director, Environmental Public Health Operations
National Environment Agency