NEA’s Community Volunteer (CV) Programme was launched in 2013 to encourage greater community ownership, and to leverage social pressure for greater deterrence against litterbugs. The programme was previously only open to members of Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and public officers.
As members of the public and CVs have expressed interest in playing a more active role in keeping our environment clean, NEA now allows individuals to join the CV programme without having to be affiliated with any recognised environmental group. These CVs will be empowered to engage offenders for a wider range of offences which include:
- Littering in public places;
- Pet defecation in public places;
- Smoking in prohibited places;
- Spitting in public places;
- Urinating in public places; and
- Leaving the engine of a stationary vehicle running
Should CVs observe any smoky vehicle on the road, they could take down details of the vehicle, date, time of offence and submit to NEA for follow-up action. CVs can choose to focus on educating offenders on taking ownership of the environment, supporting research in specialised areas of work, or participating in public outreach and educational activities.
All CVs are required to adopt a ‘Bright Spot’ or any preferred area and keep it clean. Monthly activities will be carried out at the adopted areas by CVs.
To help CVs perform this role effectively, NEA will provide comprehensive training and assessment before they are issued with an authority card (i.e. request for particulars) to enforce against any non-compliant environmental offender. Offenders’ particulars will be submitted to NEA for follow-up action.
Criteria for community volunteers
- Aged 18 to 80 years old*
- Singapore citizen or Permanent Resident
- Physically and mentally fit
- No prior criminal records
- No previous offences under NEA’s jurisdiction
- Mature, responsible, and committed
- Passionate about keeping the environment clean and green
*Applicant must be 76 years old and below at time of registration.
Please email Community_Volunteers@nea.gov.sg if you are interested in joining the programme.
To validate a CV’s identity, you may verify through the NEA website https://www.nea.gov.sg/validate-officer using the CV’s name and authority card number.