Each day, at least 100 members of Facebook group Goodness Gracious Me share tips such as 'smile at a complete stranger' or 'be kind'.

At eight food outlets, The Straits Times' campaign has also received positive results, with patrons and canteen workers making it a habit to remind one another to return trays.

Staff at the Institute of Mental Health have been rostered to encourage diners to return their trays at its canteen.

The Straits Times' Mop Squad - five reporters monitoring foodcourts - noted a general improvement in the overall cleanliness of the five Kopitiam outlets islandwide where the campaign started.

Cleaners are optimistic.

Said Madam Toh Li Ying, 60, who works at the Hougang Mall outlet: 'People are more considerate and have, at the very least, been putting all their utensils and rubbish inside the trays.'

This new awareness is the first step towards graciousness, said sociologist Paulin Straughan.

Youth, especially, respond to a sense of 'doing the right thing' - a 'hip' factor - to get them walking the talk. She said this set sees it as 'desirable to be seen as the 'in', educated and socially conscious group'.

Already, with the likes of the Facebook group, they are identifying with the cause.

Read the full story in Saturday's edition of The Straits Times