Launched two weeks ago, the Tray Return Movement at Suntec City's Fountain Food Terrace has left one of its organisers disappointed.

The drive was spearheaded by Chesterton International Property Consultants, a subsidiary of Suntec Investment, which owns the food court. It is supported by the Singapore Kindness Movement.

So far, though, little has changed.

Many customers still do not bother to return their trays, leaving cleaners with more work and inconveniencing other diners.

Said Mr Ricky Sim, the managing director of Chesterton International: 'Of course it's discouraging seeing people not returning their trays. It is an uphill task we're facing.'

He added: 'It's not easy. There are a lot of problems because people's habits do not change overnight.'

When The Straits Times visited the food court yesterday for an hour-long lunchtime check, only a few customers were spotted returning their trays and used crockery voluntarily - and all but one did so simply to free up space for their own use.

This was despite the presence of eight tray return points and posters promoting the movement everywhere.

Even patrons seated directly in front of the tray return carts ignored their presence.

The only customer who took the trouble to return his tray and clear the table for the next diner was Mr Mohammad Fayyaz, 45, a manager with BASF, a chemical company.

When asked about it, he said: 'I think it is a good practice. It is not nice to see trays left by other people on the tables, so I return my own tray.'

When asked why they did not return their trays, customers offered a variety of reasons. Some said it was the cleaners' job, others put it down to force of habit.

'Honestly, I did not think of returning the tray,' said Ms Joana Lim, 25, a financial consultant. 'Maybe bigger signs might help.'

Chesterton's Mr Sim said he was not really surprised by such behaviour.

'Good habits have to be inculcated in people when they are young. As adults, the habit of not returning the trays has become a fixed mindset in them,' he said.

Past movements to encourage people to return their trays and used crockery have failed.

In 2003, for example, the National Environment Agency (NEA) led such a drive at the Zion Riverside Food Centre, but the initiative was discontinued as most patrons did not do so.

Now, there are no tray return carts in the food centre and cleaners are left to pick up after patrons.

Mr Sim, however, said he would press on with his efforts.

He pointed out that new ideas to remind people to clean up after themselves would be introduced every three months or so.

He added: 'It can be done if we make a concerted effort."

egwilmot@sph.com.sg