Forum: NEA scaling up efforts for high public hygiene and cleanliness standards
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We thank Ms Candice Yeo Chay Hoon for the letter “Spruce up Singapore to welcome SG60” (Jan 10), 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 enforcement against litterbugs, and 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. Cleaning is stepped up during seasonal events such as the hot season that leads to heavy leaf shedding and increased litter load.
For public drains, NEA handles the regular cleaning and national water agency PUB oversees structural maintenance to keep the drainage network clean and in good condition.
NEA periodically cleans and flushes drains to remove debris, litter, shed leaves and silt to allow storm water 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 stepped up on five key areas to reinforce high standards of public hygiene and cleanliness, namely tackling cleanliness hot spots and unhygienic public toilets, enhancing vector control and industry capability, and rallying community efforts.
NEA will continue with these efforts and scale them 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