80YO Issued Warning Letter for Not Returning Tray at Chinatown Hawker Centre

By
Chew Ming Hui
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An 80-year-old was issued a warning letter for failing to return his tray at a Chinatown hawker centre after his meal.

Yet, he claims that he usually returns his tray but merely didn’t do so that particular day.

80-Year-Old Issued Warning Letter for Failing to Return Tray As He Could Not Find Tray Return Area

On Thursday (1 June), a pair of enforcement officers stopped an 80-year-old man dining at Chinatown Complex Food Centre after he was spotted failing to return his tray.

Unlucky him—four enforcement officers from the National Environment Agency (NEA) were patrolling the hawker centre that day.

Well, we hope he likes dessert because, let’s just say the 80-year-old was later served dessert—in the form of a warning letter issued by the enforcement officers. The enforcement officers also took down the 80-year-old’s particulars.

Image: Shin Min Daily News

However, according to Shin Min Daily News, the warned diner, Mr Huang, shared that he would usually return his tray when dining at hawker centres or kopitiams.

Yet, as it was his first time dining at the Chinatown Complex Food Centre, he could not find the tray return area.

The 80-year-old also added that he was led into believing diners at that hawker centre need not return their trays, as he saw several other diners leaving their trays at their tables.

This is why you shouldn’t always follow what others do. It’s back to the classic question: Would you jump too if your friend jumped off a cliff?

Regardless, Mr Huang shared that after receiving the written warning, he would better remember to return his tray whenever he dines out at hawker centres.

First Time Offenders Issued Written Warnings; Repeat Offenders Face Fines

Unless you live under a rock, you probably know of the recent enforcement actions that have been stepped up concerning table littering at various food establishments.

If you didn’t know about it, we recommend that you stop ordering Grab Food for all your meals and step outside for once.

Beginning Thursday (1 June), if you’re caught failing to return your tray when dining at hawker centres, coffee shops or food courts, you might find yourself in the crosshairs of enforcement officers patrolling the food establishments around the island.

These enforcement officers will likely ask for your personal particulars, which means you’ll have to show them that ugly IC photo of yourself—and we don’t want that, do we?

If it’s the first time you’re caught failing to return your tray, you’ll only be issued a written warning. However, repeat offenders may be issued fines or even charged in court.

It’s pretty paiseh to be charged in court over something as trivial as failing to return your tray lah—you’re already enough of a disappointment to your family. Further, if you fail to cooperate with these enforcement officers, you’ll have to meet another officer instead—a police officer.

So, public service announcement: please return your trays.

Strong Support Expressed By Singaporeans for Anti-Table Littering Regulations

According to Shin Min Daily News interviews, most diners have expressed their support for enforcing mandatory tray returns at various food establishments.

Let’s take a moment to appreciate this. It’s rare for Singaporeans not to complain.

Singaporeans’ support for these regulations is evidenced by the average tray and crockery return rate at hawker centres increasing from 65% in August 2021 to 91%.

And here we thought the only numbers that were increasing were GST rates.

These anti-table littering regulations were implemented at hawker centres on 1 September 2021 and were gradually extended to coffee shops and food courts from 1 January 2022.

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Yet, returning your tray isn’t all there is to ensure you won’t be slapped with a warning or a fine from the enforcement officers patrolling your local kopitiam.

Aside from clearing your tray, you must ensure that when dining out at hawker centres, coffee shops or food courts, all litter, including your nasty piece of used tissue, wet wipes, drink cans, shells and bones, must be cleared from the table.

Essentially, anything you wouldn’t want to be greeted with when you take a seat at the kopitiam, you should clear it.

Regulations Not Enforced Against Certain Groups of Diners, Including Frail Elderly, Children & Less-Abled

Of course, there are some exceptions to the anti-table littering regulations.

According to NEA, the anti-table littering regulations will not be enforced against certain groups of diners, including the frail elderly, the less-abled, or children who are clearly unable to clear their tables.

So don’t worry; your 6-year-old won’t be charged in court for failing to return a bowl of fishball noodles. If you’re obviously holding on for dear life in a wheelchair, regulations also won’t be enforced against you.

Instead, family members or kakis dining together with these groups of diners are expected to help dispose of the table litter and return the trays.

The enforcement officers at Chinatown Complex Food Centre interviewed by Shin Min Daily News shared that they’ll usually keep a keen lookout for diners about to finish their meals. If the officers notice that a diner is leaving without returning their trays, they will approach the diner.

However, suppose the diner appears to belong to one of the groups under which regulations are not enforced against. In that case, the officers have to make an on-the-spot assessment of whether the diner is capable of clearing their tables.

For instance, if an elderly person faces mobility issues, they’re incapable of clearing their tables, so enforcement will not be taken against them.

Yet, if it is assessed that an ah ma can independently purchase her char kway teow and bring the food from the stall to their seat, enforcement officers will deem that the ah ma can return her tray. If she doesn’t, enforcement action will be taken.

Moral of the story? If you can clear your table, clear it.

Here’s a simplified summary of the South Korea martial law that even a 5-year-old would understand:

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Chew Ming Hui
Email: [email protected]