In 2023, 800 offenders were sentenced to Corrective Work Orders (CWOs).

This was stated on a signboard about CWOs in progress near New Bridge Centre in Chinatown, seen in a Jul. 30 Facebook post by the National Environment Agency (NEA).

People serving out their CWO sentences were also pictured sweeping the area.

Another signboard also stated that 53 people in that area were fined for littering from December 2023 to May 2024.

"CWO serves to remind recalcitrant offenders of the impact of littering and the difficulties faced by cleaners," NEA wrote.

CWO was introduced in 1992, and litterbugs ordered to perform CWO must clean up public areas to "make them aware of the impact of littering and experience the difficulties faced by cleaners."

NEA emphasised that it takes strict enforcement action against those who litter.

First-time offenders are fined a sum of S$300, while offenders prosecuted in Court may be fined and sentenced to perform CWO.

"Littering poses both environmental and community health risks. Let us be more responsible and bin our waste properly to keep Singapore clean."

CWO in city areas

In November 2022, NEA introduced CWO sessions to city areas like Chinatown and Tanjong Pagar for the first time to increase the visibility of the punishments.

In 2022, more than 20,000 tickets were issued for littering.

NEA stated it stepped up enforcement at littering hotspots like People's Park Complex and Tekka Centre. They also deployed enforcement officers and set up remote surveillance cameras in those areas.

Enforcement actions against high-rise littering include fines issued by a court, CWO or both.

While first-time offenders who litter may face a composition fine of S$300, high-rise littering offenders may face harsher consequences as they will be sent to court.

Offenders convicted in court may be fined and sentenced to perform CWO.

This requires them to clean public areas for at least three hours and up to 12 hours.

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Top photos via NEA/Facebook