S’porean man, 43, convicted for littering for the 13th time

A 43-year-old Singaporean man was convicted for littering for the 13th time.

Tang Bo Xiang has been convicted since 2000.

He was fined S$2,500 and ordered to perform 12 hours of corrective work on May 15, 2026.

This was part of the National Environment Agency (NEA) enforcement efforts and stakeholder partnerships to uphold public cleanliness and hygiene, the agency said on Jun. 23.

3,000 fines

From January to March 2026, NEA issued about 3,000 fines for ground littering offences islandwide.

NEA also conducted 66 enforcement blitzes at cleanliness hotspots identified through localised litter counts, public feedback, and sustained ground observations.

At these hotspots, visible patrols, standees, surveillance cameras, and ground engagements were carried out and deployed to deter littering.

A total of 150 Corrective Work Orders (CWOs) were also issued in the first quarter of 2026.

Offenders will be required to perform corrective work at these hotspots.

Any individual who litters is liable to a fine of up to S$2,000 for a first conviction, S$4,000 for a second conviction, and S$10,000 for the third and subsequent convictions.

A corrective work order requiring offenders to clean public areas for up to 12 hours may be imposed.

Decline in rat burrows

NEA's two-monthly surveillance cycle recorded a decrease in the average number of rat burrows per cycle from about 4,900 in 2025 to about 2,900 in early 2026, based on the January-February and March-April cycles.

The majority of burrows were detected in public housing estates, followed by grass verges along roadsides and in industrial estates.

NEA and the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) also conducted about 260 joint enforcement actions against premises owners for rat-related lapses from January to March 2026.

About 150 were for poor refuse management.

Partnerships and ground efforts

Areas with high trade activity and poor refuse management were targeted under the Cleaner Neighbourhood initiative.

At Chai Chee Avenue/Road, refuse management lapses fell by more than half from 23 in November 2025 to 10 at the end of February 2026.

This was done through engagements with trade premises on proper refuse management, close collaboration with town councils to reduce visible waste, and the deployment of surveillance cameras.

Similar progress was also observed during the same period at Serangoon Avenue 2 and 3, where refuse management lapses dropped 52 per cent.

Advisories were issued to trade premises to install additional bins and remove bulky items stored outside their shops, which can serve as potential harbourage for rats.

These efforts have led to 12 enforcement actions taken, including two enforcement actions under the Control of Vectors and Pesticides Act 1998 issued to a premises owner, amounting to a S$6,000 fine.

Good rat management practices by premises owners were also observed.

AMK Hub has reportedly not experienced sustained rat activity since the end of 2023, which was attributed to deliberate focus on prevention, early detection, and quick response, rather than relying solely on reactive pest control.

This includes training staff to spot early signs of rat activity, isolating F&B units to limit rat movement, and having clear protocols in place for fast containment.

The approach was tested.

When a rat was brought in with raw materials, it was detected promptly and trapped shortly, with no further activity observed.

These measures adhered to NEA's rat management guidelines, emphasising prevention and the use of technology alongside conventional control methods.

Premises managers and owners who fail to practise proper refuse management or create conditions favourable to the harbouring or propagating of rats may face a fine of up to S$20,000, a jail term of up to three years, or both, for first-time offenders.

For a first offence under the Environmental Public Health (Public Cleansing) Regulations, premises owners can be fined up to S$1,000.