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  Channel NewsAsia 21 Nov 06
Volunteers from HDB estates join in latest effort to clean up Singapore
 By Wong Mun Wai

SINGAPORE : An effort to clean up Singapore now involves grassroots leaders and volunteers in housing estates. The aim is to change people's mindsets by getting them to sign an anti-litter pledge card.

Out to make a difference are volunteers from Kim Tian West Residents Committee. So far, a total of 55 volunteers have come forward from three Residents Committees (RC) in Tangjong Pagar GRC to tackle the litter problem. They aim to visit 300 blocks in Tiong Bahru, Tanjong Pagar and Radin Mass.

The National Environment Agency hopes a strategy of teaming up with RCs will make a difference.

The team will hit their estates using a three-pronged plan. It aims to address a survey suggesting 4 out of 10 people in their estate thought the litter problem is bad.

The team plans to go out on litter patrols once a month, where badly littered areas will be reported and litterbugs counselled. "Some people litter because of convenience. We can change this mindset we over time. We can educate them and create the awareness. We have to play a part as grassroots, and parents and schools will have to play apart as well," says Ho Hoy Fong, chairman of Tiong Bahru Citizens' Consultative Committee.

And changing residents' mindsets can help eliminate flyers, tissues and food found in common areas.

For the first six months, grassroots leaders and volunteers will visit housing estates asking residents to fill out green anti-litter cards with their name and address. They also aim to clean up footpaths, lift lobbies and letterbox areas.

To indicate how much litter has been found, negotiations are going on to put meters that will indicate how much litter has been found in Residents Committees.

After the first stage of the clean up, teams want to cover other areas like bus stops. And in a year, they plan to reach out to other parts of their constituencies such as shopping malls and community clubs. - CNA /ls
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