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  Today Online 27 Nov 06
I love (dirty) Singapore
Henrik Siken

I love Singapore in many ways. That is the reason I am still here after two years, and hopefully many more to come.

There is just one thing that saddens me, and it seems to get worse every day. The issue has also recently been debated in the news. Yes, it is the terrible littering.

These days, it seems that wherever I go, I see rubbish lying around. Some places are worse than others. I occasionally see a person--it may be a young or adult Singaporean or foreign worker --drop a piece of litter, and I'll stop them to let them know that they've "dropped" something. I take pride in that.

Yes, the shopping centres and the streets around City Hall and Raffles Place are sparkling clean. But that's about it. Going around either the newly renovated Changi Village, Sembawang Park or my local park in Woodlands is a real turn-off. Even my first trip to Pulau Ubin a few weeks ago was marred by the dirt.

Waste clutters the waters here, everywhere. As I was walking along the canal leading to the lake in Woodlands Town Garden a month ago, I did a double take on seeing the water. It was totally dyed in a bluish colour, most likely due to leftover paint poured out into some drain. This might not be conventional litter, but it is still irresponsible disposal of waste from Singaporeans that pollute a large amount of precious water.

In fact, the bulky litter may be an eyesore but is not the only problem. It is the many small pieces and polluting liquids that get away. Accumulated, it will cause damage to our environment.

Whenever I have family and friends visiting me, they are impressed by the cleanliness when travelling from Changi Airport and around the CBD area. However, when I take them beyond those main tourist areas, they are surprised at how littered Singapore and its waters are.

They cannot not believe it when told about the plan to turn Marina Bay into a water-sport centre--why would anyone want to play in that water?

What really drove me to write this letter was the sight that greeted me when I got home to my Housing and Development Board block on Saturday evening. The void deck was incredibly messy. Despite the waste bins around, take-away food and drink bottles were scattered all over, even on the benches and tables, with food and drinks spilled out. There were marker writings on the walls, and the grass around the pitch next to the block was also covered with litter.

The reason? A youth football game held at the pitch. The rain had been pouring the whole afternoon, so I could understand the mud prints. But if even these active youngsters are too lazy or callous to dispose of rubbish properly, I do not want my future children to grow up here.

This habit won't just disappear if nothing is done now. This problem will not be solved by some articles in the newspaper and a campaign or two. There has to be a better enforcement of the anti-litter law. The people who litter just do not bother.

Other means have to be employed. Singapore is not a short term project. It is a developed nation with a long future ahead, located in the heart of a very vulnerable ecosystem. Littering might seem a small problem, but it is the root of a much bigger problem that should be given much more attention.

With this, I look forward to many more years on this otherwise very lovely island.

This was contributed by a reader.
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