SINGAPORE, September 4, 2026 — Singapore has reported measurable improvements in public cleanliness during the first half of 2026, with targeted enforcement, surveillance technology and cooperation with local stakeholders helping address littering, waste management and public hygiene.

The National Environment Agency said its multi-pronged approach has produced improvements in several areas, including high-rise littering, refuse management and cleanliness standards at public toilets.

Targeted Action Produces Results

Authorities have been identifying cleanliness hotspots using litter counts, public feedback and observations from the ground.

Under the Cleaner Neighbourhood initiative, enforcement operations, surveillance and community engagement have been directed toward locations where recurring problems have been identified.

At one Ang Mo Kio location, the amount of litter recorded fell by 54 percent between July 2025 and June 2026, allowing the site to be removed from the list of identified hotspots.

Thousands of Enforcement Actions

Singapore continued its enforcement efforts throughout the first six months of 2026.

More than 110 enforcement blitzes were carried out at cleanliness hotspots between January and June. Authorities also issued more than 260 Corrective Work Orders during the same period.

Across Singapore, approximately 5,300 fines were issued for ground littering offences.

The measures are intended not only to penalise offenders but also to discourage behaviour that can negatively affect shared public spaces.

Technology Used Against High-Rise Littering

Authorities are also using surveillance technology to address littering from high-rise buildings.

A pilot programme introduced additional surveillance camera deployments in selected hotspots, allowing authorities and Town Councils to focus monitoring resources where problems were most frequently reported.

The programme has helped identify incidents and support follow-up investigations.

Public Toilets Receive Greater Attention

Singapore is also strengthening efforts to improve public toilet cleanliness.

The approach combines infrastructure improvements, financial support, inspections, enforcement and public education.

Since November 2025, 219 eligible applications had been received for coffeeshop toilet improvement grants. By the first half of 2026, 44 coffeeshops had either completed renovations or begun deep-cleaning work.

Authorities also carried out thousands of inspections at public toilets located in coffeeshops, hawker centres and shopping malls.

Hawker Centres Maintain High Tray Return Rate

Members of the public are also contributing to Singapore’s cleanliness efforts.

The average tray and crockery return rate at hawker centres remained at 94 percent during the period covered by the latest update.

That figure is considerably higher than the 65 percent recorded in August 2021 before table-littering enforcement began.

The continued high return rate indicates that public participation remains an important part of maintaining cleanliness in shared dining areas.

Efforts to Control Rat Activity

The authorities are also targeting rat activity by addressing the conditions that allow rodent populations to grow.

At Yishun Avenue 11, cooperation with businesses and Town Councils, combined with surveillance measures, helped reduce refuse-management lapses by more than 60 percent between March and July.

The number of rat burrows recorded during surveillance cycles also declined substantially compared with the corresponding period in 2025.

Artificial Intelligence Joins Cleaning Operations

Singapore is increasingly using technology to improve environmental cleanliness.

The National Environment Agency is working with service providers to test autonomous pavement sweepers and is also using artificial intelligence and video analytics to identify issues such as overflowing bins and littered locations.

These technologies could allow authorities to identify problems more quickly and direct cleaning resources more efficiently.

Community Participation Remains Essential

Despite improvements, Singapore’s authorities emphasised that maintaining clean public spaces requires continued cooperation from residents, businesses, Town Councils and other organisations.

The government plans to continue combining enforcement with technological solutions, public education and partnerships with community organisations.

The latest results suggest that sustained enforcement and collaboration can produce measurable improvements while technology provides additional tools for managing cleanliness across the city-state.