Flushing out the problem of dirty loos at coffee shops and hawker centres – who’s really at fault?

3. INCENTIVES AND GRANTS

Mr Yip, who has filed parliamentary questions on public toilet cleanliness, suggested introducing incentives for coffee shops and hawker centres.

“Coffee shops with consistently clean toilets could receive recognition, lower licensing fees or even priority for government grants,” he said.

The government has introduced grants for coffee shops to clean up their act.

On Mar 4, Mr Baey told parliament that coffee-shop owners will be able to make use of two S$5 million grants: The Coffee Shop Toilet Renovation Grant and Coffee Shop Toilet Deep Cleaning Grant.

Mr Baey said then that although coffee shops are privately operated commercial premises, their toilets are accessible to both patrons and non-patrons.

Through the renovation grant, coffee-shop operators may apply for funding from NEA to cover up to 95 per cent of their toilet renovation costs, capped at S$50,000 for each coffee shop. The agency will also fund up to 95 per cent of a two-year deep-cleaning contract, capped at S$25,000 for every coffee shop, under the deep-cleaning grant.

However, these grants have drawn criticism from several members of the public and experts.

Dr Sim told CNA TODAY: “These coffee shops are being bought for millions of dollars, yet operators won’t spend money on cleaning their toilets. Why should taxpayer money be spent on private operators to clean up their toilets?”

Ms Ching of SMU also questioned if coffee shops will take up the grants. 

She noted that NEA’s Toilet Improvement Programme has been taken up by just 44 coffee shops since it was launched in 2020. The grant provides up to 90 per cent funding, capped at S$45,000, for toilets in coffee shops and hawker centres to get better designs, new technologies and effective cleaning measures.

In response to queries, Mr Baey said that coffee shops are private businesses, but operators generally make their toilets accessible to both patrons and non-patrons such as elders, taxi drivers, private-hire car drivers and food delivery workers “as a service to our community”.

“These toilets effectively function as neighbourhood public amenities despite being privately operated.”

He added that the grants will come with conditions that operators must meet, including mandatory on-site training for cleaners and having the recommended design requirements for the toilets.

The grants are expected to support 10 to 20 per cent of Singapore’s coffee shops.

“These upgraded facilities can serve as positive role models, demonstrating how good designs, trained cleaners and regular deep-cleaning can significantly improve toilet cleanliness standards. 

“These would in turn encourage positive and responsible behaviour where users would be more inclined to keep the better-maintained toilets clean.”

4. GREATER ENFORCEMENT AND HEAVIER PENALTIES

The various alternative approaches may have their supporters and detractors, but the people interviewed by CNA TODAY agreed on one thing: The need for greater enforcement of toilet cleanliness, along with heavier penalties. 

“Right now, the punishment for a dirty toilet is just a one-day suspension and a fine, which is a flick on the wrist,” Ms Ching from SMU said. SFA states on its website that repeat offenders can be suspended for up to three days.

The Waterloo study by SMU found that more than 55 per cent of participants felt that heavier fines and more monitoring of toilets were needed.