Property officer Mr Zechariah’s dedication to preserving the environment was evident from a young age. He often took part in litter-picking activities on the beaches when he was a student. Later in his adulthood, he also participated in similar clean-ups organised by the Residents’ Network.
Mr Zechariah, 35, who recently joined Ang Mo Kio Town Council (AMKTC), said that it is not uncommon to find litter thrown in common areas. “People tend to leave their disposable food containers and canned drinks in the sitting area. We also see cases of high-rise littering every fortnight and these litter comprise curry gravy, food waste, cigarette butts and fruit peels.”
Wanting to do his part to keep public spaces litter-free, he joined 35 of his colleagues to pick up litter on February 12 as part of the SG Clean Day initiative. Its aim was to give a day off to our cleaners to appreciate their efforts towards keeping our environment clean, and encourage residents to pick up after themselves.
Equipped with tongs and trash bags, the AMKTC team picked up litter from Ang Mo Kio Hub to Central Stage. They got a first-hand experience of what it was like to walk around the neighbourhood where no sweeping had been done.
Mr Mohamed, 64, a horticulture officer, said: “I saw a lot of litter like bubble tea cups and cigarette butts being stuck onto manholes and bulky boxes drenched by rain. Some people couldn’t be bothered to dispose of the boxes into the bin, so they just left them in the open space. It makes the cleaners’ job harder.” He felt happy that he could contribute to clear such litter through the activity.
“Everyone can do a part to keep the environment clean. Cultivate a habit to hold onto your trash and bring it to the nearest bin,” he said.
He also cited an example of how football fans from Japan would help pick up litter after matches in other countries. He suggested similar practices in Singapore to embrace the importance of civic responsibility to keep our environment clean. Mr Zechariah agreed: “Essentially, it’s important that we educate people about littering and its impact from a young age.”
Chinese
2月12日，宏茂桥市镇理事会的员工参与新加坡清洁日，从宏茂桥城步行到中央舞台，沿途捡拾垃圾，为保持环境清洁尽一份力。活动当天，市镇会的清洁工可休息一天，以感谢他们平时的辛勤劳动，同时鼓励居民履行社会责任，妥善清理垃圾，共同打造清洁舒适的家园。
Malay
Para pekerja Majlis Bandaran Ang Mo Kio telah mengambil bahagian dalam SG Clean Day pada 12 Februari, dengan mengutip sampah bermula dari Hab Ang Mo Kio hingga ke Central Stage. Inisiatif SG Clean Day ini bertujuan memberi cuti sehari kepada para pembersih bagi menghargai usaha mereka menjaga kebersihan di persekitaran kita, dan menggalak para penduduk untuk turut menjaga kebersihan.
Tamil
அங் மோ கியோ நகர மன்ற ஊழியர்கள், பிப்ரவரி 12ஆம் தேதி, அங் மோ கியோ மையத்திலிருந்து மத்திய மேடை வரை குப்பைகளை அள்ளி, எஸ்ஜி தூய்மை தினத்தில் பங்கெடுத்தனர். நமது சுற்றுப்புறத்தைத் தூய்மையாக வைத்திருக்கும் துப்புரவாளர்களுக்கு ஒரு நாள் விடுப்பு வழங்குவதோடு, குடியிருப்பாளர்கள் தங்களது குப்பைகளைத் தாங்களே அப்புறப்படுத்த ஊக்குவிப்பது எஸ்ஜி தூய்மை தினத்தின் நோக்கம்.
