Part of a comprehensive analysis of the Environmental Public Health Act 1987
All Parts in This Series
Key Provisions of Part 3: Public Cleansing under the Environmental Public Health Act 1987
Part 3 of the Environmental Public Health Act 1987 (EPHA) comprehensively governs the maintenance of cleanliness in public and private spaces across Singapore. The provisions are designed to ensure that public streets, parks, waterways, and private vicinities are kept clean, refuse is properly collected and disposed of, and public health standards are upheld through effective enforcement.
"The Director-General must cause public streets, including the footways thereof, and public parks, beaches, foreshores, canals, waterways and unoccupied State land, to be properly swept and cleansed and watered so far as is reasonably practicable, and refuse and filth of every sort found thereon to be collected and removed." — Section 5(1), Environmental Public Health Act 1987
Verify Section 5 in source document →
Section 5 places a statutory duty on the Director-General to ensure that all public areas are regularly cleaned and watered. This provision exists to maintain public hygiene and prevent the accumulation of refuse that could lead to health hazards or environmental degradation.
"The owner and the occupier of any premises abutting upon any private street ... must cause any portion of the street ... to be properly swept and cleansed and watered ... and refuse and filth ... to be collected and removed." — Section 6(1), Environmental Public Health Act 1987
Verify Section 6 in source document →
Section 6 extends the responsibility of cleanliness to private owners and occupiers adjoining private streets, ensuring that private vicinities do not become sources of filth or nuisances. This provision exists to complement public cleansing efforts and prevent the spread of refuse from private to public areas.
"The Director-General may ... cause any number of dustbins or other convenient receptacles ... to be provided and placed in proper and convenient locations ... and cause vehicles to go round to collect the refuse." — Section 7(1), Environmental Public Health Act 1987
Verify Section 7 in source document →
Section 7 empowers the Director-General to provide and maintain dustbins and refuse collection systems. This provision facilitates proper disposal of waste by the public, reducing littering and promoting cleanliness.
"Any person who ... deposits, drops, places or throws any dust, dirt, paper, ash, carcase, refuse ... in any public place, except in a dustbin or other receptacle ... shall be guilty of an offence." — Section 17(1)(a), Environmental Public Health Act 1987
Verify Section 17 in source document →
"Any person who commits an offence under section 17, 18, 19 or 20 may be arrested without warrant ... and shall be liable on conviction to fines or imprisonment as specified." — Section 21(1), Environmental Public Health Act 1987
Verify Section 21 in source document →
Definitions Relevant to Public Cleansing
Clear definitions are essential for the effective application of the law. Part 3 of the EPHA defines key terms to avoid ambiguity and ensure precise enforcement.
"‘refuse equipment or facility’ means any of the following: (a) a refuse or waste chute; (b) a refuse or waste chute chamber; (c) a refuse or waste chute hopper; (d) a refuse or waste lift that is wholly or partly used for the conveyance of refuse or waste; (e) a standalone pneumatic waste conveyance system;" — Section 11(3), Environmental Public Health Act 1987
Verify Section 11 in source document →
This definition in Section 11(3) clarifies the types of equipment considered part of refuse management infrastructure. It exists to regulate the maintenance and use of such facilities to prevent refuse accumulation and ensure hygienic disposal.
"‘standalone pneumatic waste conveyance system’ means an automated waste collection system that — (i) conveys or transports refuse or waste by air suction through a network of pipes to the refuse bin centre; (ii) consists of the following ...; (iii) is not located in a DPWCS area declared under section 31G(1); and (b) excludes any disposal facility." — Section 11(3), Environmental Public Health Act 1987
Verify Section 11 in source document →
This detailed definition of a pneumatic waste conveyance system ensures that modern automated waste disposal technologies are properly regulated, promoting efficient and hygienic waste management.
"In sections 21 to 21D — ‘corrective work order’ means a corrective work order made by a Court under section 21A; ‘Court’ means a Magistrate’s Court or a District Court; ‘offender’ means a person who is 16 years of age or above who is convicted of an offence under section 17 or 19; ‘supervision officer’ means an authorised officer or any other person as the Agency may, with the approval of the Minister, by notification in the Gazette, specify to be a supervision officer for the purpose of supervising the performance of work by an offender under a corrective work order." — Section 21E, Environmental Public Health Act 1987
Section 21E defines terms related to enforcement and corrective work orders, establishing the legal framework for supervising offenders and ensuring compliance with court orders. This provision exists to support rehabilitation and corrective measures beyond mere fines or imprisonment.
"‘residential flat’ means a flat used for residential purposes, including a flat that is leased for residential purposes." — Section 17A(8), Environmental Public Health Act 1987
Verify Section 17A in source document →
This definition in Section 17A(8) clarifies the scope of residential premises covered under the Act, ensuring that obligations related to refuse management apply appropriately to residential flats.
Penalties for Non-Compliance with Public Cleansing Provisions
The EPHA establishes a graduated penalty regime to deter violations and ensure adherence to public cleansing standards.
"Any person who contravenes subsection (1) or (2) shall be guilty of an offence." — Section 17(3), Environmental Public Health Act 1987
Verify Section 17 in source document →
Section 17(3)
"Any person who commits an offence under section 17, 18, 19 or 20 may be arrested without warrant ... and shall be liable on conviction — (a) in the case of an offence under section 20(1), to a fine not exceeding $50,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both and, in the case of a second or subsequent conviction, to a fine not exceeding $100,000 and to imprisonment for a term of not less than one month and not more than 12 months; (b) in the case of an offence under section 17(1)(h), to a fine not exceeding $5,000 and, in the case of a second or subsequent conviction, to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 months or to both; and (c) in the case of any other offence, to a fine not exceeding — (i) in the case of a first conviction, $2,000; (ii) in the case of a second conviction, $4,000; and (iii) in the case of a third or subsequent conviction, $10,000." — Section 21(1), Environmental Public Health Act 1987
Verify Section 21 in source document →
Section 21(1)
"If ... the offender has failed to comply with any of the requirements of section 21B ... the Court may ... order the offender to pay a fine not exceeding $5,000 or may commit the offender to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 months." — Section 21C(2), Environmental Public Health Act 1987
Verify Section 21C in source document →
Section 21C(2)
"Any vehicle used in dumping or disposing of refuse ... in any public place ... may be seized ... and removed ... and ... the court is to make an order for the forfeiture of the vehicle." — Sections 20(5) and (6), Environmental Public Health Act 1987
Verify source in source document →
Sections 20(5) and (6) empower authorities to seize and forfeit vehicles used in illegal dumping, providing a strong enforcement tool to prevent misuse of vehicles for environmental offences.
Cross-References to Other Legislation and Ministerial Powers
The EPHA’s provisions are designed to operate in harmony with other laws and allow for administrative flexibility through Ministerial powers.
"Nothing in subsection (1) derogates from the effect of any other written law." — Section 5(2), Environmental Public Health Act 1987
Verify Section 5 in source document →
Section 5(2)
"discard or abandon in any public place any motor vehicle whose registration has been cancelled under section 27 of the Road Traffic Act 1961." — Section 17(1)(h), Environmental Public Health Act 1987
Verify Section 17 in source document →
This provision cross-references the Road Traffic Act 1961, linking vehicle registration offences with public cleansing offences to prevent abandoned vehicles from becoming environmental hazards.
"supervision officer means an authorised officer or any other person as the Agency may, with the approval of the Minister, by notification in the Gazette, specify ..." — Section 21E, Environmental Public Health Act 1987
Verify Section 21E in source document →
Section 21E
Moreover, the Minister is empowered to amend certain provisions by order in the Gazette, reflecting the need for the law to evolve with changing environmental and public health needs.
Conclusion
Part 3 of the Environmental Public Health Act 1987 establishes a robust legal framework for maintaining cleanliness in Singapore’s public and private spaces. By imposing clear duties on public authorities, private owners, and the general public, and by providing detailed definitions, enforcement mechanisms, and penalties, the Act ensures that environmental cleanliness is upheld as a matter of public health and social responsibility. The cross-references to other legislation and Ministerial powers further enhance the Act’s effectiveness and adaptability.
Sections Covered in This Analysis
- Section 5(1) and (2)
- Section 6(1)
- Section 7(1)
- Section 8
- Section 9
- Section 10
- Section 11(3)
- Sections 12 to 20
- Section 17(1)(a) and (h), (3)
- Section 17A(8)
- Sections 19 and 20(1), (5), (6)
- Sections 21 to 21E
- Section 31G(1) (referenced)
Source Documents
For the authoritative text, consult SSO.