SERIAL high-rise litter-bugs have reared their ugly heads again, this time at Block 307D, Anchorville Road in Sengkang.
It started with half-eaten food and other rubbish, but it was a soiled sanitary pad that finally made one resident blow her top.
A housewife, who wanted to be known only as Madam Soh, said her entire day was ruined when she spotted the pad splattered on the ledge of her master bedroom window.
'I saw the pad near the aircon condenser after I woke up that morning. I was very upset and insisted that the town council do something about it,' she said.
She said the town council later asked a cleaner to go up to her flat and remove it. Home owners above her were also given reminders on littering.
Madam Soh, 48, said she had earlier found other rubbish on her window ledges, including egg shells, dirty rags, and half-eaten packs of food like nasi lemak.
She no longer puts her laundry outside and does the drying indoors as she is afraid of what may land on her clothes.
Madam Soh, who has lived there for about six years, said the littering problem has plagued the estate in the last couple of years.
Another resident, 44, said: 'When the people living above throw out papers and plastic it is not so bad.
'But sometimes they throw half-eaten food and dirty rags.
'I have called the town council about this problem a few times.'
According to her, the town council appointed a cleaner to sweep the ledge, but she feels it is very dangerous as she lives on a high floor.
'I don't want to endanger the life of the sweeper,' she explained. 'I wish the town council can educate the residents about being responsible.'
When contacted, Mr Michael Ngin, public relations manager for Pasir Ris-Punggol town council, said they are working with the National Environment Agency (NEA) on the littering problem.
He added that they would issue advisories and educational notices to the residents living above those who are affected by the litter. They also put up educational posters on notice boards.
ENFORCEMENT
A spokesman for the NEA said that the more common forms of high-rise litter include cigarette butts and boxes, tissue paper, plastic bags, fruit seeds and cores, nail clippings and sweet wrappers.
Urging residents to be more civic-minded, the spokesman said: 'Enforcement against high-rise litter bugs is very manpower intensive and time consuming. It involves long hours of staking out under flats to catch the offender.'
Last year, the NEA took enforcement action against eight cases of high rise littering.
While a $200 fine awaits those who throw out cigarette butts and parking coupons, those who throw out food wrappers and plastic bags may be sentenced to a corrective work order.
Litter that poses a threat to public health such as soiled sanitary pads and diapers may set first-time offenders back by $1,000. Subsequent offenders can be fined up to $5,000.
