If it is compulsory to clear my trays here, I will just go to another place where I do not have to clear my trays.
From a commercial view, the contractor in charge of supplying the cleaning staff for the eateries/hawker centres will benefit by being able to employ fewer staff (because people are now clearing their own trays) and at the same time increase their charges year after year on whatever grounds they can find to justify, increase in rent/operating costs, etc.
C'mon the so-called "social norm" overseas is not the social norm here. This is Singapore. Stop using overseas benchmarks like the government.
I'm sick and tired of hearing all these social norms things and social etiquette, etc.
Just think of all the vested interests or the individual interests of those concerned, and the picture will be clearer.
Just like the stupid green movement by supermarkets to use disposable plastic bags.
I bet they know that the housewives and families already recycle these bags - they are used to contain and dispose everyday rubbish at home.
Not supplying them means lower cost for the supermarket and more business for the plastic bag-sellers (those selling ready-packed garbage bags). whatever the story, it is a lose-situation for a normal shopper.
Still seeing the young and old people leaving their plates and left over food on table and simply walking away after having their meals at west coast food centre. So difficult to bring them to the drop- off points meh? Is it due to psychological factors that prevented them from doing simple act like this. Imaging the frustration of having to look for a cleared table during peak hours and the hard work of old cleaners having to move around to clear the tables with demanding work conditions and how dusgusting when foods are cleared right in front of you in the moving carts beside your table while having meals. Wonder how long will it take to see mindset changed and convince that it is not a matter of who is paid to do the job. I thought most have travelled to places like Japan etc and understood the good sense of this social behaviour. By the way, it will not result in unemployment of our dear old uncles and aunties who are still being deployed to do the cleaning and sorting of bowls etc at the dro-off points and we should see this as a favour to them.