Stomper is all for cleaner toilets in coffee shops, but what about the dirty tables and chairs?
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The $5 million Coffee Shop Toilet Renovation Grant was announced recently to encourage coffee shop operators to raise the standard of cleanliness of their toilets.
But what about the rest of the coffee shop?
Stomper Peter commended the government initiative and added: "Holistically, after deciding to spend so much money for this project islandwide after adverse survey feedback, the authorities may also want to cover the cleanliness of the tables and chairs where our citizens actually have their daily food too."
He was referring to a 2024 study of 2,602 public toilets by Singapore Management University that revealed the cleanliness of coffee shop toilets has not improved over the years despite penalties imposed by the authorities.
"Perhaps a similar survey can be conducted across the island to ascertain and gauge how clean our coffee shops really are," suggested Peter, who shared photos of a coffee shop at Block 304, Serangoon Avenue 2, where the yellow monobloc chairs seemed to be stained with dirt.
"It could be an eye-opener for readers," said the Stomper.
"It will improve and reinforce our reputation as a clean and hygienic city-state where tourists and foreign workers visit and dine at our local coffee shops too."
The Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment had announced on March 4 that under the Coffee Shop Toilet Renovation Grant, coffee shop operators can apply to the National Environment Agency (NEA) for up to 95 per cent funding for costs, capped at $50,000 per coffee shop.
Operators will also be able to tap NEA's $5 million Coffee Shop Toilet Deep Cleaning Grant, for funding of up to 95 per cent of the cost of a two-year deep cleaning contract, capped at $25,000 per coffee shop, reported The Straits Times.
"Successful grant applicants will also receive complimentary on-site toilet cleaning training at their coffee shops for in-house cleaners," said the ministry.
NEA will provide more details of the two grants later in 2025.
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