Stomper questions why Government is giving grants to coffee shops to clean their own toilets
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The Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment recently announced grants to help coffee shop operators keep their toilets clean.
Under a new $5 million 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.
NEA will provide more details about the two grants later in 2025.
Stomper Marc questioned the wisdom of these grants.
He asked: "Why use taxpayers' dollars to help privately-owned coffee shops to maintain the cleanliness of their toilets?
"The upkeep of the toilets is the responsibility of the coffeeshop owners. If the coffee shops are given grants to upkeep the toilets, then what about individual stalls?"
"Please put taxpayers' dollars to better use."
Stomp has regularly reported coffee shops being suspended a single day and fined for failing to keep their toilets clean and in good repair.
In a written reply to a parliamentary question on March 10, Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu said: "While enforcement plays a crucial role in ensuring minimum toilet cleanliness standards are upheld, grants can incentivise coffeeshop operators to do even better in implementing good toilet designs and initiate the practice of regular deep cleaning."
In response to feedback on the grants in Lianhe Zaobao, the ministry, NEA and Singapore Food Agency explained on March 14: "Coffee shops are privately-operated commercial premises that are extensively distributed throughout our heartlands. However, coffee shop owners and operators generally make their toilets accessible not just to their patrons, but also non-patrons including seniors, taxi drivers, private-hire car drivers and food delivery personnel, as a service to the community.
"These toilets effectively function as neighbourhood public amenities despite being privately-operated.
"The Coffeeshop Toilet Renovation Grant aims to support operators in upgrading their toilets for ease of cleaning and maintenance, while the Coffeeshop Toilet Deep-Cleaning Grant supports regular deep cleaning to remove stains and odour.
"Both grants will require the cleaners to undergo on-site training to ensure proper maintenance of toilets, amongst other conditions set out in the grants."
"The $10 million budget is expected to support 10 to 20 per cent of Singapore's coffee shops. These upgraded facilities can serve as positive role models, demonstrating how good designs, trained cleaners, and regular deep cleaning can significantly improve toilet standards.
"These would in-turn encourage positive and responsible behaviour where users would be more inclined to keep the better-maintained toilets clean."
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