NEA to use robot sweepers at more parks, including at Esplanade and East Coast
But there's a dip in satisfaction with the cleanliness of shared spaces and public toilets, says new SMU survey.
The National Environment Agency (NEA) has begun deploying autonomous pavement sweepers to clean up Esplanade Park and East Coast Park, with plans to expand the technology to other suitable parks and park connectors. According to NEA, these robots could potentially deliver up to 30 percent productivity savings for routine pavement cleaning.
However, a recent survey by Singapore Management University (SMU) found that Singapore residents' satisfaction with the cleanliness of shared spaces and public toilets has declined since 2023. Among the public spaces, void decks, corridors, and lift lobbies experienced the most significant drop in satisfaction, falling from 89.7 percent in 2023 to 80.9 percent in 2025.
Public toilets in coffee shops remained the lowest-rated among public toilets, with satisfaction plummeting from 60.2 percent in 2023 to just 48.3 percent in 2025. The NEA has been focusing on improving the cleanliness of coffee shop amenities, taking enforcement actions against poorly-performing coffee shop owners for failing to keep toilets clean and maintain sanitary fittings.
In the first half of 2026, NEA conducted about 2,200 camera deployments for high-rise littering, resulting in around 500 enforcement actions for such offences. The agency also reported a significant increase in the return of trays and crockery at hawker centres, with an average rate of 94 percent in the first half of 2026, up from 65 percent in August 2021.
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