A Reddit post featuring images of overflowing bins and litter scattered across East Coast Park during the Vesak Day public holiday has sparked online debate about cleanliness in public spaces.
Uploaded to the r/SingaporeRaw subreddit on 12 May 2025, the post included photos showing rubbish piled beside full bins, along with images of campers occupying various sections of the park.
The user, who mentioned it was their first visit to East Coast Park in six years, expressed disappointment at the condition of the area.
“Trash everywhere on the morning of 12th May. Vibe has changed from my last visit 6 years ago,” the user wrote.
It is worth noting that camping is permitted at East Coast Park, but only in designated areas. Currently, there are two such zones, and campers must apply for a free permit in advance to stay overnight.
A valid residential address and identification number in Singapore are required for the application.
Mixed Reactions from the Public
The post quickly drew mixed responses from Reddit users, with some defending the situation while others questioned the role of public agencies.
Several commenters pointed out that the trash was largely placed beside bins that were already full, implying that littering was not entirely the fault of park-goers.
One user asked, “What exactly is the issue though? There are a lot of people out for picnics on a long weekend. Trash is collected in plastic bags and placed beside bins because the bins are full. It’s not like this every weekend—this is a peak period. So what was done wrong?”
Another commented, “The rubbish is literally next to completely full rubbish bins. Where are they supposed to throw the rubbish? If they carry it home on the MRT you would cry about that.”
Backlash Against the Poster’s Framing
One user criticised the original poster for appearing to single out specific groups and for lacking an understanding of how shared public spaces are used.
The user argued that many of the individuals shown in the photos likely work physically demanding jobs under harsh conditions six days a week and should be allowed to enjoy their day off in peace.
The comment questioned the intent behind highlighting a particular photo, suggesting it was unnecessary and unfair.
Another regular park visitor, who said they had lived next to East Coast Park for 15 years, noted that such scenes were not unusual.
According to the Redditor, during long weekends, it is common to see rubbish piled up next to inadequate bins in the early morning, before the regular cleanup takes place.
The user pointed out that the litter was not being blown around the beach or grass, and that it would typically be cleared later in the day.
The comment felt that the original post unfairly portrayed foreign workers, who were simply enjoying their day off, as turning the park into a “shanty town”.
Calls for Better Waste Management
Some comments directed their frustration at government agencies, particularly the National Parks Board (NParks) and the National Environment Agency (NEA), questioning whether sufficient measures were in place to manage waste and crowds during peak periods such as long weekends.
One comment remarked that NParks could easily generate revenue from fines by conducting enforcement raids during busy weekends. “NParks really jiak liao bee,” the user said.
Others suggested that the bins in frequently used areas were too small to handle the volume of rubbish generated during public holidays and should be resized accordingly.
Another comment pointed out that 12 May was a public holiday, and many people had camped overnight.
The user argued that since the rubbish was placed neatly around full bins, the blame lay with NEA for not deploying workers on overtime shifts to manage the increased waste load.
Several users echoed this view, citing a lack of planning and inadequate infrastructure as contributing factors.
Some acknowledged that larger crowds were expected over a long weekend but felt that the situation still reflected poor planning.
They criticised NParks for failing to maintain cleanliness at the park, questioning why no additional cleaners had been deployed to cope with the surge in visitors during the public holiday period.
Concerns Over Racial Targeting and Broader Cleanliness Efforts
One Redditor questioned the potential bias in the original poster’s photos, noting that East Coast Park is always crowded during long weekends and that the pictures were likely taken before the routine cleanup of the beach and rubbish bins.
The user pointed out that the photos appeared to focus only on Indian and Bangladeshi park-goers, even though people of other ethnicities, including Chinese and Malay, were also present.
The comment added that such selective imagery could reinforce harmful stereotypes, especially when others in the discussion were already making racially charged remarks.
Rather than singling out specific groups or posting selectively framed photos, the comment urged the original poster to take a more constructive approach.
“If you want to do something constructive, maybe help with cleanup or write to the relevant authorities to ask them to place more trash cans at ECP—at least during public holidays—and have more public education for both locals and foreigners about our rules against littering, or impose stricter penalties.”
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