Public Cleanliness Satisfaction Survey 2023

The Singapore Management University undertook the sixth wave of the Public Cleanliness Satisfaction Survey (PCSS) with 2,010 Singapore residents providing responses to the survey from November 2023 to January 2024.Similar to the findings from the 2022 wave of PCSS, the 2023 wave of the PCSS continued to reflect an overall satisfaction with public cleanliness in Singapore. Majority of survey respondents (94%) were satisfied with the cleanliness of public spaces that they had recently visited, which was an increase of 2% from 2022. Satisfaction with the cleanliness of food outlets saw the largest increase (by 3%) among all location types, to 85%. Satisfaction for public events showed the largest decrease (by 6%) from 94% in 2022 to 88% in 2023.Regarding the cleanliness of public toilets in various establishments, 84% of respondents were satisfied, a 3% increase from 2022. Despite a 7% increase from 2022 (from 53%), coffeeshops still had the lowest satisfaction out of all the places, with 60% of respondents indicating that they were satisfied. The satisfaction with the cleanliness of public toilets in hawker centres increased from 63% in 2022 to 70% in 2023.The study also examined public opinion about personal responsibility for public cleanliness. Questions were asked regarding tray return and table cleaning practices at various food outlets, and the maintenance of cleanliness in neighbourhoods. On average, 94% of respondents would return their trays and crockery all the time, a 1% decrease from PCSS 2022. Of the various food establishments, tray and crockery return rates in schools and staff canteens were the lowest (90%). These were largely attributed to the tray and crockery return rack/station was either not within visible sight or unavailable. 95% of respondents were supportive of the new tray and crockery return requirement including enforcement against table littering introduced in 2021, with 95% being aware of it overall. In addition, 80% of respondents felt that individual diners using the tables were primarily responsible for tray return, as compared to 84% in 2022.