Basketball Players at Bukit Batok Fail To Slam Dunk Their Junk

CHLOE WONG delveS into the issue of excessive littering at Bukit Batok’s basketball courts.

The lights go out at the basketball court at 9:30pm, as basketball players start packing up to leave. They remember to pick up their bags, but forget to bring along their trash from used plastic bottles and food packaging.

This is a typical scene one would come across at Bukit Batok’s basketball courts every night, with basketball players leaving rubbish behind after their daily sessions.

Plastic bottles, food packaging and tissue papers left behind at the basketball court at Bukit Batok West Avenue 2. PHOTO BY: CHLOE WONG

Residents of the estate have expressed their concerns about the constant littering at these courts, as it is an ongoing issue that has yet to be resolved.

“It's an inconsiderate behaviour, the person[s] need to take [the] responsibility to clean up,” says Ms Jerlyn Tan Ting Ting, 38, a resident in Bukit Batok who comes across litter at the basketball courts every other day.

Similar occurrences have been sighted in Bishan, leading concerned residents to express their displeasure on social media platforms.

Netizens claimed that this is a usual affair which inconveniences other residents who use the courts for activities. PHOTO BY: CHLOE WONG

Basketball players themselves have also witnessed litter being left behind whenever they play at these areas, often consisting of cigarettes and plastic bottles.

“They might be too tired to throw, or maybe it's late at night and they wanna rush home,” says Mr Kieron Lim, 18, who plays basketball at Bukit Batok’s courts daily.

According to the National Environment Agency website, a littering offence carries a fine of up to “$10,000 for third and subsequent convictions”. An article on The Straits Times also reported that in 2018, Singapore saw an increase in the number of fines issued for littering, with a staggering 39,000 fines issued.

Although it may seem like a trivial act of leaving rubbish behind, the litter consequently leaves a negative impact on the neighbourhood and its residents.

“There may be a possibility of water collection when it rains and it can be a potential breeding site for mosquitoes,” says Ms Tan. “Furthermore, rubbish will also attract other pests like cockroaches and ants.”

Litter left at the basketball courts overnight has adverse effects on the overall cleanliness of the environment. PHOTO BY: CHLOE WONG

Elderly cleaners assigned to these areas are also affected by an added responsibility to clean up the accumulated trash.

“I usually take about 15 minutes to clear all the litter. On days where there is more litter, it can go up to more than 20 minutes,” says Mdm Lim Siew Kok, 56, a cleaner who clears the litter at Bukit Batok’s basketball courts almost everyday. “After I pick up the trash one by one and throw them away, I still have to sweep the floor and make sure the whole basketball court is clean.”

The littering at these courts has become so frequent that cleaners like Mdm Lim have become accustomed to cleaning up the trash regularly.

“I feel disappointed, but I’m no longer surprised. It’s like a never-ending cycle, and it’s become a part of my daily routine to clean up after the basketball players every morning,” she says in Mandarin.

Mr Ng Wee Teck, a property manager for the estate, shared that the “Town Council cleaners clean the sporting facilities once a day”.

“Responsibility for cleanliness cannot fall on cleaners alone. I see them everyday and I know they are doing their best,” says Mr Ng. PHOTO BY: NG WEE TECK

In order to tackle this issue, basketball players’ attitudes towards littering have to first be addressed. “I think it's more of a peer influence, therefore we should slowly spread the word and let teammates and other [basket]ballers encourage their friends,” says Mr Lim. Cleaners in the neighbourhood also hope to see a change in these basketball players’ behaviour, as it would take a load off their shoulders. “I think if the teenagers who play basketball at the courts took the effort to throw their rubbish away, it would make my job a lot easier,” says Mdm Lim. “I know it’s my duty to clean up, but if everyone does their share of clearing their own trash, it wouldn’t be so tough for me everyday.” As such, the consensus is that the best form of deterrence against this act would be for the basketball players to be collectively proactive in clearing their own trash. “​​In my opinion, responsibility arising from littering at basketball courts must lie with the litterers who should know that their behaviour is wrong,” says Mr Ng.