I FIND it puzzling that the policy of clearing food trays is not implemented in institutions of higher learning. As centres to impart knowledge and values, aren't they the very places to teach such habits? Unlike in commercial places like foodcourts, where most patrons feel they are paying someone else to clear their tray, students should realise their food is heavily subsidised, so returning their tray is not too much to ask.

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if one doesn't want to, what can you do? fine 'em? cane 'em? put 'em behind bars?

good habits must be encouraged. as the writer has correctly pointed out, the students should be imbibed social responsibilities. perhaps a national campaign on this is quite not out of place.

I was in a crowded food court years ago. Hovering near an occupied table, as one does. When the middle class-looking family of 4 (with 2 smallish children) got up and was just about to leave. I asked them, 'Aren't you going to put back your trays?' The father brazenly said 'No.' and led his family away! To those 2 kids, who must be teenagers now, I hope you have had a better upbringing than what your father was capable of.

Glad to report that I cleared my tray after that meal. I always do so, just as I always flush the toilet after I use it (pardon the analogy).

Where is Mrs Lim Hwee Hua? Please write a letter to the ST to tell the editorial to stop being so self-righteous. Ask the foodcourt operators to pull their act together first. Have proper planning, "zoning", work process for the cleaners, before all these rhetorics. In an airconditioned, managed foodcourt, the price of my food includes service charge for the ambience and cleaning service. I will clean up my table and stack my used crockery neatly as I have always been doing, but not until there are proper tray returning stations, I will not return my trays.

And people, stop being parrots, don't echo everything the gahmen says.

Not only schools. Religious institutions can also get into the act. Mosques, churches, temples and so on can perhaps be a bit more socially tuned-in. I can only speak for certain churches, but it seems to me many are so insular. It's all about one's faith, one's church, one's religious obligations and - for some churches - contribution of money-money-money. The Roman Catholics are better in this respect. In addition to the religious aspect, there is a social element in their faith of serving the larger community.

In Sunday School, e.g., children can be taught 'How to be a Better Human Being' in addition to 'How to be a Better Christian'.

Ditto for other religions.

EVERYONE. U must not support ownself clearing of tray! It is not a civic issue but cleaners job issue :

1. If everyone return, cleaner has no job eventually. Structurally unemployed - ie got the skill, no demand for the job ; Faciful explanation like relocation of job for the cleaners is a nice song.

2. Current food price includes cleaners service. If customer ownself return tray, the price of food WILL NOT be decreased. Wat for u return the tray for ppl ? Sin-ppl must start calculating P & L ;

3. Why are u so sure everyone will clean the tray for u ? Without cleaners, the fore-customer left the tray on the table, u will need to clear the tray yourself when u take over the table. I will never clear my tray one...

Rmb -> no-backbone-singaporeans: if u are forced to return trays and u do likewise, many outlets will abolish cleaning service. In the end, singaporean ownself suffers.

The clearing of trays is just a cultural issue. In some parts of the West, most people clear their trays after eating at McDonald's. In Singapore, we believe that clearing of trays is a service that should be provided by the fast food restaurant. This belief stems from the fact that we have never been expected to clear our plates and bowls after eating at Chinese restaurants or food courts.

Maybe as part of imparting of values, we should implement a policy which requires all customers to wash their plates and sweep the floor. These are good habits too.

Was the F1 venue in a mess during the past 3 nights with littering and spitting by spoilt brats and social misfits for the cleaners to pick up after them?

Organisers, please debrief on this too.