Come, kakis, take a big sip of your kopi first because the 7th Lunar Month (Hungry Ghost Festival) is officially upon us! The gates of the underworld have swung wide open, and right on cue, our very own National Environment Agency (NEA) has issued their annual “please don’t be a pain in the neck” public service announcement!

Now, we all want to show proper respect and love to our beloved ancestors and the “good brothers” wandering around. But NEA wants to gently remind everybody that while you are caring for the spirit world, you still cannot anyhowly throw rubbish or cause a public nuisance in the human world!

Here is the breakdown on how to stay in the good books of both the spirits and the NEA officers:

1. The Metal Bins Are Not Decorative Sculptures!

NEA explicitly reminded everyone that joss paper must only be burned inside the designated metal bins provided by the Town Council or in proper burners—NOT along your common corridors, staircases, or right outside the lift lobby!

Unless your grand plan is to hot-pot your neighbours or trigger the estate fire alarm at 2:00 AM, keep the fire inside the bin. Living in a high-rise HDB does not mean you should turn the ground floor into a localized volcano.

2. Stop Throwing Joss Paper Like It’s Wedding Confetti!

We get it, throwing a handful of hell bank notes high into the air looks very dramatic, like a K-drama scene or a wedding celebration. But guess what? What goes up must come down, and usually, it lands right on your neighbour’s laundry or your town council cleaner’s headache!

Sincerity is what counts, kakis! Burning smaller amounts neatly inside the bin is more than enough—no need to create a localized haze for your whole estate or leave charred, burnt grass patches all over the void deck.

3. The Ultimate Kicker: Clear Your Food Offerings!

This one is super important! Once your prayers finish and the joss sticks burn down, you must clear your food offerings.

Leaving roast chicken, oranges, or rice sitting on the void deck floor overnight doesn’t just feed the spirits—it summons the ultimate Singaporean nightmare: fat rats, hungry pigeons, army-level cockroaches, and a heavy littering summons from NEA!

If you leave a whole feast on the grass, the spirits might get a few bites, but the local pests will enjoy a 5-star buffet until sunrise. Clear it up, keep the estate clean, and eat the blessed food yourself at home!

⚠️ What Happens If You Don’t Follow? (The Penalty Section)

Think NEA is just playing around? Think again! Under Singapore’s Environmental Public Health Act (EPHA), indiscriminate burning, scattering paper, or leaving food behind isn’t just “bad manners”—it’s legally classified as littering and public nuisance:

• First-Time Offence: A court fine of up to $2,000 (or a $300 composition fine on the spot for minor littering). That’s enough money to buy hell bank notes for the next 50 years!
• Second Conviction: Fine increases up to $4,000.
• Third & Subsequent Convictions: Fine skyrockets up to $10,000!
• Bonus Gift (CWO): You may also be awarded a Corrective Work Order (CWO)—meaning you will get to wear a bright, high-visibility vest and sweep the estate while your neighbours wave at you during their morning jog.

The Bottom Line

So remember, kakis: pray with sincerity, burn inside the bin, and clear your food away when you’re done.

Otherwise, before the ghosts even have time to come and thank you in your dreams, the NEA officer will come and fine you first! Huat ah, stay safe, and enjoy the festival responsibly!

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