12 coffee shops tap NEA grants to renovate toilets, start deep-cleaning works

Bright lights illuminated the newly renovated toilet of Rong Fa Coffee Shop, the glare reflecting off smooth wall tiles installed for easier maintenance.

- Letitia Chen

Cleaners (in red), supervised by a trainer (in blue) from Ascendo Academy, cleaning the newly renovated toilet at Rong Fa Coffee Shop on May 15. In-house toilet cleaners must undergo training in cleaning practices as a condition of the Coffeeshop Toilet Renovation Grant.

(ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG)

The toilets at the coffee shop in Clementi underwent a facelift in February, with anti-slip tiles and a new trough sink with sensor taps.

Coffee shop patrons told The Straits Times that they were pleased to see the changes to the toilet, which was cleaner and less slippery.

‘‘Even if I dine at the other coffee shops, I will use the toilet here instead,” said diner Desmond Tan, 51, who patronises the coffee shop almost daily. “It feels very bright and clean now compared with before. It’s more hygienic.”

Rong Fa Coffee Shop is one of 12 coffee shops that have completed toilet renovations or started toilet deep-cleaning works, tapping grants from the National Environment Agency (NEA) to improve the cleanliness of the toilets at their premises.

Other coffee shops include Coffee Sense at Ang Mo Kio, with more expected to follow.