Smart Pneumatic Waste Conveyance System (PWCS)

[Cecil Lee]

Case Study 1A: Smart Pneumatic Waste Conveyance System (PWCS) for efficient, cleaner, and hassle-free waste disposal through optimized resource management.

1. In my opinion, Hong Leong/CDL appears to be an early adopter of the Pneumatic Waste Collection System (PWCS) in many of their new developments.

1.1. For the HDB BTO November 2020 launch, projects such as Champion Bliss, Urbanville, Tampines GreenCrest, Tampines GreenGlade, Tampines GreenOpal, and Parc Residences all feature this “SMART” PWCS.

1.2. Hopefully, the use of “SMART” means there are improvements compared to earlier versions of the PWCS.

1.3. In fact, PWCS units—though perhaps not as advanced—will also be installed at Forett condo, HDB Plantation Village (Nov 2019), Tampines GreenWave, and Tampines GreenGem.

2. For example, when The Venue (a CDL project) had just achieved T.O.P.:

3. This signage was displayed at the common bin area and listed twelve cautionary reminders about what not to do.

4. The sign included many warnings and a long list of “don’ts.”

5. A while back at The Criterion by CDL, a similar notice or user guide was displayed at the common bin area.

6. Hopefully, residents will take these warnings seriously and avoid the listed actions.

7. If managed well, there can be savings in maintenance costs, which also benefits the daily cleaners.

8. Currently, not all developers have adopted this system. With the manual approach, there are occasional issues, but they tend to be less frequent.

Case Study 1B: Challenges faced by residents of HDB Yuhua BTO, which was also equipped with the Pneumatic Waste Collection System (PWCS).

9. As expected, it only takes one or two inconsiderate residents to disrupt the entire system.

10. Imagine having to tolerate this situation for over four years.

11. Residents have reported:

12. Persistent odours

13. A foul smell coming from the centralised bin centre at Blk 223A, Jurong East Street 21, has remained a constant problem in Yuhua ever since the PWCS was introduced.

14. According to a recent report in the Chinese evening newspaper Lianhe Wanbao, residents have endured this unpleasant environment for the past four years.

15. Some residents have also reported that bulky items, such as large soft toys, cardboard, and mattresses, are being disposed of improperly, causing blockages in the pipe network. Cleaners must then manually remove these items from the PWCS.

16. The success of the PWCS depends largely on how residents use it.

17. For estates like this, there is no alternative system.

18. On 30 July 2022 at Alkaff Lakeview:

Can happen anywhere from high end condos, ECs and HDBs.

[Cecil Lee]

Extract: Reflections at Keppel Bay

20 June 2020 

This is to update you that the specialist has manually removed the pile-up rubbish at the discharge valves (dv) including all blockages caused by the discharge of non-permitted items.

Hi-jetting was also carried out to remove the sludges and blockages along the main conveyance pipes during the recovery process.  The presence of the non-permitted items i.e. wood, umbrella, carton box, etc. and the presence of sludge in the system had made the recovery a challenging one. Appended overleaf please find some pictures of the non-permitted items found during the recovery process.

We advise all residents to refrain from throwing non-permitted items into the system as any resultant system failure will entail much inconvenience to the residents as one will experience smells and flies emanating from the choke refuse during the recovery process.

The system would have to be shut down indefinitely until it is restored. The recovery timeline would depend on the severity of such chokages. Unfortunately, the system is still experiencing loss of air as a result of another severe blockage found between B1 and B2 conveyance pipeline. An iron and umbrella frame were found amongst the blockages. The specialist is still in the midst of working on it.

You will be updated once the system is restored. MCST would at the same time like to offer a reward of S$200/- to anyone or a group of person who could witness such occurrence of anyone misusing the system and disposing non-permitted items and provide evidence that lead to an arrest and/or prosecution.

You will be updated once the system is restored MCST would at the same time like to offer a reward of S$200/- to anyone or a group of person who could witness such occurrence of anyone misusing the system and disposing non-permitted items and provide evidence that lead to an arrest and/or prosecution.

Witnesses are advised to raise the alarm to our security officer on-duty at the security post as a police report will be lodged immediately to facilitate the MCST to seek recourse from the culprit.

The Management
Reflections at Keppel Bay

 

[Cecil Lee]

Another notice. This time at The Tembusu

1. Do not throw newspapers or any large chunk of paper or paper cartons as they will be entangled in the pneumatic chute. Likewise for cloths or clothing, which are soft and easily entangled.
2. Heavy object like electrical appliances are too heavy, the suction is not strong to carry the items all the way to the bin centre.
3. Liquids are prohibited, they will affect the pneumatic system.
4. Used Pizza boxes should be cut to size.
5. Please bag your trash and keep the trash bag size to less than 25cm.

[Cecil Lee]

From around 1985 to the 1990s, it was common for bin centres to be located in the middle of some car parks

Another location is Yishun, where it is also common to find the Electrical Sub Station situated next to the bin centre.

The Electrical Substation:-

[Cecil Lee]

Foul smell woes over new waste collection system in Bidadari... 

Source and Credit:

:

[Cecil Lee]

1940’s Back wall rubbish chute of a house or shop.

A normal adult cannot climb through.

Source and Credit:

[Cecil Lee]

MIDWOOD CONDO

PNUEMATIC WASTE CONVEYANCE SYSTEM (P.W.C.S.)  AT MIDWOOD CONDO
WITH A WARNING NOTICE OF DAILY PNUEMATIC OPERATING SCHEDULE

MEANS: DON'T OPEN ME AT THE WRONG TIMING!

YOU ARE STRONGLY ADVISED TO AVOID USE AT THE ABOVE TIMINGS

Midwood Resource:

 

[Cecil Lee]

Teck Ghee Heartlands PWCS

 

[Cecil Lee]

PWCS utility covers at HDB Woodleigh Hillside

These covers are as large as telecom utility covers. However, they are squarish in shape and seem to be secured with eight nuts.