With Earth Hour coming up on 26 March, let’s take a look at how we can be kinder to Mother Earth (and our pockets) at the same time.
The National Environment Agency (NEA) has tips aplenty on how households can save cost and electricity. (Pssst, the link is useful for the quiz!)
Did you know using curtains, blinds or solar-film coated windows can help to block unwanted heat from the sun, especially for east- and west-facing windows, and help you save electricity from having to cool the room down?
Positioning your TV or computer screens perpendicular to your window helps to reduce glare and minimises the need to increase screen brightness, cutting power usage.
Take Quiz & Win Prize
Take the power-saving quiz below to check your knowledge on reducing power consumption.
Stand a chance to win a HP Hyper X Cloud Stinger S – Gaming Headset worth $99 when you submit your answers with 1 photo and caption to show us how you conserve electricity at home.
The top 3 entries with the correct answers and most creative suggestions to save electricity, win!
Email corpcomms@ccktc.org.sg by 27 March 22.
Quiz
Q1: Filament light bulbs look better & use less power than LED bulbs.
A: True B: False
Q2: Use a fan instead of aircon as 1 aircon = __ fans.
A: 1 B: 11 C: 111
Q3: Set washing machine to wash clothes in __ water.
A: hot B: room temperature
See Terms & Conditions here.
Do you know the variety of recycling collection points near you?
Alba e-waste bins
Alba e-waste bins are available in CCK Town for residents to deposit their information and communication technology (ICT) equipment (such as printers, computers, laptops, mobile phones, tablets, network equipment, set-top boxes, and desktop monitors), light bulbs and portable batteries for recycling. Residents can earn points that can be redeemed for shopping vouchers when they recycle their e-waste at these bins.
Click here for the types of e-waste each bin can accept.
Locations:
- Keat Hong Community Club
- Sunshine Place
- Teck Whye Shopping Centre
- Hillview Community Club
- Hong Kah North Community Club
- Block 816B Keat Hong Link
- ITE College West
- Lot One Mall
Cash-for-Trash
Cash-for-Trash is an incentive programme by Public Waste Collectors, where residents may bring their recyclables to the Cash-for-Trash stations and cash is given in exchange for recyclables.
Please note that all Cash-for-Trash stations are currently suspended due to the enhanced COVID-19 measures implemented.
Click here for more information on Cash-for-Trash.
Locations:
- Block 323 Bukit Batok Street 33
- Block 448C Bukit Batok West Ave 9
- Block 35 Teck Whye Avenue
- Block 414 Choa Chu Kang Ave 4
- Block 469 Choa Chu Kang Ave 3
- Block 807B Choa Chu Kang Ave 1
- Block 218 Choa Chu Kang Central
- Block 15 Teck Whye Lane
Paper Recycling Machines
SGRecycle is a social recycling initiative by SGPaperRecycle Pte Ltd where a network of more than 100 SGRecycle stations are deployed around Singapore islandwide to collect waste paper (aluminum cans, plastic PET bottles and fabrics coming soon) and in return for incentives/reward points.
Click here to learn more about the incentives/reward points.
Locations:
- Block 440 Bukit Batok West Ave 8
- Block 251 Choa Chu Kang Avenue 2
- Block 223 Choa Chu Kang Central
- Block 818 Choa Chu Kang Ave 1
Reverse Vending Machines
Reverse Vending Machines (RVMs) are machines which are able to identify, sort and collect empty plastic drink bottles and aluminium drink cans and reward users when the containers have been accepted by the machines.
Click here to learn more about the machines.
Locations:
- Bukit Gombak ActiveSG Sport Centre
- Lot One Mall
- Hong Kah North Community Club
Old Shoes Collection
Give your used sports shoes a second life! Be part of the nationwide effort to recycle used sports shoes into materials that could be used for jogging tracks, fitness corners and playgrounds.
Click here for more information on the project.
Location:
- Bukit Gombak ActiveSG Sport Centre
- Choa Chu Kang ActiveSG Sport Centre
The youths’ ‘loot’ of recyclables — after a hard day of going door-to-door collecting e-waste & old clothes from seniors living in Teck Whye.
Passionate about promoting a green lifestyle among Singaporeans, four youths rallied their like-minded peers to perform door-to-door electronic waste (e-waste) and textiles collection in CCK estate before Chinese New Year (CNY).
Lim Jin Pin, 20, Yesenia Lim, 20, Vienna Anong, 18, and Letitia Chen, 18, were behind the collection drive for 8 apartment blocks in Teck Whye where many seniors live.
The three full-time students and one National Serviceman recruited another 20 youths to join them in collecting e-waste and old clothes from the seniors for recycling.
Yesenia had learnt about the residents needing more help in recycling while preparing a food distribution programme for vulnerable households in the Teck Whye area last June. So when Jin Pin broached the idea of an e-waste collection drive, Yesenia suggested to do so in Teck Whye and to twin it with collection of unwanted old clothes too.
Doing Something Meaningful with Their Time
Jin Pin, who has always been into green initiatives, said: “The spark that got the ball rolling was the realisation that while many people know about recycling plastic bottles, cans, glass and paper, seniors especially may not be aware that e-waste may also be recycled.
“This means that much of the valuable recyclable metals found in electronics are being thrown and wasted. So we decided to come up with this special recycling drive targeted to help our seniors.”
Took Two Months to Get the Project Going
Do you recall seeing this advertisement about the collection drive?
The quartet said they took about two months to plan and organise the collection drive, bearing in mind wet weather plans and safe distancing measures.
In early January this year, they went door-to-door giving out pamphlets informing residents at the 8 blocks in Teck Whye that they would be returning two weeks later to collect e-waste and textiles for recycling. The CCK Town Council also helped publicise the collection on the lift panels of the 8 blocks and arranged for special collection bins.
Jin Pin said since majority of the residents were not home when they visited and they left the pamphlets under their doors, he wasn’t sure what the response would be.
Residents’ Response Overwhelming
The youths went door-to-door collecting e-waste and old textiles.
So when the 24 youths split into two teams for the door-to-door collection from the 8 blocks around Teck Whye’s Blocks 8 and 120 on 23 January, they were gratified at how much they managed to collect.
More than 138kg of e-waste was amassed and close to over 30 bags of old clothes. The most common e-waste was old monitors and TV screens.
Jin Pin said: “It was great that we managed to also take the chance to educate the mostly senior citizens in the estate about e-waste. And many asked us if we were planning to run this drive again.”
With the residents’ positive response to the recycling drive, the green champions decided they would return again next year around the same time to mount another collection.
Active Youths Bring Positive Change
The Teck Whye green drive was organised by YOUthnited (an informal youth volunteer group) with support from CCK Town Council. The town council arranged for recycling company ALBA to provide two e-waste recycling bins on the day of the drive.
Youthnited Founder, Yesenia, said she used to volunteer extensively with another informal youth volunteer group in the East. As a Westie, she thought it would be good to start something similar in the West, and YOUthnited was born in 2021.
She hopes to galvanise more youths to take the initiative to plan their own volunteer projects and make sustainable, positive change to society.
As you entertain your family and friends this Chinese New Year (CNY), do your bit for the environment too by recycling the cans or bottles of drinks served.
Deposit your plastic drink bottles or aluminum drink cans at these Reverse Vending Machines (RVMs) (pictured left) and earn rewards.
For every 10 drink containers successfully deposited, you can choose to get:
- 10 CapitaStar dollars
- ActiveSG $0.50
- 5 Sentosa Fun Pass Tokens
- 30 minutes free ride on Anywheel shared bikes
Since this Recycle N Save initiative was launched in October 2019 by F&N Foods, with support from the National Environment Agency (NEA), about 9 million drink containers have been collected through 50 RVMs deployed island-wide.
In January 2022, F&N and NEA announced they are embarking on the next phase of the drive by redeploying the RVMs to more schools and also to new locations such as business parks, office buildings and mixed developments in a bid to widen the programme’s reach.
There are also plans to upcycle the cans and bottles collected into 3D-printed artworks such as everyday objects like benches and planters.
In CCK Town, the RVMs can be found at:
- Lot One Shoppers’ Mall
- Bukit Gombak Sports Centre
- Hong Kah North Community Centre
Have questions about the initiative? You can get them answered here.
This year, make your CNY a more eco-conscious celebration!
Presiding over the festivities at Bukit Gombak Neighbourhood Centre is the God of Fortune.
Get ready to welcome the Year of Water Tiger. The tiger zodiac sign is known for its power, courage and ability to do everything on a grand scale.
At Bukit Gombak Neighbourhood Centre, the God of Fortune is ever ready to shower upon residents, shoppers and visitors lots of abundance and wealth.
The 12 Chinese zodiac animals are also out in full force, ready to meet everyone.
The Chinese New Year (CNY) Light-Up at Bukit Gombak organised by the Bukit Gombak Traders’ Association is on till 15 February 2022.
Over in Keat Hong, festive lights decking Blocks 449 to 464 get residents into the CNY mood and all primed up to usher in the New Year.
May the Year of Water Tiger bring vitality, strength and health to all CCK residents!
Fireworks, usually set off in the heart of the city centre on New Year’s Eve, has been brought to the heartlands for the second consecutive year. It was the crowd favourite for the Chua Chu Kang (CCK) Town Council’s First View of 2022 from Your Window Instagram contest.
The three winners, coincidentally all from CCK estate, submitted their first views of the New Year from their respective vantage points. They took home a $50 NTUC FairPrice shopping voucher each for their beautiful shots.
Early Bird Catches the Worm
Bryan (@_bryangraphy) won with 482 likes for his photo (above).
An avid photographer, Bryan Goh who bagged a prize with his dazzling photo of the CCK fireworks, had also won in the recent year-end CCK Town’s Snap & Win Photo Contest. Bryan’s shot of the serene Kranji Dam at sunrise which snared the second prize is featured in the CCK Town 2022 calendar.
Bryan’s submission of a serene Kranji Dam at sunrise (above) is photo of the month for September in CCK Town 2022 calendar.
The 44-year-old real estate agent loves taking photos of fireworks, and had been making annual trips down to Marina Bay for the New Year Eve’s fireworks in previous years. Even though the Covid-19 pandemic resulted in the city centre fireworks being canned, Bryan said, the silver lining was that the fireworks instead came to the heartlands.
“Though the heartlands fireworks may not be as grand as the ones in the city centre, it is a nice change of scenery and makes for interesting shooting because not many people have taken photos of heartlands fireworks,” he said.
As it rained the whole night of New Year’s Eve till around 10pm, he wasn’t sure if he would be able to get a good photograph. But he still set up his tripod and DSLR camera and hoped for the best. His perseverance paid off and he scored the most likes with his shot of the fireworks rising above the HDB flats in the town.
Lucky Win
With this snap of the fireworks from the comfort of her home, Sit Mei Qi (@mickey_mickey_qi) wishes her fellow residents peace and joy for the New Year.
Since resident Sit Mei Qi had decided to catch the heartlands fireworks from her doorstep, she thought she’d just give the contest a try.
“I wasn’t expecting to win but thought it’ll be fun to share my photographs with fellow CCK Town residents,” the accounts assistant said.
The 25-year-old has been a resident in the town for three years. If not for the pandemic, she would usually be visiting family and friends in Malaysia in December.
This year, with the vaccinated travel lane opening, she went home for a visit at the start of December, and was back in Singapore to celebrate New Year’s Eve.
“In a way, the pandemic has turned out to be a blessing because I don’t have to brave the crowds to catch the fireworks in the city centre, but can watch it from the comfort of my home,” she said, adding that winning the IG contest was a welcomed bonus.
No Place Like Home
After missing last year’s fireworks, Sharon Ong (@chi.buting) realised there is no better place than home to catch a glimpse of it.
The final winner Sharon Ong said that in 2020, she had gone to a nearby park to catch the CCK fireworks, but wasn’t able to see it. When she got home, her mother-in-law told her that the fireworks were actually visible from the comfort of Sharon’s home.
So this time last year, instead of heading out to hunt for it, the 32-year-old assistant accountant and her husband just watched the fireworks display from their living room.
And since she had taken a photo of the fireworks, she thought she’d just “try her luck” by submitting her photo when she saw the ad for the contest a few days later. Unexpectedly, she won.
“I do pay attention to the Town Council’s notices displayed in the digital lift panels, and have taken part in some contests and surveys. I find such activities that engage residents interesting and easy to take part in, especially when it is something as simple as the click of a few buttons on a survey or snapping a photo,” said Sharon.
Congratulations to our three winners, and thank you to all the other residents for taking part! Do watch out for other residents’ engagements coming your way in 2022.
Loving the beautiful photos showing off the nature and serenity of our Town in CCK Town Council’s 2022 calendar?
More than 1,400 beautiful photos were received during the call for submissions, which CCK Town Council Chairman Ms Low Yen Ling said was “greatly heartening”.
“The impressive quality of the photographs submitted, coupled with the volume of entries — which was 5 times more than last year — made the job of judging extra challenging!” said Ms Low.
Despite the daunting task of judging, she added: “It was a joy to see our residents’ love for CCK Town shine through the many entries, which presented every-day scenery in a different light and through their eyes.”
Here are the top 3 winners of the contest:
1st Prize goes to Hong Kah North’s Yong Kuo Hoong for his photo of sunrise over Sungei Buloh’s Eagle Point, which is the feature photo for the month of June.
His prize, worth $528 and more, comprises $300 NTUC FairPrice shopping vouchers, exclusive CCK Town NETS FlashPay cards worth $80 and a one-year license for Microsoft 365 Family software worth $148. He also receives a HP printer.
Kuo Hoong also bagged the top prize with his shot of a tranquil sunrise over Kranji Dam last year.
2nd Prize is won by Chua Chu Kang estate’s Bryan Goh with his take of a serene and mysterious Kranji Reservoir, anchoring the month of September.
Bryan’s haul is worth $408 and more, comprising $200 NTUC FairPrice shopping vouchers, exclusive CCK Town NETS FlashPay cards worth $60, and a one-year licence for Microsoft 365 Family licence worth $148. He also receives a HP printer.
3rd Prize goes to Bukit Gombak’s Clement Lee for his shot of residents gearing up for their morning exercise at Bukit Gombak Stadium, anchoring the month of August in the calendar.
He walks away with $268 worth of prizes and more, comprising $100 worth of NTUC FairPrice shopping vouchers and exclusive CCK Town NETS FlashPay cards worth $40. He also receives a HP printer.
The remaining 9 winners each receive $50 NTUC FairPrice shopping vouchers. They are:
Chua Chu Kang estate’s Guo Shun’s photo of the playground at Choa Chu Kang Park kicks off the calendar in January.
Bukit Gombak’s Gina Ng Zhi Ting’s shot of the Rail Corridor graces the month of February.
In March, the calendar is anchored by Bukit Gombak’s Grace Zheng Yi Jie’s photograph of Bukit Batok Hillside Park.
The month of April is framed by fluffy white clouds over the iconic trees at Goodview Gardens taken by Bukit Gombak’s Lim Chiat Cheong.
Bukit Gombak Park graces the calendar in May – photographed by friend of CCK, Ong Yi Chao, who admires the town’s natural beauty.
Graceful lalangs against Brickland’s Keat Hong Colours estate in the backdrop is Chua Chu Kang estate’s Carlo G. Palma’s contribution for July.
Bukit Gombak’s Alwin Saji’s photo of Little Guilin seemingly awash in autumnal colours aptly features in October.
Magical sunlight through the foliage in Bukit Batok Nature Park is Bukit Gombak’s Teo Lee Kiang’s contribution for November.
Bukit Gombak’s Myron Tay’s majestic shot of a bird of prey closes the year in December.
Find out more about what inspired our top 3 winners in our feature story coming up in February.
View the digital version of CCK Town Council’s 2022 calendar here.
Getting a haircut or manicure at Keat Hong Shopping Centre? Or maybe you’d like to indulge in some durian from your favourite fruit seller at Bukit Gombak Shopping Centre?
You can do all these and more with your $100 CDC digital vouchers. More than 300 outlets in CCK Town accept these vouchers (as at mid-Dec 2021). Check here for the full list or just find the outlets nearest you by going to the latest CDC Vouchers Merchants Go Where (https://www.gowhere.gov.sg/cdcvouchersmerchants) page.
From mini-marts, to hawker centers and traditional Chinese medicine shops, there’s a wide range of heartland shops you can patronise and support with your CDC vouchers. Just look out for participating heartland shops and hawkers that display this decal (pictured).
Claim and spend your vouchers by next year, 31 December 2022.
How to Claim Your e-Vouchers
Part of a $900 million Household Support Package announced earlier at this year’s Budget, the CDC vouchers are given to thank Singaporeans for their solidarity during the Covid-19 pandemic and to support hawkers and heartland merchants.
Up to 1.3 million Singaporean households are benefitting from this nationwide scheme.
Only 1 person per household needs to login using Singpass to claim the $100 digital vouchers here, before sharing it with household members.
The vouchers come in denominations of $2, $5 and $10, and are accepted at over 11,000 participating hawkers and heartland merchants islandwide.
Residents who do not own a smartphone or need extra help in claiming their vouchers can seek assistance at community centres or clubs. Where needed, hardcopy vouchers may be printed out.
Claim and spend your CDC vouchers, and support our heartland merchants and hawkers!
We’ve made it through two challenging years with Covid-19. Let’s welcome 2022 with a fresh outlook.
Capture the first view from your window on New Year’s Day. Whether it’s the New Year’s Eve countdown and fireworks display over CCK Town, the first sunrise over your estate or the sight of a merrily-chirping bird – share with us your picturesque first views!
Caption the photo with your hopes and wishes for CCK Town. Share it on Instagram and tag us at #MyCCKHome.
The top 3 posts with the most likes will win FairPrice shopping vouchers worth $50 each.
Send your entries by 2359 hours 6th January 2022.
CCK Town Council wishes all CCK Town residents a very Happy & Healthy New Year!
See Terms & Conditions here.
Ready to welcome 2022? Get ready to mark your dates in the CCK Town Council’s 2022 Calendar!
A showcase of residents’ love for CCK Town, our 2022 calendar will reveal interesting nuggets about your fellow residents’ and MPs memories and connection to the town.
Latifah Hasan who has lived in Keat Hong for over 20 years said the Keat Hong Community Club (CC) is like her second home.
“(The CC is) where my ‘Aunty Kakis’ (friends) and I would often hang out and makan (eat). From durian-tasting, bowling and dancing sessions, to National Day and countdown to New Year celebrations and catching the World Cup live – some of my fondest memories are of the time spent with my family and friends at the CC,” she said.
Did you also know that MP Don Wee and Keat Hong resident Joon Barua and his family have something in common? What might it be?
MP Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim also has some interesting connection to our town that he will share in the calendar.
All these and more will be unveiled soon. Look out for your copy coming your way.
Stumped for ideas on how to spend the December school holidays? Why not take a refreshing green holiday right in CCK Town?
Here are some suggestions for an eco-December.
1) Check Out all the Park Connectors in Town
Stroll, jog, roller blade, skate or cycle your way through the various Park Connectors that run through CCK Town. Get some fresh air and exercise while reducing your carbon footprint by using an eco-friendly way to get around.
The 5.4km Choa Chu Kang Park Connector linking Choa Chu Kang Park to Bukit Batok Town Park is the longest. It has a particularly scenic 1km stretch along Brickland Road which will delight nature lovers with the sight and smell of lush greenery and bright, colourful flowering plants that bloom all year round.
Fitness enthusiasts can jog or cycle along the 2.05km Hillview Park Connector connecting Bukit Batok Nature Park to Dairy Farm Nature Reserve. Drop by the Rail Mall for a breather and some snacks and drinks before you continue further.
Those who are more adventurous can even attempt the 150km Round Island Route. More details on the Park Connector Network can be found on the Nparks website.
2) Learn More about Sustainability & Be an Eco-Warrior
Have you visited the revamped CCK Public Library with its indoor garden, hydroponics room and new digital learning tools?
Themed around (Re)connect with Nature, visitors can learn about urban farming and take part in various other activities. Visitors can see plants growing in the hydroponics showcase and embark on an augmented reality trail to learn about the wildlife and natural landscapes in Singapore.
Designed with sustainability in mind, the library is fitted with lower shelves to allow more natural light to enter, and many of the new fittings, such as the tiles and carpet, were made from partially recycled materials.
Participate as an individual or as a family and show off your eco-living chops in National Library Board’s Eco-Warrior Competition.
Look out for The Great Make-Over Project CapitaLand Hope Foundation which will be seeking your ideas and solutions to reimagine and reinvent spaces for sustainable living.
3) Upcycle Household Waste into Useful Items
Upcycle your household “waste” such as glass bottles, plastic files and paper into nifty gift bags, pretty lamps and useful mask holders.
Check out these videos for a host of useful gifts and items that you can make by reusing these items. Do it as a family and enjoy the bonding time which will not only save you some money but make you an eco-warrior too!
For waste that you cannot upcycle, why not recycle them? Don’t forget that CCK Town has 19 and more than 740 blue recycling bins conveniently spread out across the town. Plus Cash for Trash and Recycle N Save stations too!
If you have more ideas and suggestions on how CCK Town residents can spend an eco-December, do email us at corpcomms@ccktc.org.sg
Have a green December and happy holidays!
