Singapore has launched a nationwide Beverage Container Return Scheme (BCRS), deploying 1,070 Return Right machines across the island as of March 18. Residents can now locate machines via returnright.sg, with over 90% of HDB households within a five-minute walk of a return point.
Consumers will pay a S$0.10 refundable deposit on eligible plastic bottles and metal cans between 150ml and 3L. Refunds are credited to EZ-Link cards, concession cards, or DBS PayLah! wallets.
Machines will be installed in 430 supermarkets, 610 Town Council areas, 17 hawker centres, higher education campuses, and industrial hubs. All hawker centres will have access to a machine within months. The network is expected to double to 2,000 units within a year.
Consumers must ensure containers bear the BCRS Deposit Mark to claim refunds. Three operators - RVM Systems, SG Recycle, and TOMRA - manage the full deployment and maintenance.
To support small producers, BCRS Ltd offers a S$2,500 transition grant and a special concession for micro producers supplying under 50,000 units annually. These businesses can use pre-serialised stickers with the Deposit Mark instead of individual product registration. The scheme will phase in over six months to clear unlabeled stock.
Senior Minister of State Janil Puthucheary emphasized adaptive implementation, while BCRS CEO Stephanie Yip described the system as designed to become an invisible, habitual part of daily life.