If you thought Singapore’s 10-cent beverage container deposit only applied to the usual plastic bottles and metal cans, there is another type of packaging to look out for: sealed drink cups.
The National Environment Agency (NEA) has clarified that First Brew Fresh Soymilk, which is sold in a sealed cup bearing the Beverage Container Return Scheme (BCRS) deposit mark, falls under the scheme.
According to 8world, the clarification came after a Facebook user questioned why the cup of soy milk carried the deposit mark.
Why a Cup of Soy Milk Can Be Covered by BCRS
NEA told 8world that the soy milk is made, packed and sealed before it is supplied to retailers.
Retailers then sell it to customers in that same final packaging.
Because of this, NEA regards the product as a pre-packaged beverage covered by BCRS.
In other words, being sold in a cup does not automatically make a drink a freshly prepared beverage.
Under BCRS, regulated pre-packaged drinks in plastic or metal containers from 150ml to 3 litres are covered by the scheme.
By contrast, freshly prepared drinks are generally excluded. NEA lists examples such as freshly brewed coffee or tea, freshly squeezed juice and bubble tea made and sold at the same premises.
Drinks prepared at a central F&B establishment for sale by the same food business operator can also fall outside the scheme under the specified exemption.
Check for the Deposit Mark During the Transition Period
Singapore’s BCRS started on 1 April 2026 and is currently still in its six-month transition period.
Until 30 September, shoppers may encounter both eligible drinks carrying the BCRS deposit mark and older stock without it.
If an eligible container has the deposit mark, a refundable 10-cent deposit applies.
If there is no deposit mark during this transition period, there is no 10-cent deposit to pay and the container cannot be returned for a BCRS refund.
From 1 October 2026, all regulated beverage products supplied in Singapore must carry the BCRS deposit mark.
So for now, the easiest rule is still to check the packaging instead of judging a drink by whether it comes in a bottle, can or cup.
How to Get the 10 Cents Back
Eligible containers can be returned through Return Right reverse vending machines.
The container has to be empty and should not be crushed or flattened, as the machine needs to read its barcode and deposit information.
Refunds can be received through a physical SimplyGo EZ-Link card or DBS PayLah!.
The 10 cents is a refundable deposit rather than part of the drink’s permanent price, and NEA says the deposit itself is not subject to GST.
