Everything About the $0.10 Beverage Container Return Scheme, Which Will Start from 1 April 2026 Instead

It’s been years since I have seen those metal can collectors at hawker centres and along the streets.

But they are about to make a return.

The difference? This time, you will be doing the collection instead.

The National Environment Agency has introduced the $0.10 Beverage Container Return Scheme, whereby a 10-cent refundable deposit will be applied on all pre-packaged beverages in plastic and metal containers ranging from 150 millilitres to 3 litres.

This deposit will be fully refunded when customers return empty plastic or metal beverage containers at designated return points.

All about the $0.10 Beverage Container Return Scheme

The Beverage Container Return Scheme (BCRS) will commence on year later than anticipated, now on 1 April 2026. The full implementation date is set at 1 July 2026. This is to give beverage producers more time to adjust to the changes.

Under the scheme, beverage containers are to be labelled with a deposit mark and carry a 10-cent deposit. The time period between the commencement and full implementation date is to allow retailers to clear unlabelled older stock ineligible for refund.

As mentioned earlier, a 10-cent refundable deposit will be applied on pre-packaged beverage containers.

These deposits will be refunded at more than 1,000 designated return points, which will include reverse vending machines, and larger supermarket outlets with a floor area of more than 200m².

Some reverse vending machines are in operation in various malls across the island under the RecycleNSave scheme. The NEA will explore the setting up of additional return points in community spaces like Community Clubs and Town Centres.

More information on the return point locations and accompanying educational and promotional events will be released on a website to be launched in the future.

The BCRS will be run by a licenced consortium of beverage producers (the “Scheme Operator”).

The Scheme Operator “will be responsible for collecting plastic and metal beverage containers for recycling on behalf of all beverage producers in Singapore for a period of seven years, from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2033”.

Beverage producers and retailers will have to register as members of the scheme with the Scheme Operator. They will have to register their products and pay fees to the Scheme Operator to run the collection and recycling of containers on their behalf.

Reasons behind the scheme

The BCRS aims to increase the recycling rate of beverage containers, reduce the amount of waste disposed as well as carbon emissions, and raise consumer awareness on recycling.

The scheme was proposed to deal with the challenges arising from contamination of recycling bins with non-recyclables, and declining space in Singapore’s Semakau landfill.

It was finalised after several rounds of consultation with various stakeholders, including a REACH public consultation paper in 2022, which identified plastic bottles or metal cans as the top material type to be included in the BCRS.

Reasons for choosing plastic bottles and metal cans include the higher consumption volumes, higher material value, and ease of cleaning, compaction, and transportation.

The BCRS mirrors the disposable packaging recycling programme in the European Union.