BCRS Singapore 2026: Beverage Container Return Scheme Guide

Singapore's Beverage Container Return Scheme (BCRS) began on 1 April 2026. An eligible pre-packaged drink sold in a marked plastic or metal container includes a S$0.10 refundable deposit. Return the empty, uncrushed container with its barcode intact to a Return Right reverse vending machine (RVM) to reclaim the deposit.

NEA reported a domestic recycling rate of 11% for 2025. The BCRS is designed to recover more high-quality plastic and metal by giving eligible empty containers a direct refundable value. This guide covers which containers qualify and how to use the return network.

What Is the Beverage Container Return Scheme?

The BCRS is a deposit-refund system modelled after successful programmes in countries like Germany, Norway, and Australia. The core idea is straightforward: a small deposit is added to the retail price of eligible beverages at the point of sale, and consumers recover that deposit when they return the empty container for recycling.

The National Environment Agency (NEA) has licensed BCRS Ltd., a not-for-profit scheme operator, to run the programme. It manages the Return Right network, collects returned containers, and arranges their recycling.

Key details of the Singapore BCRS:

• Deposit amount: S$0.10 per eligible container
• Launch date: 1 April 2026
• Eligible materials: plastic and metal beverage containers
• Volume range: 150 ml to 3 litres
• Exclusion: Glass bottles are not included in the scheme
• Refund methods at RVMs: SimplyGo EZ-Link or DBS PayLah!

The deposit is not a tax — it is fully refundable. Think of it as a ten-cent promise: you pay it when you buy the drink, and the system pays you back when you return the container.

Which Containers Qualify for the S$0.10 Refund?

Not every beverage container falls under the BCRS. Understanding what qualifies will save you from confusion at the return point.

Eligible Containers

• Plastic containers: Eligible plastics include PET, PP and HDPE when the container otherwise meets the scheme rules and carries the BCRS Deposit Mark.
• Aluminium cans: Soft drinks, beer, coffee, and energy drinks commonly sold in aluminium cans.
• Steel cans: Some beverages, particularly certain coffee and tea brands popular in Singapore, use steel cans.

All eligible containers must be pre-packaged beverages between 150 ml and 3 litres in volume, and must carry the official BCRS Deposit Mark on the individual container. The mark identifies a scheme-labelled product; an empty, uncrushed container must also retain a scannable product barcode, and the return point makes the final acceptance decision.

What Is NOT Eligible

• Glass bottles: Despite being recyclable, glass is excluded from the BCRS due to safety and logistical concerns with RVMs.
• Carton packs: Tetra Pak and similar composite carton containers are not part of the scheme.
• Containers smaller than 150 ml or larger than 3 litres: Very small medicine vials or large 5-litre water jugs, for example, are excluded.
• Non-beverage containers: Shampoo bottles, detergent containers, and other non-drink plastic or metal packaging are not eligible, even if made from the same material.
• Freshly prepared drinks: Drinks prepared and sold on the same premises, such as bubble tea or freshly brewed coffee, are excluded.
• Foods for Special Medical Purposes: These are excluded from the scheme.

Tip: Check that the individual container carries the BCRS Deposit Mark and that its product barcode remains visible and scannable. The return point makes the final acceptance decision.

Where to Find Reverse Vending Machines in Singapore

The most convenient way to return your containers is through reverse vending machines (RVMs). These are automated kiosks that accept empty containers, scan the barcode to verify eligibility, and issue a refund. Think of them as the opposite of a regular vending machine — instead of paying and receiving a drink, you insert an empty container and receive money back.

RVM Locations

The Return Right network started with more than 1,000 RVMs. Official locations include:

• Larger supermarkets: Outlets with a floor area above 200 m² are required to have a return point.
• Town centres and HDB void decks: These bring return points closer to homes.
• Some hawker centres: RVMs are also placed in or near selected hawker centres.

Use the official Return Right locator or BinWhere to find a current nearby RVM. Locations can change, so use live location data rather than a static list in this article.

How to Return Containers and Get Your Refund

Returning containers for your S$0.10 deposit refund is designed to be quick and hassle-free. Here is a step-by-step walkthrough:

1. Finish your drink and keep the container: Do not crush or damage the container. The barcode needs to be intact and scannable.
2. Find a return point: Locate the nearest Return Right RVM using the official locator or BinWhere.
3. Insert the container into the RVM: Place the empty container into the machine's opening. The RVM will scan the barcode and verify eligibility.
4. Choose your refund method: Once accepted, receive the S$0.10 through SimplyGo EZ-Link, including eligible concession cards, or DBS PayLah!.
5. Collect multiple refunds in one session: You can insert multiple containers consecutively. The refunds accumulate and are processed together.

Tips for a Smooth Return

• Keep containers empty but uncrushed: RVMs need to scan the barcode, so the label area must be intact.
• Rinse containers briefly: While not strictly required, rinsing prevents sticky residue and odour, especially if you store containers at home before returning them.
• Batch your returns: Rather than making individual trips, save up containers and return a batch at once. A bag of 20 containers earns you S$2.00.
• Check the mark and barcode: The individual container needs both the BCRS Deposit Mark and a visible, scannable barcode.

Why the BCRS Matters for Singapore's Future

Singapore's sole landfill, Semakau Landfill, is projected to reach capacity by 2035 — less than a decade away. The BCRS is a critical piece of the Zero Waste Masterplan aimed at reducing the amount of waste sent to landfill by 30% per capita by 2030.

Here is why this scheme is significant:

• Closing the loop on packaging waste: Beverage containers are among the most commonly littered items. A deposit system creates a financial feedback loop that incentivises proper disposal and recycling.
• Boosting recycling: Giving each eligible container a refundable value encourages people to return it instead of discarding it.
• Reducing contamination: Because BCRS containers are returned through a separate, dedicated channel (not mixed into blue bins), they arrive clean and sorted — dramatically reducing contamination at Materials Recovery Facilities.
• Creating community engagement: The visible act of returning containers and earning refunds normalises recycling behaviour. Studies in other countries show that deposit schemes increase overall environmental awareness, not just for beverage containers.

The BCRS also aligns with Singapore's broader Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) framework, which already covers e-waste. By holding producers financially responsible for the end-of-life management of their packaging, the scheme shifts the burden from taxpayers to the companies that create the waste in the first place.

Practical Tips and Common Questions

As with any new programme, there will be a learning curve. Here are practical answers to questions you are likely to have in the first weeks of the BCRS rollout:

Storing Containers at Home

If you plan to batch your returns (which is more efficient), designate a bag or bin at home specifically for BCRS-eligible containers. Give each container a quick rinse before storing to avoid attracting ants or producing odour — a practical consideration in Singapore's tropical climate.

What About Drinks Bought Before April 2026?

During the transition period from 1 April to 30 September 2026, both marked and unmarked versions may be sold. Only a container carrying the BCRS Deposit Mark includes the deposit and qualifies for a refund. Empty unmarked plastic or metal beverage containers can still be recycled through blue bins or other suitable recycling stations.

Can Children and Students Participate?

The return process is open to consumers generally. The available digital refund methods are SimplyGo EZ-Link, including student and senior concession cards, and DBS PayLah!.

What Happens to Returned Containers?

Returned PET bottles are sent to recycling facilities where they are cleaned, shredded, and processed into flakes that can be used to manufacture new bottles, clothing fibres (polyester), or other plastic products. Metal cans are melted down and reformed into new aluminium or steel products. This closed-loop process significantly reduces the need for virgin raw materials and lowers carbon emissions compared to manufacturing from scratch.

How BinWhere Helps You Navigate BCRS

With the BCRS adding a new recycling channel to Singapore's already multi-stream system — blue bins, e-waste points, textile bins, and now RVMs — it can feel overwhelming to know where each item should go. That is exactly the problem BinWhere solves.

Simply snap a photo of your item or type a description, and BinWhere's AI will identify the appropriate recycling channel. For a drink container, it recommends an RVM only when one individual eligible container has both a clear Singapore Deposit Mark and a readable product barcode; if that evidence cannot be verified, it asks for a clearer label photo instead of guessing. The return point still makes the final acceptance decision. The app uses current build-verified location data and provides walking directions to the nearest point. It supports English, Chinese, Malay, and Tamil — all four of Singapore's official languages.

BinWhere integrates the BCRS public return-point feed into its location database, making it your one-stop tool for navigating every recycling channel in Singapore. Try it now at binwhere.sg — no download required.