Launch of beverage container return scheme delayed to April 2026

SINGAPORE: Consumers will have to pay a refundable 10-cent deposit for bottled and canned drinks from 1 April 2026, a year later than originally planned.

The delay, requested by beverage producers who needed more time to adjust to the changes, was announced by the National Environment Agency (NEA) on 31 July.

First announced in September 2022, the beverage container return scheme will require consumers to pay an extra 10 cents for bottled and canned drinks, with a full refund available upon returning the empty containers at designated return points. The scheme will cover all plastic bottles and metal cans ranging from 150ml to 3 litres and will run for seven years, from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2033, aligning with the licensing validity period.

More than 1,000 return points will be established at supermarkets and other communal areas to facilitate a higher rate of return and boost recycling efforts.

NEA aims to achieve an 80 per cent return rate by 2029, the third year of the scheme, meaning that around 800 million of the estimated one billion beverage containers released into the market annually will be returned for recycling.

During a fireside chat at the Singapore Institute of Directors’ inaugural Climate Governance Singapore Forum on 31 July, Dr Amy Khor, Senior Minister of State for Sustainability and the Environment, said, “We hope that it will also help to foster a culture of recycling among the public, divert these actually very valuable recyclable materials away from the incineration plant and our landfills.”

The scheme will be overseen by Beverage Container Return Scheme Ltd (BCRS Ltd), a not-for-profit company formed by a consortium of beverage producers, including Coca-Cola Singapore Beverages, F&N Foods, and Pokka.

BCRS Ltd, which received its licence to operate from NEA on 29 July, will be responsible for collecting, sorting, and recycling beverage containers, setting up return points, and ensuring that stakeholder fees are fair and transparent. The company will also provide the start-up capital for the scheme’s operations and maintain sufficient reserves for its continued functioning.

To ensure fair representation, at least two board members of BCRS Ltd will represent the interests of smaller beverage producers, as required by law. BCRS Ltd will act on behalf of all participating beverage producers in Singapore.

The launch was postponed to give beverage producers and retailers more time to design and implement the scheme smoothly. The consortium’s delayed proposal submission also contributed to the postponement.

While the scheme takes effect on 1 April 2026, a transition period until 30 June 2026 will allow the industry to clear older stocks, which are not eligible for refunds. By 1 July 2026, all beverage containers must be labelled with the deposit mark and carry a 10-cent deposit.

To raise awareness of the scheme, NEA and BCRS Ltd will organise outreach programmes and launch a website with information about return point locations and educational events.

“Our climate action efforts include promoting low-carbon solutions, reducing our waste generation through initiatives such as the disposable carrier bag charge,” Dr Khor, who is also Senior Minister of State for Transport, wrote in a Facebook post on 31 July.

“Every effort counts when it comes to climate action. So let’s do our part to continue building a clean and sustainable home for generations to come.”