Singapore's Beverage Container Return Scheme collected more than 48 million plastic bottles and metal cans between 1 April and 27 September 2026, diverting over 823 tonnes from incineration, according to the National Environment Agency. The scheme puts a refundable deposit of USD 0.08 (SGD 0.10) on eligible containers, and the deposit mark has generally been mandatory since the six-month transition ended on 1 October. About 1,300 reverse vending machines were operating by late September.
Why this mattersBeverage brand owners selling in Singapore now carry deposit-marking and producer-funded return costs for plastic bottles and cans; glass, cartons and pouches remain outside the scheme.
- More than 48 million containers were returned between 1 April and 27 September 2026, diverting over 823 tonnes from incineration
- NEA estimates annual recovery potential at more than 16,000 tonnes
- Deposit of USD 0.08 (SGD 0.10) applies to eligible plastic and metal drink containers of 150ml to 3 litres
- The scheme began on 1 April 2026; the deposit mark has been generally mandatory since the transition ended on 1 October 2026
- About 1,300 reverse vending machines operated by late September 2026, run by RVM Systems, SG Recycle and TOMRA
- Operator BCRS Ltd's board includes Coca-Cola Singapore Beverages, F&N Foods and Pokka
Singapore's Beverage Container Return Scheme (BCRS) has opened a robotic Counting and Sorting Facility in Tuas, operated jointly by scheme operator BCRS Ltd and waste collector Cora Environment. The automated line, launched 21 September 2026 after starting up in August, sorts six material types from returned cans and bottles and aims to lift the country's container return rate to 60% within a year and 80% within three years, recovering over 16,000 tonnes annually once fully operational from October.
Why this mattersA national deposit-return infrastructure investment signals rising demand for recycled PET, aluminium and steel feedstock across Southeast Asia's packaging value chain.
- The BCRS Counting and Sorting Facility in Tuas, run by BCRS Ltd and waste collector Cora Environment, was officially launched on 21 September 2026 after starting operations in August
- Since April 2026 the scheme collected around 33m containers via 1,300 reverse vending machines, refunding 10 cents digitally per container
- Between August and 13 September the facility processed about 27.5m used bottles and cans, five times the prior rate
- Once fully operational from October, BCRS is expected to recover more than 1bn beverage containers and over 16,000 tonnes of material annually
- The scheme targets a 60% container return rate within one year and 80% within three years, against a household recycling rate that fell to an all-time low of 11% in 2024-2025
- The 2,000 sq m facility is Singapore's first able to sort six material types, including aluminium, steel and PET, on a single automated line
