Singapore Implements Beverage Container Deposit Scheme, Aiming for Increased Recycling Participation with 10-Cent Refund
The Singaporean government is introducing a beverage container deposit scheme to boost recycling rates. A transition period runs from April 1 to September 30, 2026, with full implementation on October 1. Consumers will pay a 10 Singaporean cent deposit for aluminum cans and plastic bottles (150ml to 3L), which is refunded upon return to collection machines. The initial recycling target is 60% in the first year, rising to 80% by the third year. The non-profit Beverage Container Return Scheme will operate the system, with approximately 2,000 collection machines to be installed nationwide within a year. This initiative is part of Singapore's "Zero Waste Masterplan," which aims to reduce per capita waste sent to landfills by 30% by 2030. Concerns have been raised about potential hidden costs being passed on to consumers, leading to higher beverage prices.
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- 📰 Published: April 13, 2026 at 22:21
- 🔍 Collected: April 13, 2026 at 22:31 (10 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 13, 2026 at 22:33 (1 min after Collected)
Singapore is implementing a beverage bottle and can deposit system. Consumers will pay a 10 Singaporean cent deposit (approximately 2.5 New Taiwan Dollars) when purchasing bottled or canned beverages. After consuming the beverage, the deposit will be refunded to e-wallets or other tools upon returning the empty container to a recycling machine. This measure aims to increase public participation in recycling. The authorities are striving to achieve a 55% recycling rate target this year. However, there are concerns that hidden costs may be passed on to consumers. The transition period for the beverage container refund system is from April 1 to September 30, 2026. Aluminum cans and plastic bottles with capacities from 150ml to 3L will gradually be affixed with deposit labels. The public can reclaim a 10 Singaporean cent deposit per item by returning empty bottles to recycling machines. To alleviate cost pressure on businesses, the Singapore National Environment Agency is providing subsidies to assist with the transition to the new system. The new system will be fully implemented on October 1, requiring all designated containers to bear deposit labels. The target for the first year of trial operation is to recycle at least 60% of beverage containers, increasing to 80% by the third year. In the long term, it is estimated that over 16,000 metric tons of materials can be recovered annually from at least 1 billion beverage containers. The bottle and can recycling effort is managed by the non-profit Beverage Container Return Scheme. The authorities plan to install approximately 2,000 beverage bottle and can recycling machines across Singapore within one year of the new system's launch. To promote the circular reuse of waste packaging plastic film and reduce plastic waste, the Singaporean authorities have also launched the "Zero Waste Masterplan" target, aiming to reduce per capita waste sent to landfills by 30% by 2030. Lianhe Zaobao reported that Singapore is striving to achieve a 55% recycling rate target this year. Assistant Professor Huang Yaohui of the Singapore Management University's College of Interdisciplinary Studies, Urban Studies, stated that the final recycling rate for 2026 remains to be seen, but with the launch of the beverage container refund system and increased public participation in food waste management, an increase in recycling rates can be optimistically expected.