Vending

Singapore reverse vending machines collect 5.5M drink containers

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August 6, 2026

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Singapore's Beverage Container Return Scheme has collected 5.5 million empty drink containers through more than 1 million transactions since launching April 1, according to a Channel News Asia report. Consumers receive a refund of 10 Singapore cents, about 8 U.S. cents, when they return eligible plastic or metal beverage containers bearing the program's deposit mark.

Containers without the mark may remain on sale through Sept. 30 as producers clear existing inventory. Beginning Oct. 1, all regulated beverage containers sold in Singapore must display the mark. The nonprofit program operator, BCRS Ltd., is funded by producer fees, recycled-material sales and deposits that consumers do not redeem. It must submit annual financial reports to the National Environment Agency.

All 1,070 reverse vending machines planned for the initial rollout are operating, along with additional machines at larger supermarkets. More than 90% of public housing households are within a five-minute walk of a machine, and officials plan to expand the network to about 2,000 return points during the program's first year. The government said most transactions have been successful and operators have responded quickly to the limited equipment problems reported.