Singapore’s Beverage Container Return Scheme (BCRS) has collected 5.5 million used beverage containers through more than one million successful transactions since its launch.

The figures were disclosed by Janil Puthucheary, Singapore’s senior minister of state for sustainability and the environment, in response to a parliamentary question about the scheme’s progress and finances.

The initiative remains in a transition period until 30 September 2026, with volumes expected to increase as more products carrying the BCRS deposit mark enter circulation.

Puthucheary said that most returns made through reverse vending machines (RVMs) had been completed successfully. BCRS Ltd, the scheme’s operator, has worked with RVM providers to address the small number of technical issues reported.

BCRS Ltd operates as a not-for-profit organisation funded through producer fees and revenue generated from the sale of collected recyclable materials. Deposits paid by consumers but not subsequently reclaimed may also be used to cover the scheme’s operating costs.

The company must submit an annual report to Singapore’s National Environment Agency (NEA), including details of its finances, within three months of the end of each compliance year.

Addressing concerns about beverage prices, Puthucheary said pricing decisions remain the responsibility of producers and retailers and are affected by factors such as fuel and logistics costs, consumer demand and marketing strategies. Consumers who identify potentially improper pricing practices have been encouraged to notify the NEA.

All 1,070 RVMs planned for the scheme’s initial roll-out are now operational, placing more than 90% of residents in public Housing and Development Board estates within a five-minute walk of a machine. Additional units are also available at larger supermarkets.

Singapore is on track to expand the network to approximately 2,000 return points during the scheme’s first year. RVMs will be installed at, or close to, all hawker centres, while many coffee shops will have access to machines located within nearby housing estates.