Beverage Container Return Scheme: Is Singapore’s 10-cent recycling plan working?
The scheme could help to improve Singapore’s low domestic recycling rates.
Blue recycling bins filled with non-recyclable trash have become a common sight around Singapore. This contamination has resulted in poor domestic recycling rates in the country, as food and liquid waste thrown into the commingled bins taints the other recyclables.
To overcome this challenge, the National Environment Agency on Oct 1 fully implemented its Beverage Container Return Scheme (BCRS) to ensure that plastic bottles and cans are segregated for recycling. But this initiative has also been plagued with complaints.
In this episode, host Audrey Tan chats with Ang Qing and Shabana Begum, environment correspondents at ST, on whether these criticisms are warranted, and whether Singapore should continue pushing ahead with the scheme.
Highlights (click/tap above):
2:31 The BCRS scheme in a nutshell; observations on the ground
6:00 Why we need this 10-cent incentive at this stage?
7:55 Why Singapore needs this scheme now
9:11 Why the blue bin scheme is not sustainable given poorer habits in Singapore
11:05 Is 10 cents enough of an incentive to Singaporeans? Why BCRS is worth persevering with
13:00 Observations of current and various recycling operations in Singapore
13:56 Not ideal conditions: Seeing discarded syringes among recyclables
15:35 “Completely different”: Shabana’s experience at a BCRS sorting facility
17:25 “When the public sorts things properly upstream, it makes things easier down the line”: Qing
18:25 Challenges, little-known behind-the-scenes additional costs SME retailers face
23:25 Is 10 cents enough of an incentive for the public in general?
25:35 Should more drinks be worked into the BCRS scheme? Such as glass bottles
26:15 Media reports about side hustles using the BCRS scheme: Controversial?
29:55 2026 stats show Singapore disposed a record amount of trash
Read more:
Shabana Begum’s articles: https://str.sg/5EGd
Ang Qing’s articles: https://str.sg/i5gT
Follow Audrey Tan on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/848W
Read her articles: https://str.sg/JLM2
Host: Audrey Tan (audreyt@sph.com.sg)
Produced and edited by: Hadyu Rahim
Executive producer: Ernest Luis
Follow Green Pulse Podcast every Tuesday as we discuss how environmental issues intersect with business, politics and society:
Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWaY
Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg
—
Follow more ST podcast channels:
All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7
Get more updates: http://str.sg/stpodcasts
—
Get The Straits Times app, which has a dedicated podcast player section:
