Singapore becomes the first Southeast Asian nation to launch a nationwide deposit return scheme

2026-04-02 2:00 min Asia Pacific, Sorting and collection

TOMRAAsker, Norway

Singapore becomes the first country in Southeast Asia to implement a nationwide deposit return scheme (DRS) – a transformative step in advancing circularity, reducing waste, and increasing high‑quality recycling across the nation. The launch of the Beverage Container Return Scheme (BCRS) marks a major milestone in Singapore’s environmental strategy, and TOMRA Collection is proud to play a central role in supporting this national initiative.

Global shift to implement a deposit return scheme

With the roll‑out of its Beverage Container Return Scheme, Singapore joins a growing group of forward‑thinking countries that use deposit-based collection systems to keep valuable materials in circulation. The nationwide scheme is designed to make recycling more convenient, more accessible, and more effective for residents and businesses alike.

This policy positions Singapore at the forefront of Southeast Asia’s transition towards circular resource management – reducing landfill waste, minimizing litter, and boosting the recycling of high‑value beverage containers.

TOMRA Collection Singapore – enabling the infrastructure behind the scheme

As of 1 April 2026, TOMRA Collection has deployed 350 reverse vending machines (RVMs) across the Central and North‑Eastern regions of Singapore, all going live as the scheme launches.

These machines allow consumers to easily return eligible used beverage containers and receive their deposit refund via digital payment solutions (EZ-Link cards, concession cards or DBS PayLah! Wallets), ensuring each container can be collected, sorted, and recycled.

TOMRA Collection’s presence in Singapore is further supported by its Singaporean service partner, Chye Thiam Maintenance (CTM), a trusted local provider renowned for maintaining some of the country’s busiest and most iconic locations including Changi Airport, Jewel Changi Airport, Resorts World Sentosa, and major events such as the Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix. Together with TOMRA Collection, CTM will ensure a high RVM uptime and that TOMRA Collection’s RVMs remain clean, well‑maintained, and ready for public use.

A globally proven system, designed for Singapore

TOMRA Collection brings decades of global experience to Singapore’s BCRS with 91,000+ reverse vending installations in more than 60 markets worldwide, collecting over 53 billion used bottles and cans each year. It has advanced sensor technologies ensuring fast, accurate, high‑quality returns as well as digital tools and services that make the system simple for consumers, retailers, and operators. In 2025, TOMRA Collection’s solutions helped avoid an estimated 1,805,000 tonnes of CO₂ equivalent (CO₂e) compared with conventional collection systems without automation (based on 53 billion used bottles and cans collected globally).

While deposit return systems in Australia, Europe, and North America often follow a return‑to‑retail model, Singapore’s BCRS takes a hybrid approach tailored to the country’s dense urban layout, consumer behaviour, and existing infrastructure. RVMs will be available not only in retail stores and supermarkets, but also in publicly accessible locations such as HDB void decks, hawker centres, town centres, high‑footfall public areas, higher‑education campuses, major tourist attractions, etc.

Strengthening Asia’s circular future

Building on the experience gained in Singapore – and with Asia‑focused technology developed specifically for the region - TOMRA Collection aims to support the expansion of deposit return systems across Asia wherever policy conditions enable implementation.

Beyond Singapore, TOMRA Collection already operates in Asia in Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and China, adapting global DRS experience and sorting models to local market needs.

www.tomra.com

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