Canned & Bottled Beverages To Take 10-20 Cent Deposits By Mid-2024, Redeemable On Recycling, Singapore Latest News

By mid-2024, consumers looking to quench their thirst with canned or bottled beverages will have to pay 10-20 cents more.

However, this additional cost can be reimbursed if consumers return empty bottles and cans for recycling at any of the island-wide beverage container return points.

These return points can take the form of “reverse” vending machines where you deposit bottles and cans to get money, or manually operated counters.

At implementation, there will be over 400 points on the island from the current 50 Reverse Vending Machines.

A new beverage container return scheme proposed by the National Environment Agency (NEA) was unveiled on Tuesday.

Under the proposed scheme, a small deposit of 10 to 20 cents will be added to the price of all prepackaged beverages in plastic bottles and metal cans from 150ml to 3l.

This deposit is the same for all beverages of the same size.

Beverages are marked with a deposit mark and consumers can claim a refund of the deposit when returning the empty beverage container to the return location. This redemption may be in the form of cash or digital transfer.

Return points will be set up in all supermarkets over 200 square meters. Other return locations include convenience stores and community centers.

The proposed scheme, which comes after extensive public participation, aims to increase the recycling rate of Singapore’s beverage containers to 80%.

This is NEA’s latest idea to encourage people to recycle, as only 6% of all plastic waste recycled in Singapore last year.

Many countries that have implemented such schemes have been able to significantly increase the recycling rate of their beverage containers. For example, in Germany, the recycling rate for beverage containers is 98%.

The NEA is seeking feedback on a beverage container return scheme that is part of a government recommendation to reduce packaging waste generated in Singapore.

Beverage makers are charged 10-20 cents by industry-appointed non-profit administrators.

When consumers return containers, managers aggregate them and facilitate sales to waste companies.

Proceeds from this sale will be used to reimburse producers for additional costs incurred.

Therefore, the total amount reimbursed to beverage manufacturers will depend on how effective they have been in encouraging customers to recycle their containers.

According to the NEA, the beverage container return policy marks the first step in an extended producer responsibility system being introduced to give producers greater responsibility for ensuring the recycling of their products.

Such schemes can promote accountability and efficiency in the industry and minimize the costs of implementing schemes, the NEA said.

At a doorstop event in Bukit Batok on Tuesday, Senior State Minister for Sustainability and Environment Amy Khor said the large amount of recyclables collected from the scheme will encourage the establishment of recycling facilities in the country. I hope

Dr Khor added that the sale of high-quality recyclable materials itself will also help fund a significant portion of the beverage makers’ implementation of their plans.

Kathryn Tan, a member of the work group that proposed the beverage container return initiative to the NEA, said a deposit of 10 to 20 cents is a good start.

Tan, Director of Rumar Group, a family office for sustainable investing, said: Minimize. ”

Associate Professor Jia Lile of the Department of Psychology at the National University of Singapore said: Change. “

Other factors, such as more consistent messaging and scheme management, are needed to drive long-term behavioral change towards recycling, he added.

Public feedback is solicited on deposit amounts, redemption point locations, deposit refund methods, and more.

Feedback can be given now through October 14th at Reach, the government feedback unit. on this website.