Singapore’s Return Right scheme gives consumers a 10-cent refund when they return an eligible empty beverage container through the designated system. It is designed to recover more plastic and metal for recycling and reduce the amount of valuable material sent for incineration. Since the transition period ended on 30 September 2026, regulated beverage products supplied in Singapore must carry the scheme’s Deposit Mark from 1 October 2026.
If you are searching for how to get the 10-cent bottle refund in Singapore, where to find a Return Right machine, whether a can or plastic bottle is eligible, or how to receive the money through PayLah! or EZ-Link, this guide explains the practical steps. It also explains what happens to glass bottles, cartons, pouches and crushed containers, and why a machine may reject a bottle that looks recyclable.
Quick answer: how to get your 10¢ refund
- Look for the official BCRS Deposit Mark on the beverage container.
- Check that it is a regulated plastic or metal beverage container from 150ml to 3 litres.
- Empty it completely and keep its shape and barcode intact. Do not crush it.
- Find a Return Right Reverse Vending Machine (RVM) using the official locator at returnright.sg.
- Insert containers one at a time and wait for the machine to scan and accept each one.
- Collect the 10-cent-per-container refund through a supported physical SimplyGo EZ-Link card or DBS PayLah! QR code.
Remember: the scheme is not a general cash reward for every item placed in a blue recycling bin. Only eligible containers bearing the Deposit Mark can earn the 10-cent refund.
What is Return Right?
Return Right is the consumer-facing name associated with Singapore’s Beverage Container Return Scheme (BCRS). The scheme began on 1 April 2026 and is operated by BCRS Ltd. under the regulatory framework overseen by the National Environment Agency (NEA). Consumers pay a refundable 10-cent deposit on regulated beverage containers and can recover that deposit when they return an eligible container.
The purpose is to encourage people to bring bottles and cans back into a dedicated collection stream. Plastic and metal can be recovered in a more controlled way for recycling, supporting a circular-economy approach in which materials are collected for use again rather than discarded as general waste.
For the official scheme details, use NEA’s Beverage Container Return Scheme page and its consumer guide. Machine locations and payment options can be checked at Return Right’s official website.
Why is there a 10-cent deposit?
The 10 cents is a refundable deposit, not an extra non-refundable tax or an additional GST charge. When a regulated drink is sold in an eligible marked container, the deposit is included in the price. Returning the empty container through a functioning scheme return point allows the customer to recover the deposit.
Think of it as a small amount temporarily attached to the container. If you keep the container and discard it through ordinary waste instead of returning it, you do not recover the deposit. If you return it correctly, the 10 cents comes back through one of the supported electronic refund methods.
NEA and BCRS state that the deposit is not subject to GST. It should not be confused with the GST component of the beverage’s price or with a supermarket’s own promotional discount.
Which bottles and cans qualify?
The scheme covers regulated pre-packaged beverages in plastic or metal containers with a capacity from 150ml to 3 litres, provided the container carries the official Deposit Mark and meets the return condition. The covered beverage types include pre-packaged water, soft drinks, juices, dairy drinks, juice concentrates and cordials, and alcoholic beverages in eligible packaging.
The material and size are important, but the mark is the easiest first check. From 1 October 2026, regulated beverage products supplied in Singapore must carry the Deposit Mark. A container without the mark is not entitled to the 10-cent refund under the scheme.
What is excluded?
- Glass bottles: not included in the scheme.
- Beverage cartons: not included.
- Pouches: not included.
- Containers below 150ml or above 3 litres: outside the stated size range.
- Freshly prepared drinks: drinks prepared and sold at the same premises, such as freshly brewed coffee or tea, freshly squeezed juice and bubble tea, are excluded.
- Special medical foods: Foods for Special Medical Purposes are excluded from the scheme.
A plastic bottle shape does not by itself make an item eligible. The required Deposit Mark and container conditions still apply.
Why you may still see a bottle without a Deposit Mark
The scheme had a six-month transition period from 1 April to 30 September 2026, allowing retailers and producers to clear older stocks. During that period, marked containers carried the deposit and could be returned, while unmarked older stock did not carry a deposit and could not be refunded through the machines.
That transition period has ended. From 1 October 2026, regulated beverage products supplied in Singapore must carry the mark. However, a customer may still encounter a product that is not regulated or a container that falls outside the scheme’s definition. If there is no Deposit Mark, do not expect a 10-cent refund from a Return Right machine.
How to prepare a bottle or can before returning it
Empty the container completely. A quick rinse can help keep the collection stream cleaner, but the key operational requirements are that the container is empty, intact and scannable. Do not crush, flatten or deliberately deform it. The machine needs to identify the container and its barcode or scheme code.
Keep the original label and barcode attached. Do not peel off the sticker or cover the code with another label. A bottle can be physically recyclable but fail the refund process if the machine cannot read its identifier.
Where are Return Right machines located?
NEA’s scheme rollout planned more than 1,000 reverse vending machines at launch, with return points at larger supermarkets, town centres, HDB void decks and some hawker centres. The network is intended to make returns convenient as part of ordinary shopping and neighbourhood routines. NEA stated that over 90% of HDB households would be within a five-minute walk of a return point at launch, with further expansion planned.
Do not assume every supermarket or every hawker centre has a machine at every entrance. The return network is specific to participating locations, and a machine can be full, out of service or temporarily unavailable. Check the official map before carrying a large number of containers to a particular outlet.
How to get the refund through SimplyGo EZ-Link
Return Right supports eligible physical SimplyGo EZ-Link cards, including adult and concession cards and EZ-Link Charms where the card type is accepted. Follow the screen instructions and place the physical card on the specified reader when requested. Wait for the confirmation signal before removing it.
Some cards may not work if they are expired, closed or inactive. The scheme’s official FAQ notes that not every travel-payment product is supported. In particular, do not assume that tapping a mobile-phone wallet, the SimplyGo app itself or a NETS FlashPay card is equivalent to presenting an eligible physical SimplyGo EZ-Link card.
For a card-status issue, SimplyGo provides customer support at its official website. Check current contact details and card eligibility there rather than relying on an old number copied from an online discussion.
How to get the refund through DBS PayLah!
Open the DBS PayLah! app and display your My QR code. At the Return Right machine, follow the instructions to scan that code so the refund can be credited to the supported PayLah! wallet. The scheme’s official FAQ says PayLah! can be used even without a DBS/POSB bank account, subject to the app’s own account and registration requirements.
Do not scan a stranger’s QR code or give your PayLah! credentials to someone claiming to help you receive a bottle refund. You only need to display the legitimate receiving QR code within your own app and follow the machine’s instructions. A refund should not require you to reveal an OTP or bank password.
What exactly happens at the reverse vending machine?
- Read the screen and tap to begin.
- Insert one empty eligible container at a time.
- Wait while the machine checks the barcode and shape.
- Follow any on-screen instruction if the container is accepted or rejected.
- Choose or present the supported refund method as prompted.
- Wait for the refund confirmation and keep any receipt or transaction record shown.
If you have many containers, use the machine calmly and keep the surrounding area clear for other users. Do not force a bottle into the slot or reach into the machine. If it jams, stop and report the fault to the operator using the contact details displayed at the machine or the official website.
Why did the machine reject my bottle?
A machine may reject a container for several reasons: it has no Deposit Mark, it is the wrong material or size, it is not empty, it is crushed, the barcode is damaged, or the machine cannot read the scheme code. Some containers may be eligible in principle but fail because their label has been torn or the shape has been changed.
Check the container before trying again. If the mark and barcode are intact but the machine repeatedly rejects it, record the machine location and follow the official support process. Do not leave the container in the machine opening or attempt to open the equipment yourself.
What if the machine is full or not working?
Use the official locator to find another nearby return point. Report a malfunction through the operator’s customer-service channel, including the machine location and what happened. A machine being unavailable does not mean the container has become ineligible; it means you need a functioning return point.
Keep the container intact until you can return it. If you decide not to return it, use the ordinary recycling route where suitable, but recognise that you will not receive the deposit refund through a blue bin.
What happens at a Return Right F&B dine-in outlet?
Some participating food-and-beverage outlets use the Return Right F&B Scheme. The outlet collects eligible dine-in beverage containers without charging the customer the 10-cent deposit, either by serving the drink in a cup or glass or by asking diners to leave the container at the premises after drinking.
Look for the Return Right F&B decal and follow the outlet’s instructions. This is different from buying a marked bottle to take away: the dine-in arrangement keeps the container with the participating premises, so the customer does not need to take it to a neighbourhood machine.
Does the 10 cents apply to drinks from hawker centres?
It depends on the container and how the drink is sold. A freshly prepared drink served in a cup is outside the regulated pre-packaged container scheme. A pre-packaged marked bottle or can purchased at a hawker centre still carries the deposit under the scheme’s rules. A participating Return Right F&B outlet may collect containers consumed on its premises under the dine-in arrangement.
Do not assume that every drink sold at a hawker centre is treated the same way. The decisive questions are whether it is a regulated pre-packaged beverage in an eligible marked container and whether the outlet participates in the dine-in collection arrangement.
Is Return Right the same as the blue recycling bin?
No. The blue recycling bin is part of Singapore’s general recycling system. Return Right is a separate deposit-return mechanism for a defined group of beverage containers. The machine checks a specific scheme mark and issues a deposit refund. A blue bin does not scan the container or pay the 10 cents.
Other clean recyclable items that are outside the beverage-container scheme should continue to be sorted through the appropriate recycling or disposal system. Glass, cartons and pouches may have other recycling arrangements, but they are not eligible for the Return Right 10-cent deposit refund.
What should retailers and consumers understand after 1 October 2026?
After the transition ended, regulated beverage products supplied in Singapore must carry the Deposit Mark. Consumers should therefore expect the deposit to be part of the purchase price for covered products. The refund is earned by returning the eligible container through a designated point.
For consumers comparing shelf prices, remember to distinguish the refundable deposit from the underlying drink price. For businesses, check the scheme’s producer, retailer and operational guidance rather than relying on consumer instructions alone. Producer obligations and consumer refund procedures are related but not identical.
How much could a household recover?
The arithmetic is simple: each eligible returned container yields S$0.10. If a household returns 20 marked bottles or cans, the refund is S$2. If it returns 100, the refund is S$10. These examples show the calculation, not a promise that a household consumes or returns any particular number of drinks.
The larger public benefit is the recovery of material at scale. Returning a container is a small action, but repeated across households and businesses it can support a cleaner stream of plastic and metal for recycling.
Common Return Right mistakes
- Trying to return a container without the Deposit Mark.
- Crushing the bottle to save space before taking it to the machine.
- Removing or damaging the label and barcode.
- Putting glass, cartons or pouches into a Return Right machine.
- Assuming a freshly prepared bubble tea cup is part of the scheme.
- Expecting a refund to a NETS FlashPay card or an unsupported mobile-wallet card.
- Using PayNow QR instead of the My QR code in DBS PayLah!.
- Assuming a machine is broken because it rejects an ineligible container.
Frequently asked questions about Return Right in Singapore
When did Return Right start?
The Beverage Container Return Scheme started on 1 April 2026. The six-month transition period ended on 30 September 2026, and full implementation began on 1 October 2026.
How much is the deposit?
It is 10 cents for each regulated beverage container covered by the scheme.
Is the 10-cent deposit subject to GST?
No. The scheme’s official FAQ states that the refundable deposit is not subject to GST.
Can I return any plastic bottle?
No. It must be an eligible regulated beverage container, 150ml to 3 litres, with the official Deposit Mark, intact and scannable.
Can I return glass bottles?
No. Glass bottles are excluded from the Return Right scheme.
Can I crush a bottle before returning it?
No. Keep it intact so the machine can identify the shape and barcode.
Can I get the refund in cash?
The scheme’s stated consumer refund methods are supported SimplyGo EZ-Link cards and DBS PayLah!, not a cash payout at the machine.
Can I use my student or senior concession EZ-Link card?
Eligible physical SimplyGo EZ-Link concession cards are included. Expired, closed or inactive cards will not work.
Can I scan a PayNow QR code?
No. For PayLah! refunds, display the My QR code within the DBS PayLah! app. A PayNow QR code is not the supported alternative.
What if a machine rejects an eligible bottle?
Check the mark, barcode, container condition and machine instructions. If the problem persists, report it to the scheme operator with the machine location and details.
Do I pay the deposit for freshly brewed coffee?
Freshly prepared drinks sold by the same premises are excluded from the regulated pre-packaged beverage-container scheme.
Official sources and further eduKateSG reading
- NEA — Beverage Container Return Scheme
- NEA — Return Right consumer instructions
- Return Right — machine locator, deposit mark and refund FAQs
- BCRS Ltd. — official scheme FAQs
- SimplyGo — eligible EZ-Link card information
- eduKateSG — e-waste collection and producer responsibility
- eduKateSG — blue recycling bins and collection
Editorial review: 3 November 2026. This guide describes the scheme after its 1 October 2026 full-implementation date. Check NEA and Return Right for updated return locations, machine availability and operational procedures.
The useful conclusion
For the 10-cent refund, check the Deposit Mark, empty the container, keep it intact and use an official Return Right machine. Choose a supported physical EZ-Link card or DBS PayLah! QR method and wait for confirmation. The scheme is simple once you know which packaging qualifies. The mark and the barcode—not the bottle’s appearance alone—determine whether the machine can return your deposit.