Singapore extends DRS transition period

Singapore’s senior minister of state of sustainability and the environment, Dr Janil Puthucheary, has announced an update on the country’s Beverage Container Return Scheme (BCRS), set to launch on 1 April 2026 with a 10-cent refund from Reverse Vending Machines (RVMs).

In a post on social media, the senior minister stated that the original three-month transition period of the scheme has now been extended to six months – spanning 1 April to 30 September, after receiving feedback that three months may not be enough for companies to clear their existing beverage stocks.

He said: “This means that while the scheme officially begins on 1 April 2026, most beverage containers with the refundable 10-cent deposit are likely to hit the shelves only closer to the later part of the transition. During the transition, consumers can expect a mix of containers on the shelves – some with the refundable deposit and others without.”

From 1 October 2026, following full implementation, only BCRS-regulated products carrying the deposit mark may be sold in the Singapore market.

“In the coming weeks, BCRS will share more details on the scheme with the public, including how to look out for the scheme’s mark on beverage containers and where to return these empty containers. We will also be stepping up our outreach and engagement with all producers, retailers, and F&B outlets,” Puthucheary concluded.