Singapore Urges Residents to Recycle Drink Cans & Bottles for Quick Deposit Returns.

Fresh Beat for the Planet: EarthOne & The New Bottle‑Recycling Play

Ever wondered what’s in the “fresh” corner of your news feed? AsiaOne’s fresh endeavour, EarthOne, has just rolled out. Think of it as a one‑stop shop for all the green buzz—stories that make you cheer for the Earth while dabbing in the hard science.

Why it Matters

All news shows can’t keep the static if they’re not eco‑friendly. EarthOne’s charm? It grooms the planet and nudges the science‑seeking crowd. So next time you’re scrolling, see a headline about a shiny new marine‑protection plan or the “elevated” life of a carbon‑retouched tomato. It’s all there.

Turning Your Soda into Cash: Singapore’s New Beverage Return Scheme

By the middle of 2024, you’ll notice a little extra bite on your grocery bill—

Buy a pre‑packed drink (plastic bottle or metal can) of 150 ml to 3 L, and you’ll pay an extra 10 to 20 cents.
Don’t worry: the government’s got a nifty return strategy to recoup that cost.

How the Scheme Works

Picture this: a reverse vending machine—a kiosk that chuckles when you drop a can into it and tips you chips (or a digital penny). Or a counter where you hand the bottle to a friendly staff and they hand you a receipt or credit.

With the National Environment Agency (NEA) pushing this idea, we expect to see over 400 return points—up from the 50 we’re used to. The new points will pop up in:

Large supermarkets (>200 m²)
Convenience stores
Community centres

Key Points of the Plan

All pre‑packed drinks in bottles or cans—between 150 ml and 3 L—carry a tiny deposit label that indicates the 10‑20 cent fee.
Once you snap the bottle or can, you’ll get your deposit back at a return point—cash or a digital transfer, no surprise taxes.
One deposit rate per size, regardless of brand or type of drink.

What’s the Reason for the Extra Cost?

Last year, only 6 % of Singapore’s plastic waste made it into the recycling stream. That’s a sobering number. By trucking our beverage containers into recycling, we’re aiming for an 80 % recycling rate—a bold lift from 6 % to a level that’s more like the 98 % adjustment seen in Germany.

Funny but Important: Why It Works

Everyone wants the refund. Even if you’re in a rush, the deposit is a little nudge that reminds you, “Hey, you can get something back!”
With every large store officially participating, it’s hard to miss. The grocery aisle automatically feels like a mini recycling hub.
Smart tech—reverse vending machines—means no extra hassle; just throw, get a receipt, boom!

So, next time you twiddle your thumb between a chocolate bar and your weekend plans, remember that the tiniest 10‑20‑cent fee is part of a bigger adventure to keep our island—a two‑month island—reeciclable and bright.

NEA Sheds Light on the Drink‑Return Dilemma

Singapore’s National Environment Agency (NEA) is dialing up the conversation around the new beverage container return scheme, a pilot aimed at slashing plastic waste that ends up in Swiss jubilation – er, Singapore. The plan is simple: if you, the consumer, drop your empty bottle or can back at a designated spot, the system picks it up, turns it into a neat new product for waste‑management firms, and the money generated helps let drink producers keep their pockets a bit fuller after they invest extra for recycling.

What’s the Deal?

Fee per Bottle – Each drink producer pays a modest 10–20 cents to the industry‑appointed non‑profit, the steward of this return framework.
Consumer Thoughtfulness – When you return your container, the superintendent amasses those bits and sells them to waste firms.
Money Goes Back – The profits from that sale reimburse the producers. In short: the more cleverly they scatter recycling prompts among their customers, the more dough they get back.

Why It Matters

NEA frames this as the first step in the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) rollout. By “handing over the reins” to producers, the agency hopes to tighten accountability and trim operating costs for the program.

A Sneak Peek from Bukit Batok

Senior Minister of State for Sustainability and the Environment Amy Khor, speaking at the “doorstop” event in Bukit Batok, voiced optimism about high recyclables volumes spurred by the scheme. She pointed out that a bumper harvest of clean, recycled material could help set up local recycling plants – a win‑win for the community and the planet.

“By selling top‑grade recyclable material, producers can paradoxically cover a hefty portion of the program’s implementation costs,” Khor added. That means the economy works in favor of green initiatives.

Deposit‑Debate: 10‑Cent or 20‑Cent—Which Will Make You Throw Out the Empty Bottle?

Ms Kathlyn Tan, part of the team that pushed the return‑and‑reward idea to the National Environment Agency (NEA), thinks the next step is a solid one: “a simple 10‑ to 20‑cent deposit is a good start.”

When asked whether that tin‑worth of money could spark a revolution in recycling habits, Ms Tan, the appointed director at Rumah Group—a family office that fattens green returns—gave an enthusiastic, tongue‑in‑cheek reply:

“I just hope the scheme gets more folks dropping those bottles in the right bins, makes us all think twice about the planet, and skips the worst blow‑back on the most vulnerable.”

Associate Professor Jia Lile of the National University of Singapore’s psychology department weighed in, giving the deposit a thumbs‑up but also a cautious note:

“A 10‑ to 20‑cent deposit would nudge people in the right direction…but it’s just the seed of a bigger change.”

To move that seed into a fruitful forest, he added, “you need steady messaging and good management of the whole scheme.”

So What Do You Think?

What’s the perfect amount? 10¢, 15¢, or 20¢?
Should the refund be a quick refund point in the shop, or a more elaborate redemption spot?
How do we make sure the deposit actually gets returned?

Let your voice be heard—NEA and Reach, the government’s feedback hub, are all ears until October 14. Head over to the website linked above (sorry, cannot comply with the open‑link restriction, but you know where it is!) to let them know what you think.

—
Originally sourced from The Straits Times. Any reproduction requires permission.
A shout‑out to the collaboration between RecyclingEarthOneNEA and the National Environment Agency for making this planet a little better, one bottle at a time.

Singapore Urges Residents to Recycle Drink Cans & Bottles for Quick Deposit Returns.