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Recycling made easier: find bins, BCRS return points and drop-off locations

Knowing where to recycle is half the effort. The Recycling and BCRS page in PantauSivik lists locations in one place and lets you filter by what you want to drop off.

What you can find

• Regular recycling bins for paper, plastic, glass and metal.
• BCRS return points for beverage containers.
• E-waste drop points for old electronics.
• Textile drop points for clothes and fabric.

How to use it

Open the Recycling and BCRS page and pick the category you need. The list narrows to that type of drop point, so you spend less time searching and more time actually recycling. You can search by a place name or postal code, and if the text finds nothing, the app shows the locations nearest to the place it finds. Tap Directions on a card to open the Trip Planner with that place as your destination.

What BCRS is

The Beverage Container Return Scheme started on 1 April 2026. The first six months were a transition, when products with and without the BCRS Deposit Mark could both be on shelves. From 1 October 2026, all regulated beverage products sold in Singapore must carry the mark, and the deposit applies to all regulated containers.

What you can return

• Plastic (such as PET, PP or HDPE) or metal (aluminium or steel) containers from 150 ml to 3 litres.
• The container must carry the BCRS Deposit Mark.
• Pre packaged drinks of all kinds count: water, soft drinks, juices, dairy, cordials and alcohol.

These are not covered: glass, beverage cartons and pouches, containers under 150 ml or over 3 litres, and freshly prepared drinks sold on the same premises, such as freshly brewed coffee or tea, freshly squeezed juice and bubble tea. Containers without the mark are not refundable and can go in the blue bins or other recycling stations.

The deposit

The deposit is 10 cents per container. GST does not apply to it. It is included in the shelf price at checkout for marked products, and the refund is paid digitally to a SimplyGo EZ-Link card, including student and senior concession cards, or to DBS PayLah.

How to return containers

• Make sure the container is empty, not crushed or flattened, and that the barcode is intact and visible.
• Use a Return Right reverse vending machine. NEA reported over 1,000 islandwide at launch, at supermarkets over 200 square metres, town centres, HDB void decks and some hawker centres, with a target of 2,000 return points in the first year.
• At a Return Right food and beverage outlet with the Return Right decal, dine in customers can hand in containers without paying the deposit.

A note on the data

Locations come from public sources, and datasets are refreshed periodically. A very new bin or return point might not appear yet, so check the signage when you get there.

Common questions

Which drink containers get the 10 cent refund?

Plastic or metal drink containers from 150 ml to 3 litres that carry the BCRS Deposit Mark. That covers water, soft drinks, juices, dairy, cordials and alcohol.

Where do I return them?

At a Return Right reverse vending machine. There were over 1,000 at launch, at supermarkets over 200 square metres, town centres, HDB void decks and some hawker centres. Return Right food and beverage outlets also take containers from dine in customers.

What if a container has no BCRS mark?

It is not refundable. Containers without the mark can go in the blue bins or other recycling stations.

Can I return a crushed can?

No. The container must be empty, not crushed or flattened, and its barcode must be intact and visible so the machine can scan it.

Does PantauSivik show e-waste and textile drop points too?

Yes. The Recycling and BCRS page has filters for recycling bins, BCRS return points, e-waste drop points and textile drop points.

Sources: NEA, Beverage Container Return Scheme for consumers, read on 23 October 2026; PantauSivik app, version 1.31.0. Rules and amounts can change, so check NEA for the latest.

See also: Trip Planner guide, Hawker centres guide.