Local firm SG Recycle rolling out 380 machines for beverage container return scheme

The firm and 800 Super also said 160 segregated recycling bins will be deployed in Pasir Ris and Bedok by 2027. Read more at straitstimes.com.

SINGAPORE – About 380 reverse vending machines by home-grown firm SG Recycle are being rolled out in the north and west regions of Singapore, as its CEO urges consumers to be patient when the Beverage Container Return Scheme begins in April.

SG Recycle founder and chief executive officer Mervin Ng reminded customers to return only plastic bottles and cans that are affixed with the logo.

“At the beginning, there might be a lot of rejection of the bottles and cans, and the public might get frustrated if they throw in non-labelled containers, but they have to bear with us because of the transition period,” he said to the media at the opening of the firm’s headquarters in Jurong on March 11.

New drink containers bearing the scheme’s deposit mark will gradually enter the market over a few months, and will become widespread only by August and September.

During this period, the beverage and retail industry will be clearing old stock without the deposit mark. This transition period, which was initially to last three months, was extended to six months following feedback from the industry.

Mr Ng also added that the cans and bottles should not be crushed or filled with liquid when they are dropped off into the machine. Otherwise, they will be rejected by the machine.