SINGAPORE — Prices for bottled and canned drinks in Singapore may increase by up to S$0.60 when the country’s Beverage Container Return Scheme (BCRS) is rolled out in April 2026, industry stakeholders have warned. Importers and small retailers say additional compliance costs under the scheme are likely to be passed on to consumers. 

Under the BCRS, a 10-cent refundable deposit will be added to most beverage containers ranging from 150 millilitres to 3 litres. Consumers can claim the deposit back when they return empty plastic bottles and metal cans at designated collection points, including reverse vending machines. 

While the deposit itself is straightforward, importers argue that ancillary fees such as product registration, new barcode labelling and traceability requirements will significantly increase costs — expenses they may have little choice but to factor into retail prices.  For example, some discount retailers report that inexpensive imported drinks that currently sell for around S$0.70 could see their prices rise sharply, narrowing the gap with local products typically priced closer to S$1. 

Smaller suppliers, such as craft beer distributors, also face bottlenecks under the scheme. These businesses say that each unique product design must be individually registered and approved, a process that can take 12 to 16 weeks, effectively shortening the window to sell seasonal stock and increasing manpower costs for affixing new labels. 

The BCRS forms part of Singapore’s broader sustainability push to reduce waste and boost container recycling rates. The scheme operator, Beverage Container Return Scheme Ltd. (BCRS Ltd.), which comprises major producers including Coca-Cola Singapore Beverages, F&N Foods and Pokka, will oversee collection and recycling efforts islandwide.