How to get your 10 cents back on cans and bottles
Pick what you are holding to see if a Return Right machine will take it, where the refund goes and what to do if the machine says no.
What are you holding?
Pick one. Everything below changes with it. Rules as read from NEA and returnright.sg on 13 Oct 2026; counts to 1 Oct 2026.
Will a Return Right machine take a marked plastic bottle?
Five checks, in order. The first one a container fails is marked. Hover or tap a tile to see the rule behind it.
Yes: the machine pays 10 cents
Yes. A marked plastic bottle that is empty and uncrushed passes all five checks, and the machine pays the 10 cents.
What should you do with a marked plastic bottle?
What to do, step by step, from NEA's guidance and returnright.sg.
- Check the labelLook for the Deposit Mark on the bottle. Since 1 Oct 2026 every regulated drink must carry it.
- Keep it wholeDo not crush or flatten it, and keep the barcode intact. The machine has to scan it.
- Empty itPour out what is left. A quick rinse helps.
- Put it in a machineMachines are at larger supermarkets, town centres, HDB void decks and some hawker centres. Return containers one at a time.
- Collect your 10 centsTap a physical SimplyGo EZ-Link card on the machine, or use DBS PayLah! (My QR). The card needs more than $0 on it first. PayNow, the SimplyGo app and NETS FlashPay do not work.
Drinking in at a shop with the Return Right decal? The shop collects the container and charges no deposit, so there is nothing to return.
Where does the 10 cents go?
Pick one at the machine. The 10 cents goes to whichever you use.
A physical SimplyGo EZ-Link card, concession cards included. Place it flat and wait for the beep. Your statement shows BCRS LTD.
Use My QR. returnright.sg says you do not need a DBS or POSB bank account.
If a refund will not go through, print a voucher at the machine and claim it within 30 days.
The card needs more than $0 on it before you use it. If it was below $0, SimplyGo says the refund goes toward what you owe.
A marked, empty, uncrushed plastic bottle earns 10 cents, paid to a SimplyGo EZ-Link card or DBS PayLah!.
What if the machine says no?
A marked, empty, uncrushed container that still gets rejected is rare: 2 in 100 transactions were unsuccessful in September, down from 5 in 100 over the first five months. These are the reasons, with the likely one marked.
- The Deposit Mark is missing.
- The barcode is damaged or unreadable.
- The 2D-matrix sticker is damaged.
- The container is crushed or out of shape.
- It is not empty.
- It is not an eligible item: glass, a carton, a pouch, a freshly made drink or an overseas-bought container.
- Your caseIt was not placed properly on the belt, or the machine had a fault.
What to do next
- Try once morePlace the container properly on the belt. With a card, retry the tap once.
- Try the next machineIf a machine is full or out of order, call +65 6035 5882 and use the map on returnright.sg to find the next one.
- Use PayLah! or a refund voucherIf the card will not take the refund, use DBS PayLah! or print a refund voucher at the machine. Claim a voucher within 30 days.
- Ask for the moneyScan the QR on the machine's service ticket or go to returnright.sg/refund. Give your name, bank and account number. It is credited within 10 working days, and you must claim within 30 days of the ticket.
- Still stuck?Email hi@returnright.sg. For a marked, uncrushed container with an intact barcode that was rejected, send a photo of the product, the barcode and where you bought it.
About 98 in 100 transactions were refunded on the spot in September. When a machine says no, work down the steps: try again, try the next machine, use PayLah! or a voucher, then ask for the money.
How far is the nearest machine?
This answer is the same whatever you are holding. Counts from MSE and NEA. For the nearest machine to you, use the map on returnright.sg.
- More than 90 in every 100 HDB residents live within a 5-minute walk of a machine (NEA, 1 Oct 2026).
- Every hawker centre has a machine on site or nearby.
- MSE says there are no plans for a machine at every coffeeshop or school canteen.
- Machines are cleaned and serviced at least once a day. Demand is highest from weekend evenings through Monday, so weekdays are quieter.
- A machine full or out of order? Call +65 6035 5882 (9am to 6pm every day) and use the map on returnright.sg to find the next one.
More than 1,300 machines were running on 1 Oct 2026, up from 1,070 in May, and about 2,000 are aimed for in the first year.
More finds
The short version
Since 1 Oct 2026 every regulated drink must carry the Deposit Mark, and a Return Right machine pays 10 cents for each empty, uncrushed plastic or metal container from 150ml to 3L, to a SimplyGo EZ-Link card or DBS PayLah!. More than 1,300 machines were running on 1 Oct. From NEA, MSE and BCRS Ltd, read on 13 Oct 2026.
It takes five checks: the drink was bought in Singapore, it is a packaged plastic or metal drink from 150ml to 3L, it carries the mark, it is empty, and it is whole with a readable barcode. Crushed cans, half-drunk bottles, drinks with no mark, glass, cartons, pouches, bubble tea and overseas drinks each fail one of them.
The card must have more than $0 on it. PayNow, the SimplyGo app and NETS FlashPay do not work. MSE says 2 in 100 transactions were unsuccessful in September, down from 5 in 100 over the first five months. If a machine says no, call +65 6035 5882, print a voucher, or ask for the money back within 10 working days.
The machine and container counts come from MSE's written replies to Parliament and from news stories quoting NEA and BCRS Ltd. They are from different dates, so we show them side by side and draw no trend.
By Ben (opens in a new tab). Updated . Data: NEA, MSE, BCRS Ltd (Return Right) and SimplyGo.
Questions people ask
Which drinks carry the 10-cent deposit?
Pre-packaged drinks in plastic (PET, PP or HDPE) or metal (aluminium or steel) containers from 150ml to 3L: water, soft drinks, juices, dairy drinks, cordials and concentrates, and alcohol. Since 1 Oct 2026 every regulated drink must carry the Deposit Mark.
Which drinks are left out of the scheme?
Cartons, pouches and glass; containers under 150ml or over 3L; freshly prepared drinks such as bubble tea, brewed coffee or tea, squeezed juice and herbal drinks; Foods for Special Medical Purposes; powdered drinks in plastic containers; and containers not meant to be drunk in Singapore, which carry no mark.
How do I get my 10 cents back?
Check for the Deposit Mark, empty the container (a quick rinse helps) and put it into a Return Right machine without crushing it, one at a time. The machine scans the barcode. Tap a physical SimplyGo EZ-Link card on it, or use DBS PayLah! (My QR), to get the refund. If neither works, print a refund voucher and claim it within 30 days.
Do I still get 10 cents if the can is crushed?
No, not at a machine. NEA says not to crush or flatten containers, and MSE names a crushed container the machine cannot identify as a cause of rejections. We found no other way to claim the deposit on one.
Can I return a bottle that still has drink in it?
Not yet. Return Right machines are for empty containers. MSE says there are no plans for liquid-disposal points, so pour it out first. A quick rinse helps.
What if my drink has no deposit mark?
Then no deposit was charged and none can be refunded. From 1 Apr to 30 Sep, drinks without the mark carried no deposit. Since 1 Oct every regulated drink must carry it, but smaller retailers that NEA granted a grace period may clear unmarked stock until 31 Oct 2026, so you may still see some. Non-profits granted it may hand out donated unmarked drinks but are not to sell them. Mothership found such stock discounted by about 30%.
Can I return cans and bottles bought in Johor Bahru or overseas?
No. Containers bought overseas are not eligible, even with a printed mark, because machines check each barcode against a live database. If a Singapore-bought, marked, uncrushed container with an intact barcode is rejected, email BCRS with a photo of the product, the barcode and where you bought it.
Is the 10-cent deposit subject to GST?
No. NEA and IRAS both say the deposit is not subject to GST.
How many Return Right machines are there, and where?
More than 1,300 were operational on 1 Oct 2026, up from 1,070 deployed in May, and about 2,000 return points are aimed for in the first year. They are at larger supermarkets (over 200 square metres), town centres, HDB void decks and some hawker centres. More than 90 in every 100 HDB residents live within a 5-minute walk of one, and every hawker centre has one on site or nearby. MSE says there are no plans for a machine at every coffeeshop or school canteen.
Do I need a DBS or POSB account to get the refund on PayLah!?
returnright.sg says you do not need a DBS or POSB bank account. SimplyGo describes Singapore citizens and permanent residents signing up for DBS PayLah! without one. None of the pages we read say what applies to anyone else, so if that is you, ask BCRS on +65 6035 5882.
Is the Singapore Grand Prix exempt from the deposit?
NEA has said the Singapore Grand Prix circuit park is exempt. The Online Citizen carried the statement on 9 Oct 2026.
How long does the refund take?
On the spot at the machine: about 98 in 100 transactions were refunded on the spot in September (MSE). Refunds that need checking, such as claims through the new digital refund portal, which soft-launched on 1 Oct at SG Recycle machines in the north and west, are verified within 10 working days, down from up to 30 working days.
The numbers behind it
| Container | Machine takes it? | First check it fails | What to do |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marked plastic bottle | Yes | None | Return it empty and uncrushed |
| Marked can | Yes | None | Return it empty and uncrushed |
| Crushed can | No | Check 5: not crushed | Recycle it the usual way |
| Half-drunk bottle | Not yet | Check 4: empty | Pour it out, rinse, then return it |
| Drink with no mark | No | Check 3: Deposit Mark | No deposit was charged; put it in the blue bin |
| Glass, carton or pouch | No | Check 2: plastic or metal, 150ml to 3L | Not in the scheme; recycle it the usual way |
| Bubble tea or fresh kopi | No | Check 2: packaged drink | Not in the scheme; nothing to return |
| Drink bought in JB or overseas | No | Check 1: bought in Singapore | Not eligible even with a printed mark |
| Route | Accepted? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| SimplyGo EZ-Link card (physical) | Yes | Concession cards included. Place it flat and wait for the beep. The card needs more than $0 on it. Shows as BCRS LTD (ASNTPCC on concession cards not on SimplyGo). |
| DBS PayLah! (My QR) | Yes | returnright.sg says no DBS or POSB account is needed. Not stated for people who are not citizens or permanent residents (SimplyGo). |
| Refund voucher | Yes | Printed at the machine. Claim within 30 days. |
| Service ticket | Yes | QR on the machine or returnright.sg/refund. Credited within 10 working days. Claim within 30 days of the ticket. |
| PayNow QR | No | Not accepted for refunds (returnright.sg). |
| SimplyGo app | No | Not accepted for refunds (returnright.sg). A physical card is needed. |
| NETS FlashPay card | No | Not accepted for refunds (returnright.sg). |
| Figure | Value | Date | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Machines deployed | 1,070 | 5 May 2026 | MSE written reply |
| Machines operational | 1,300+ | 1 Oct 2026 | NEA release as quoted by MS News |
| Return points aimed for in year one | about 2,000 | Target | NEA; MS News |
| HDB residents within a 5-minute walk | more than 90 in 100 | 1 Oct 2026 | NEA release as quoted by MS News |
| Containers returned | 5.5 million | 5 Aug 2026 | NEA as quoted by Mothership |
| Containers returned | over 20 million | First five months | MSE written reply, 8 Sep 2026 |
| Containers collected | 48 million+ | 27 Sep 2026 | NEA release as quoted by MS News |
| Plastic and metal share of containers | 55 in 100 plastic, 45 in 100 metal | By 27 Sep 2026 | NEA release as quoted by MS News |
| Containers diverted | 823+ tonnes | By 27 Sep 2026 | NEA release as quoted by MS News |
| Containers per transaction | 2.8 in April, 8.2 in September | Apr to Sep 2026 | NEA/BCRS as quoted by MS News |
| Transactions unsuccessful | 5 in 100 (first five months), 2 in 100 (September) | To Sep 2026 | MSE written reply, 6 Oct 2026 |
| Transactions refunded on the spot | about 98 in 100 | Sep 2026 | MSE written reply, 6 Oct 2026 |
| F&B outlets on the Return Right F&B Scheme | 2,700+ | 1 Oct 2026 | NEA release as quoted by MS News |
| Applications for the grace period to clear unmarked stock | 2,700+ | By 30 Sep 2026 | NEA release as quoted by MS News |
| Date | What happens | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 3 Mar 2026 | Return Right F&B Scheme launches | NEA release as quoted by MS News |
| 1 Apr 2026 | Phase 1 starts: drinks without the mark carry no deposit and are not refundable | NEA |
| 30 Sep 2026 | Smaller retailers and non-profits not granted the grace period had to clear unmarked stock by this day | NEA, 29 Sep 2026 |
| 1 Oct 2026 | Phase 2 starts: every regulated drink must carry the Deposit Mark and the deposit | NEA |
| 31 Oct 2026 | Grace period ends for smaller retailers and non-profits that were granted it | NEA, 29 Sep 2026 |
The boring bit
Where the information comes from
The rules come from NEA's page for consumers on the Beverage Container Return Scheme (NEA, for consumers (opens in a new tab), page last updated 10 Apr 2026) and from returnright.sg (opens in a new tab), the scheme's own site, read on 13 Oct 2026. Card rules come from SimplyGo's FAQ on the scheme (opens in a new tab). Counts and the rejection rate come from the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment's written replies to Parliament: 5 May (opens in a new tab), 8 Sep (opens in a new tab), 8 Sep (machine locations) (opens in a new tab), 6 Oct (rejection rate) (opens in a new tab) and 6 Oct (public hygiene) (opens in a new tab). The counts since April (more than 1,300 machines, 48 million containers, 8.2 containers a transaction and the refund portal) come from an NEA news release as quoted by MS News, 1 Oct 2026 (opens in a new tab); the grace period for unmarked stock, the 31 Oct 2026 date and who may sell it from NEA's release of 29 Sep 2026 (opens in a new tab); the 5 Aug count from NEA as quoted by Mothership, 15 Aug 2026 (opens in a new tab); the point on overseas containers from Mothership, 3 Oct 2026 (opens in a new tab); the discounts on unmarked stock from Mothership, 16 Sep 2026 (opens in a new tab); and the Grand Prix exemption from The Online Citizen, 9 Oct 2026 (opens in a new tab). That the deposit is not subject to GST is on NEA's page and on IRAS's.
What is not claimed
- This is not legal or financial advice. Rules change, and these are the rules as read on 13 Oct 2026. NEA and BCRS Ltd decide how a rule applies.
- We have not tested any machine ourselves. Everything on how machines behave comes from the pages named above.
- Several counts reach us through news stories quoting NEA and BCRS Ltd, because we could not open the NEA release itself. They are from different dates and sources, so we show them side by side and draw no trend line.
- Our own sums are two: 48 million containers at 10 cents is about $4.8 million if every one was refunded, and 8.2 against 2.8 containers a transaction is almost 3 times. Neither is a published figure, and not every container is refunded.
- The share of unsuccessful transactions (2 in 100 in September) counts every cause. We do not say how many were crushed containers.
- None of the pages we read say whether DBS PayLah! works without a DBS or POSB account for people who are not Singapore citizens or permanent residents.
- We found no way to claim the deposit on a crushed container, a half-full container or an unmarked one. That is what we found, not a statement that none exists.
- This page has no machine finder or map. Use the map on returnright.sg.
- Not covered: how shops charge the deposit, fees paid by producers, the details of the Return Right F&B Scheme, and the scheme's return-rate targets.
- Nothing here says anything about any shop, brand or person.
Coverage
This guide has no dataset. It uses 28 typed figures, each with its source and date, and every one is on the page. The eight containers in the picker are common cases, not a full list of every drink on sale.
Report an error. Corrections are logged publicly with a date.
How we did it
- Read the rules. We copied what is covered, what is left out and how the refund works from NEA's page and returnright.sg on 13 Oct 2026.
- Cross-read the sources. We read SimplyGo's FAQ for the card rules, MSE's written replies for the counts, the rejection rate and the hygiene rules, and news stories quoting NEA for the counts since April.
- Typed every figure with its source and date. There is no dataset to download, so each number sits in a small file with the source and date beside it.
- Wrote down eight common cases. For each, the first of five checks it fails, or none.
- Ran the check script. It confirms every typed figure is on the page, that the figures agree with each other, and recomputes our two sums.
Show the code
"""Checks for the 'Bottle return in Singapore' demo.
This guide has no dataset to download: every figure is typed by hand from a named source into data/figures.json, with its date.
This script (1) checks that each typed figure is on the page, (2) checks the figures agree with each other, and
(3) recomputes the few numbers we work out ourselves and checks the page says them.
Usage: python3 -I check_figures.py figures.json page.html"""
import html, json, re, sys
figs = json.load(open(sys.argv[1], encoding='utf-8'))
page = open(sys.argv[2], encoding='utf-8').read()
text = re.sub(r'<script.*?</script>|<style.*?</style>', ' ', page, flags=re.S)
text = html.unescape(re.sub(r'<[^>]+>', ' ', text))
text = re.sub(r'\s+', ' ', text)
V = {k: v['value'] for k, v in figs.items() if isinstance(v, dict) and 'value' in v}
# 1. every typed figure is on the page
missing = []
for k, v in V.items():
s = f'{v:,}' if isinstance(v, int) else str(v)
if not re.search(r'(?<![\d.,])' + re.escape(s) + r'(?![\d])', text):
missing.append((k, s))
assert not missing, f'typed figures that are not on the page: {missing}'
# 2. the figures agree with each other
assert V['mix_plastic_pct'] + V['mix_metal_pct'] == 100, 'plastic and metal shares must add to 100'
assert V['refunded_sep_pct'] + V['fail_sep_pct'] == 100, 'refunded on the spot and unsuccessful must add to 100 for September'
assert V['fail_sep_pct'] < V['fail_first5_pct']
assert V['machines_may'] < V['machines_oct'] < V['machines_aim']
assert V['cont_aug'] < V['cont_first5'] < V['cont_sep27'] # three counts, three dates: increasing, but not one series
# 3. our own sums
dep_m = V['cont_sep27'] * 1_000_000 * V['deposit_cents'] / 100 / 1_000_000 # million dollars if every container were refunded
ratio = V['per_tx_sep'] / V['per_tx_apr']
print(f"48 million x 10 cents = ${dep_m:.1f} million; 8.2 / 2.8 = {ratio:.2f} times")
assert f'${dep_m:.1f} million' in text
assert ratio < 3 and f'{ratio:.1f} times' in text and 'almost 3 times' in text
print('typed figures checked:', len(V), '- all on the page; all cross-checks pass')
What could make this wrong: a rule or count may change after 13 Oct 2026; several counts come through news stories quoting NEA and BCRS Ltd; the counts are from different dates; and the machines may behave differently from what the pages describe.
Source: NEA, MSE, BCRS Ltd (returnright.sg) and SimplyGo, read on 13 Oct 2026. Figures typed by hand, with source and date, from the pages named above; no downloaded dataset.