Opening of new TOMRA Resource Transformation Centre - Dr Janil Puthucheary

1. Good morning. I am delighted to be here today to officially open TOMRA’s new Resource Transformation Centre.

2. TOMRA’s growth in Singapore is a clear signal of commitment. It shows that TOMRA sees Singapore as a long-term home—one where sustainability, innovation, and partnership can grow together.

3. TOMRA has been working closely with the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment. Since 2020, we have tapped on your global expertise in deposit return schemes to sharpen our strategies. Today, TOMRA is one of our key partners in implementing the upcoming Beverage Container Return Scheme, or BCRS. I look forward to the milestones we will achieve together in the years ahead.

Singapore’s Journey Towards a Circular Economy

4. Singapore’s journey towards sustainability will take time, perseverance, and the collective effort of everyone in this room, and beyond.

5. With our limited land and natural resources, we must rethink how we consume, how we manage waste, and how we extract value from what we use. Circularity is a necessity for us to meet our net-zero commitments and secure a liveable future for the next generation.

6. There is an urgent need for this. Our only landfill, Semakau, is filling up fast. If we do not change the way we manage waste today, the environmental, economic, and social costs will be borne by future generations.

7. One waste stream that deserves particular attention is packaging. The amount of packaging waste generated in Singapore is growing fast, forming one third of domestic waste generated each year. Our overall recycling rate is low, and for plastics, it is only around 5%. Business as usual is simply not sustainable.

8. This is why we have taken deliberate and progressive steps to strengthen circularity in packaging — from the Disposable Carrier Bag Charge to the Packaging Partnership Programme, and now the rollout of the BCRS from April this year. This is our second extended producer responsibility scheme. Each initiative builds on the last, moving us forward. Each initiative is an opportunity to shift our mindsets and reinforce a commitment to sustainability even as we deal with a particular waste stream.

 The Beverage Container Return Scheme

9. The BCRS is the next initiative. This was an idea that originated from a citizens workgroup recommendation over five years ago. Through this scheme, producers will take responsibility for the beverage containers they place on the market, ensuring that these are collected and properly recycled. Over time they will make changes to their supply chains, processes and materials used, knowing that they have some responsibility for recycling the container after it is sold. Consumers, in turn also have a responsibility to recycle and are encouraged to return their containers through a refundable deposit, creating a clean and valuable stream of recyclable material.

10. Similar schemes have been implemented across many countries, some for many years, and their experience offers important lessons. Successful implementation requires the support, understanding, and shared commitment from all stakeholders involved: producers, retailers, recyclers, and consumers. There will be teething issues and adjustments along the way, but we can address them with everyone’s support. When our scheme is implemented in April, we know it is the first step and adjustments will need to be made along the way, in order for the scheme to be effective and impactful.

11. The impact of BCRS will be significant. The scheme will cover more than one billion beverage containers used each year, allowing us to recover over 16,000 tonnes of material annually. This means less waste sent for incineration, lower carbon emissions, and a more circular economy.

12. We hope the BCRS will spark important changes in behaviour amongst Singaporeans:

    • To be more mindful of the packaging they consume;

    • To practise good recycling habits—such as emptying bottles before returning them. This is important for the use of the Reverse Vending Machines and also important for reducing contamination in our Blue Bins, making all recycling more effective; and

    • To reduce littering and keep our shared spaces clean.

 Supporting producers to onboard the scheme

13. I would like to thank the industry players who have come together to form BCRS Ltd, the consortium that will operate the scheme, and the smaller producers on its board. Your leadership and willingness to collaborate have been critical in bringing this initiative forward.

14. We recognise that this transition requires adjustment on the part of all producers. They will need to change labels, modify supply chains, and introduce new barcodes and deposit markings. These are complex changes.

15. So it is very important that the scheme is producer-led. As a producer-led entity, BCRS Ltd is best placed to take on views from industry, and ensure the scheme is implemented as efficiently as possible, and for it to achieve a significant impact.

16. Let me take this opportunity to clarify some aspects of the scheme. All BCRS beverage containers supplied in Singapore will attract a 10-cent deposit, which is fully refundable.

    • Producers of 80% of beverage containers can change their container designs to meet BCRS’s requirements. Beyond one-off implementation costs, they would incur a fee of around 3-4 cents per container. This would cover the logistics to collect and recycle their containers, and is comparable to fees in other jurisdictions.

    • Some producers may need to place a sticker on their containers to comply with the scheme. The cost of stickering will vary depending on the quantity of containers and how their supply chains are organised. Some can do so for about 3 cents per container if done at source overseas and at scale, bringing the total cost per container to around 6-7 cents. For small quantities done locally, the cost would be higher. We expect producers to work with BCRS Ltd to lower the costs over time by optimising their operations.

    • BCRS Ltd and NEA have been engaging producers of all sizes, providing practical support to help them come on board. Arising from feedback from producers, we will extend the transition period from 3 months to 6 months and introduce a transition grant of $2,500, to help businesses, particularly the smaller ones. We will be flexible and supportive to producers who reach out to BCRS Ltd so that we can help address their concerns.

 Ensuring accessibility for consumers

17. This is also a journey for consumers, and we acknowledge that it requires change. Adjusting habits is never easy, and we understand that this may result in some inconvenience.  

18. Consumers will need to get used to returning containers at designated return points, learning how reverse vending machines (RVMs) work, and adjusting routines. This may take some time, and every effort counts in protecting our environment for future generations.

19. Accessibility is a priority for us to make this transition as seamless as possible.

    • At launch, in April, approximately 1,000 return points will already be deployed across Singapore, strategically located at major supermarkets and other high-footfall areas. This ensures that 90% of residents in HDB housing estates will be within a 5-minute walk to a return point.

    • We aim to double the number of return points to 2,000 within the first year of operations. The scheme officially starts in April and BCRS containers will only gradually enter the market during the transition period, with widespread availability expected by August and September. During this initial period, we will closely monitor return patterns and gather community feedback to determine the optimal locations for additional return points.

    • This phased approach helps us optimally place reverse vending machines (RVMs), making it easier and more convenient for everyone to use them.

20. We will also make the process of returning containers and receiving refunds as simple and convenient as possible for everyone.

    • Each RVM will support all four main languages, making it more user-friendly.

    • One of the refund options available at launch will be EZ-Link cards, including student and senior concession cards.

    • BCRS Ltd will share more information on other digital refund methods soon. In March, BCRS Ltd will also provide detailed guides and videos to help everyone understand the return process.

21. We recognise that this represents a change in habit. Singaporeans have shown time and again that we can adapt for a good cause. Just as we adjusted to reusable bags and the tray return scheme, I am confident that, with time and understanding, this scheme will become part of our daily routine.

 Strengthening outreach and building social norms

22. At its core, the BCRS is not simply a scheme to collect beverage containers. It is a call for each of us to change our habits and behaviours.

    • A key focus for us in the coming weeks is to work closely with all stakeholders to build understanding and support for the scheme. Starting in February, we’ll be reaching out to grassroots organisations, schools, youth groups, NGOs, and corporate partners to share how the scheme works and why it matters. Many are already champions of our sustainability initiatives, and I hope will continue to advocate for how this BCRS is a very important step in our journey to look after our land, our resources, and our environment.

    • We are already in discussions with other key stakeholders, such as coffeeshops and smaller retailers. We will work to help them become familiar with the scheme and we will address concerns they have about implementation.

    • By working together, we hope to build awareness and establish norms for handling BCRS-compliant products. These conversations are already underway, and we will roll out more information progressively to enable everyone to be prepared.

Conclusion

23. The BCRS is an important effort to help each of us become more conscious of the packaging we consume, cultivate good recycling habits, and reduce littering—so that sustainability becomes part of everyday life.

24. Change begins with simple, everyday choices. When we take these small steps together, we move Singapore forward in a big way. If we move forward together—with trust, patience, and shared purpose—I am confident that we will succeed

25. Just like how TOMRA has grown since your first RVM was deployed in 1972, I am hopeful that Singapore’s journey towards being more sustainable and circular will continue to grow with the rollout of the BCRS.

26. I thank TOMRA once again for your warm invitation and for being a valued partner in this journey. I look forward to our continued collaboration as we work together to build a greener, more sustainable future for Singapore. Thank you.