With just over two weeks remaining before the full rollout of Singapore’s Beverage Container Return Scheme (BCRS), several retailers and distributors are offering significant discounts on drinks lacking the mandatory Return Right logo. The scheme, which takes effect on October 1, requires all plastic bottles and cans between 150ml and 3 litres to carry a 10-cent deposit mark. Consumers pay this deposit at purchase and receive a refund upon returning the containers to designated reverse vending machines.

Though the reverse vending machines have been operational since April 1, the National Environment Agency (NEA) allowed a six-month transition period for producers and retailers to clear their existing stock without the required BCRS labels. This phase concludes on September 30, after which selling regulated beverages without the deposit mark and barcode will be prohibited. Violators risk fines up to S$10,000 and/or imprisonment of up to three months under the Resource Sustainability Act.

During recent checks, Japanese retail chain Don Don Donki was found offering discounts of between 20 and 67 percent on nearly 40 non-BCRS-labelled products, mostly alcoholic beverages, at select outlets including 100AM Mall, Clarke Quay Central, and Jurong Point. Don Don Donki declined to comment on the matter.

At K-Markets, a Korean specialty grocery chain, assistant manager for the Mart Team Samuel Lee reported holding 3,258 non-labelled beverage containers across nine outlets as of mid-September. The chain plans to clear these stocks using targeted discounts, prominent in-store displays, and transfers among locations depending on demand. Lee highlighted that some imported niche products have slower sales, prompting a measured approach rather than blanket markdowns. He affirmed that unsold non-compliant products will be withdrawn once the deadline passes.

Beer distributor Watering Hole has also been carrying out clearance sales, moving about 1,500 beer cans at half price in the preceding two weeks. Founder Lim Jialiang said staggered sales are intended to avoid flooding the market with discounted goods. He noted the challenges in meeting packaging standards and coordinating with overseas suppliers, adding that he invested S$10,000 in a labelling machine to apply approved deposit stickers on imported products lacking the BCRS marks. This sticker option is available to producers unable to print the deposit logo directly on packaging.

Cold Storage and Giant, under the same group, currently hold approximately 5,000 non-labelled beverage containers. A company spokesperson indicated that clearance sales may be selectively implemented in consideration of stock quantities, product shelf life, and supplier agreements. Other measures under review include returning eligible stock to suppliers and reallocating inventory to outlets with higher demand. The spokesperson also noted operational challenges in distinguishing between labelled and non-labelled products when both exist on shelves.

FairPrice Group reported steady progress in aligning with the new requirements. A spokesperson said the company is collaborating closely with suppliers to transition to BCRS-compliant products and manage existing stock effectively to ensure smooth implementation.

The NEA’s BCRS aims to encourage recycling and reduce waste by incentivizing consumers to return beverage containers. As the September 30 deadline approaches, major retailers and distributors are taking varied approaches to comply with the law while mitigating financial impact from unsold non-compliant products. Requests for information from Prime Supermarket and Sheng Siong had not been responded to at the time of writing.