SINGAPORE – From 1 April 2024, consumers can now return eligible beverage containers and receive refunds directly into their DBS PayLah! wallets as part of the Beverage Container Return Scheme (BCRS). This new digital refund option complements the existing method of receiving refunds through EZ-Link cards.
How It Works
- Consumers pay a refundable deposit of 10 cents when purchasing beverages in bottles and cans.
- To claim their refund, users can generate a personal QR code in the DBS PayLah! app and scan it at over 1,000 reverse vending machines located in supermarkets and public areas.
- Refunds will be credited to users’ wallets and confirmed through a notification.
Widespread Adoption and Accessibility
The initiative is designed to promote recycling by making it a seamless part of daily life. According to Ms Chan Sow Han, head of payments at DBS, the PayLah! e-wallet has over three million active users and is accessible to all residents, even those without a DBS or POSB account.
“We are pleased to provide consumers with a familiar digital option,” Chan stated, adding that integrating sustainability into daily habits can be as easy as buying a meal from a hawker centre.
Future Developments
Despite the current focus on PayLah!, the operator of the BCRS, BCRS Ltd, mentioned that they are exploring additional digital refund methods, including PayNow, for larger transactions. The goal is to increase the recycling rate in Singapore, which dropped to 11% in 2024, with a target of having 70% to 80% of all bottles and cans returned through this scheme.
Community ambassadors will be available in public areas to assist users, especially seniors, in navigating the digital refund process.
With the changing landscape of waste management, every bit counts, and BCRS, along with DBS, aims to ensure that recycling becomes second nature for all Singaporeans.