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S’pore starts 6-month trial to return used phones, laptops at lockers and Shopee collection points

Since e-waste collection started in 2021, more than 45,000 tonnes of e-waste have been collected. Read more at straitstimes.com.

The Straits TimesShabana Begum2026-10-10 12:15查看原文 ↗

The yellow Pick! lockers are among more convenient points for residents to drop off their used phones, tablets and laptops.

PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO

Published Oct 10, 2026, 12:15 PM

Updated Oct 10, 2026, 12:15 PM

Singapore has launched a six-month pilot to let residents return used phones, tablets and laptops at Shopee collection points and lockers for easier e-waste recycling.

The ALBA Secure-Recycle scheme will securely destroy personal data and give users a certificate of data destruction, easing privacy fears and supporting wider recycling.

The trial will test public interest and operations before a possible wider rollout, as the authorities also warns people to handle batteries safely and recycle e-waste properly.

SINGAPORE - Residents can drop off old mobile phones, tablets and laptops at Shopee collection points and lockers in residential areas under a six-month pilot aimed at making e-waste recycling more convenient.

This new initiative by ALBA E-waste Smart Recycling - which handles Singapore’s e-waste recycling scheme - will also ensure that personal data on the devices will be securely handled and destroyed, with users receiving a certificate of destruction.

Many residents still have reservations about recycling their e-waste due to concerns about convenience and data security, said Senior Minister of State for Sustainability and the Environment Janil Puthucheary, who announced the ALBA Secure-Recycle initiative at the International E-Waste Day event at Kampung Admiralty on Oct 10.

Many electronic devices contain personal and confidential information, including photographs, account details, work documents and private communications.

He said: “When we then surrender our devices for recycling, correctly, people worry.”

The pilot adds to Singapore’s existing e-waste collection options, which include nearly 1,200 e-waste bins islandwide and free doorstop collection for large appliances.

Under the new programme, members of the public can drop off their devices free of charge at about 2,000 Shopee SPX collection points - including retail shops and some HDB residential units - and the yellow Pick! lockers across Singapore.

These locations would be more familiar to residents, as they are commonly used to collect packages from online shopping.

To use the service, individuals can submit a drop-off request through the ALBA E-Waste’s website or the ALBA STEP UP app and select from participating Pick! lockers or SPX Express service points. More details are available at https://alba-ewaste.sg/alba-secure-recycle

After completing the steps, they will receive drop-off details, such as a PIN or tracking number.

More than 45,000 tonnes of e-waste have been collected over five years. ST PHOTO: NG SOR LUAN

More than 45,000 tonnes of e-waste have been collected over five years.

ST PHOTO: NG SOR LUAN

Once Virogreen, the appointed e-waste recycler, has destroyed the data on the devices, users will receive a certificate of data destruction, said Janil.

The devices will then be processed and recycled to recover valuable materials, like gold, copper and cobalt, which Janil said can be used to manufacture new products, reducing the need to extract new raw materials.

The six-month trial will allow ALBA E-Waste and its partners to assess public interest and review operational processes before considering a wider rollout.

To protect their privacy, users should also back up their data, log out of personal accounts, remove SIM cards and external storage media, and perform a hard reset to erase accessible records before depositing their devices, where possible.

Since Singapore’s e-waste recycling scheme started in 2021, more than 45,000 tonnes of e-waste have been collected as at end-August, said Janil. Around 11,000 tonnes were collected over the past year .

There are currently close to 1,200 e-waste bins at shopping malls, electronics stores, supermarkets and all community centres.

There are four types of bins, including one that accepts only household batteries, as well as drop-off services in supermarkets.

The ALBA Secure-Recycle initiative is not the first of its kind in Singapore. Since 2024, e-waste recycler KGS has been running a free programme called TakeBag where residents can order a green bag to place their old electronics and return them to over 1,100 Pick! lockers islandwide.

The TakeBag programme accepts a wider range of electronics, including power banks, keyboards and electric kettles. It has collected about 10 tonnes of e-waste to date. D ata is similarly destroyed from devices.

At the Oct 10 event, Janil also highlighted the importance of safely disposing e-waste, especially flammable batteries.

Batteries should never be thrown into general waste or recycling bins, where they may be compressed, punctured, or damaged during collection and handling, he said.

Where possible, residents should tape the batteries’ terminals before depositing them in ALBA’s e-waste bins, which are made of fire-resistant materials.

Batteries with signs of damage or bloating, or those used in electric mobility devices, should be treated with extra care and handed over to trained personnel at collection drives, he added.

Consumer electronics

黄色的 Pick! 储物柜是居民丢弃旧手机、平板电脑和笔记本电脑的更便捷地点之一。

图片来源：联合早报

发布于 2026 年 10 月 10 日下午 12:15

更新于2026年10月10日下午12:15

新加坡启动了一项为期六个月的试点项目，允许居民将旧手机、平板电脑和笔记本电脑退回 Shopee 回收点和储物柜，以便更轻松地回收电子垃圾。

ALBA 安全回收计划将安全地销毁个人数据，并向用户提供数据销毁证明，从而减轻隐私担忧并支持更广泛的回收利用。

此次试验旨在检验公众的兴趣和运作情况，然后再考虑是否进行更广泛的推广。同时，当局也提醒人们安全处理电池并正确回收电子垃圾。

新加坡——一项为期六个月的试点项目旨在让电子垃圾回收更加便捷，居民可以将旧手机、平板电脑和笔记本电脑送到 Shopee 在住宅区的回收点和储物柜。

新加坡电子垃圾回收计划的执行机构 ALBA E-waste Smart Recycling 的这项新举措，还将确保设备上的个人数据得到安全处理和销毁，用户还将收到销毁证明。

永续农业及环境部高级政务部长贾尼尔·普图切里在10月10日于甘榜海军部举行的国际电子垃圾日活动上宣布了ALBA安全回收计划。他表示，许多居民仍然对回收电子垃圾持保留态度，因为他们担心回收的便利性和数据安全问题。

许多电子设备包含个人和机密信息，包括照片、账户详情、工作文件和私人通信。