Too early to say if BCRS exemption for F1 Grand Prix will extend to other large events: Grace Fu

NEA will consider applying the Return Right F&B scheme to other large-scale events if they can meet the required conditions, says the minister for sustainability and the environment.

A demonstration of a consumer returning an empty drink bottle at a Return Right machine under the Beverage Container Return Scheme. (File photo: CNA/Syamil Sapari)

This audio is generated by an AI tool.

SINGAPORE: It is too early to say if other large events will get the Singapore Grand Prix's exemption from the beverage container return scheme (BCRS), Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu said on Wednesday (Nov 4).

"As the scheme has just been fully implemented on Oct 1, it is still too early to gauge the overall effectiveness of operator-led collection and return arrangements" under the Return Right scheme, she said in a written parliamentary reply.

The National Environment Agency will consider applying the scheme to other large-scale events "if they are able to comply with the conditions", she added.

Members of Parliament had filed several questions on exemptions from the 10-cent deposit, whether similar arrangements could extend to other locations or events, and the effectiveness of operator-led collection and return arrangements.

For the 2026 Formula 1 Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix, which took place from Oct 9 to 11, the event organiser and permitted food and beverage operators were treated in the same way as outlets under the Return Right scheme. They did not have to collect the deposit from consumers.

They still had to pay the deposit to their beverage suppliers, while the event organiser set up a system for patrons to return their drink containers for recycling.

Close to 3,000 F&B outlets are participating in the Return Right initiative. The scheme is open to F&B operators that hold a valid licence from the Singapore Food Agency, have dine-in arrangements and sell beverages regulated under the BCRS.

Participating outlets bear the cost of deposits on regulated beverages sold and consumed on their premises, and retain the empty beverage containers without charging customers the deposit.

Such outlets include food courts and restaurants in airport transit areas, while coffee shops and hawker stalls make up a small minority.

CNA Games Guess Word Crack the word, one row at a time Buzzword Create words using the given letters Mini Sudoku Tiny puzzle, mighty brain teaser Mini Crossword Small grid, big challenge Word Search Spot as many words as you can Show More Show Less

Responding separately to questions on how often the machines fail to process containers and whether the ministry will work with the operator to automate refund processing, Senior Minister of State for Sustainability and the Environment Janil Puthucheary told parliament that more than 95 per cent of transactions at reverse vending machines were refunded on the spot as of October.

A “considerable proportion” of the unsuccessful transactions appeared to be due to users being unfamiliar with the refund process, Dr Puthucheary said.

BCRS Ltd has been progressively rolling out a digital refund portal since Oct 1. Users can submit their personal details through a pre-populated online form instead of emailing the company.

Under the new process, refunds are expected within 10 working days, down from 30.

Get our pick of top stories and thought-provoking articles in your inbox

Stay updated with notifications for breaking news and our best stories

Join our channel for the top reads for the day on your preferred chat app

可持续发展和环境部长表示，如果其他大型活动能够满足相关条件，国家环境局将考虑把“餐饮返还权”计划应用于这些活动。

一名消费者正在“饮料容器回收计划”下，使用“回收机”退还空饮料瓶。（资料照片：CNA/Syamil Sapari）

这段音频由人工智能工具生成。

新加坡：永续发展及环境部长傅海燕周三（11月4日）表示，现在判断其他大型活动是否会像新加坡大奖赛一样获得饮料容器回收计划（BCRS）的豁免还为时过早。

她在书面议会答复中表示：“由于该计划于 10 月 1 日才全面实施，现在评估运营商主导的收集和归还安排在‘归还权利’计划下的整体有效性还为时过早。”

她补充说，如果其他大型活动能够遵守相关条件，国家环境局将考虑把该计划应用于这些活动。

国会议员们就 10 分押金的豁免、类似安排是否可以扩展到其他地点或活动以及运营商主导的收款和退款安排的有效性提出了几个问题。

在2026年10月9日至11日举行的F1新加坡航空新加坡大奖赛期间，赛事组织方和获准的餐饮运营商与“退款权”计划下的商家享有同等待遇，无需向消费者收取押金。

他们仍然需要向饮料供应商支付押金，而活动组织者则建立了一个系统，让顾客可以归还饮料容器进行回收利用。

近3000家餐饮场所参与了“返还权益”计划。该计划面向持有新加坡食品局有效许可证、提供堂食服务并销售受《餐饮消费条例》（BCRS）监管的饮品的餐饮经营者开放。

参与活动的商家承担在其店内销售和消费的受管制饮料的押金成本，并保留空饮料容器，而不向顾客收取押金。

此类场所包括机场中转区的美食广场和餐厅，而咖啡店和小贩摊位只占少数。

CNA游戏 猜词游戏 逐行破解单词 流行词游戏 用给定的字母组成单词 迷你数独 小小谜题，挑战你的大脑 迷你填字游戏 小方格，大挑战 单词搜索 尽可能多地找出单词 显示更多 显示更少

针对机器处理容器失败的频率以及该部是否会与运营商合作实现退款处理的自动化等问题，可持续发展和环境部高级政务部长贾尼尔·普图切里在议会表示，截至 10 月，超过 95% 的逆向自动售货机交易都能当场退款。

普图切里博士表示，相当一部分交易失败似乎是由于用户不熟悉退款流程造成的。

自 10 月 1 日起，BCRS Ltd 一直在逐步推出数字退款门户网站。用户可以通过预先填写的在线表格提交个人信息，而无需通过电子邮件联系公司。

根据新流程，退款预计将在 10 个工作日内到账，比之前的 30 个工作日缩短了。

订阅我们的邮件，即可获取精选热点新闻和引人深思的文章。

订阅通知，第一时间获取突发新闻和精彩报道。

加入我们的频道，即可在您常用的聊天应用上获取当日热门文章。