Forum: ‘Transition lag’ in beverage container return scheme could kill public’s recycling momentum

I refer to the report, “Day 1 of Singapore’s beverage container return scheme kicks in, but eligible containers hard to find” (April 1).

As a supporter of Singapore’s “Zero Waste” vision, I was slightly disappointed when I read that the launch was lacklustre and seemingly not well received, mainly because of the lack of eligible containers available at the time of launch for consumers to deposit.

While I understand that the 10-cent deposit applies to only new stock and that this is being gradually rolled out, I worry that this “transition lag” risks killing the public’s recycling momentum before it even begins.

It was saddening to see there were residents enthusiastic about recycling cleaned bottles, only for the bottles to end up in the trash as the machine rejected them.

When residents make the effort to carry bags of recyclables to a machine only to be met with a “Transaction Rejected” screen, the resulting demotivation may lead them to abandon the practice entirely, potentially missing out on habit-forming.

I believe having a solid and impactful first launch is the best way to kickstart a successful initiative, as it is when residents are the most keen and supportive.

I applaud the efforts in stationing ambassadors at selected supermarkets to help with spreading awareness and rendering assistance.

To further build on this idea and prevent “recycling fatigue”, this transition period could be better facilitated as a “Manual Grace Period” in which stationed ambassadors could manually verify non-labelled but recyclable containers, perhaps in exchange for an in-store voucher.

This would help residents recycle their containers while the labels and machines are being sorted out, and also allow for retailers to slowly sell off stock without resorting to mass disposal.

By rewarding the act of recycling rather than just the label on the bottle during this roll-out phase, we ensure that the scheme is associated with community success rather than technical friction.

Let us not let a labelling delay undermine a vital environmental milestone.

Wai Jone Yang