Over 2,000 apply for BCRS grace period; 85% of processed applications approved: NEA

Over 2,000 owners of neighbourhood convenience stores, family-run provision shops, and non-profit organisations (NPO) have applied for a grace period — till Oct 31 — to clear their remaining stock of non-Beverage Container Return Scheme (BCRS) labelled beverages.

Providing an update on Tuesday (Sept 29) after applications opened on Sept 18, the National Environment Agency (NEA) stated that it has received over 2,000 applications as of 9am on Sept 29.

It added that the applications were mostly from smaller retailers such as provision shops, neighbourhood convenience stores, and standalone food shops.

"We have approved around 85 per cent of the over 1,600 applications processed so far. NEA is expediting the processing of the remaining applications, which are mainly those which were recently submitted," it said.

Explaining how it reviews the applications, NEA said it takes into account various factors.

These include: the nature of the business, the number of outlets owned by the company, the applicants' existing stock of non-BCRS labelled products, their ability to clear their existing stock by Sept 30, and their efforts and plans to deplete the existing stocks.

NEA said the grace period was introduced in recognition that some smaller retailers and NPOs had made genuine efforts and plans to deplete their stock of non-BCRS-labelled beverages but required more time for the transition.

In approving the grace period, some retailers have also been reminded not to bring in any new stock that is not BCRS-labelled, and to indicate clearly to their customers that the stock being sold is not subject to the 10-cent deposit.

Those who had their application rejected were reminded to clear all remaining non-BCRS-labelled stock by Sept 30.

The agency also reminded smaller retailers who have not applied for the grace period, but are facing continued challenges clearing off their remaining stock, to submit their applications by Sept 30.

"NEA will assess each submission based on the retailer’s circumstances and notify applicants of the outcome," it added.

NPOs who require the grace period are also encouraged to submit their applications by Sept 30.

Those who are granted the extension may continue to receive and distribute donated non-BCRS-labelled beverage stock to their beneficiaries till Oct 31.

However, they are not allowed to sell any non-BCRS-labelled beverages.

The grace period was first announced by NEA on Sept 18. 

"We want to make sure no one is left behind as we take this step towards a more sustainable Singapore," said Senior Minister of State for Sustainability and the Environment Janil Puthucheary in a social media post that day.

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6-month transition

When the BCRS was launched on April 1, a six-month transition period was introduced to allow producers and retailers sufficient time to progressively replace their stocks with BCRS-labelled beverages.

Under the scheme, all plastic bottles and cans from 150ml to 3 litres must be labelled with the 10-cent deposit mark from Oct 1, or they cannot be sold.

Customers pay an extra 10 cents for each drink purchased under the scheme and receive the money back when they deposit the used containers into a reverse vending machine, also called a Return Right machine.

About 1,070 machines have been deployed since April 1, with over 90 per cent of HDB residents within a five-minute walk of a reverse vending machine, in addition to those located at larger supermarkets.

Another 300 machines are set to be deployed in areas outside the initial rollout zone, including industrial estates, Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs), and other places of interest. 

Earlier in August, the scheme's operator introduced changes to the user interface and a longer refund timeout window on the machines to improve customer experience.

The scheme has handled over a million transactions, with 5.5 million beverage containers returned as at August.

From Oct 1, it will be an offence for anyone, including supermarket operators, to supply any regulated beverage if the container is not affixed with the scheme's deposit mark and a barcode.

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editor@asiaone.com