Man's use of BCRS machine draws mixed reactions from netizens

A video showing a man using a Beverage Container Return Scheme (BCRS) machine has sparked discussion online over the scheme's operations and potential abuse after it was uploaded to Reddit on Monday (Nov 9).

Shared on the r/singaporespeaks forum, the clip shows a man in a red uniform depositing beverage containers from a big black trash bag into a BCRS machine. Each time before he does so, he appears to scan the barcode from an empty can before inserting a beverage container into the machine. He repeats this several times at least, scanning the barcode from the same empty can.

However, it was unclear where or when the video was filmed.

The original poster questioned how much was spent on implementing the scheme, and whether it could be exploited. The discussion has since raised wider questions about the scheme's implementation and whether its return machines have safeguards against potential misuse.

'More cans are getting recycled': Netizens divided over man's actions

Some Reddit users speculated that the man was reusing a barcode to redeem deposits for multiple containers, although this has not been established.

One user suggested that the man was using the barcode on one can to get the machine to accept other cans or bottles that did not have the required barcode.

Another user, however, suggested that the man might not be cheating the system, pointing out that some containers bearing the BCRS logo were sometimes rejected because the machine could not detect their barcodes.

"He might not be cheating the system, some cans are sometimes rejected even if they have the BCRS logo affixed because the machine somehow can't detect the barcode," the user wrote.

Others speculated that the man was a migrant worker, with one commenter saying: "I see a migrant worker collecting cash with people's trash. What is wrong here?"

Another Reddit user questioned why his actions were being criticised, adding that more containers were ultimately being recycled.

"At the end of the day, more cans are getting recycled," the commenter said.

A separate user also defended the man, saying that as long as he was not littering, damaging anything or breaking the rules, he was entitled to use the machine and receive the money for the containers, regardless of his nationality.

Others were more critical of the scheme's implementation, with one describing it as a "poorly executed solution" and claiming that the man had found a way to exploit its shortcomings.

AsiaOne has contacted the National Environment Agency (NEA), which oversees and licenses the BCRS, for more information.

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helmy.saat@asiaone.com