Excited to find BCRS logo on drinks in JB? They're likely not eligible for return here due to different barcodes
Singaporean consumers are being warned that beverage bottles purchased in Malaysia are likely ineligible for the Beverage Container Return Scheme (BCRS) in Singapore. Despite having the BCRS logo, the different barcodes indicate they are not part of the local refund system.
Why it matters
This clarifies consumer confusion regarding cross-border recycling schemes and the technical limitations of automated deposit systems.
Fancy bringing your drink bottles back from Johor Bahru to recycle for some extra cash at the Beverage Container Return Scheme (BCRS) machines in Singapore?
Turns out it's unlikely that you can, even if the bottles have the BCRS mark on them.
On Thursday (Oct 1), the SG News Warehouse Sale & Events Facebook page shared photos of 1.5-litre cola bottles in Johor Bahru with the BCRS logo on them.
"Will admin make some money from BCRS if buy from JB?" the post pondered. "RM2.60 (S$0.80) only, but have to bring back to Singapore to claim 10 cents unless have BCRS bin [here]."
Though it appeared to be a steal, netizens pointed out that the bottles would likely be ineligible to return in Singapore as they started with a 955 barcode, while those that the BCRS machines accept start with 888.
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