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S$0.10 beverage container refund can be credited via PayLah! from Apr. 2026
PayLah! users can transfer the refunds from their mobile wallets to their non-DBS/POSB bank accounts.
March 02, 2026, 06:54 PM
When the beverage container return scheme (BCRS) starts from Apr. 1, 2026, members of the public can receive their S$0.10 refund through their PayLah! wallets.
In a Mar. 2 statement, DBS said users can generate and scan PayLah! QR codes at reverse vending machines (RVMs) to get a refund for their bottle or can deposit.
The refunded amount will be credited to the consumer's PayLah! wallet with a push notification confirmation, and it will also be reflected in the app's transaction history.
DBS said this integration offers "consumers another mode of refund within Singapore's container return scheme".
PayLah! is open to all users in Singapore, and eligible users can sign up for the app without a DBS or POSB bank account, said DBS.
"In addition, PayLah! users can transfer funds from their mobile wallets to their non-DBS/POSB bank accounts," DBS said.
What is Beverage Container Return Scheme (BCRS)?
The BCRS aims to encourage recycling habits through the implementation of a S$0.10 refundable deposit when purchasing pre-packaged drinks in plastic bottles or aluminum cans ranging from 150ml to 3L in volume.
The deposit will be refunded when the empty containers are placed into the designated RVMs.
Around 1,000 RVM return points will be deployed at larger supermarkets and high footfall areas when the scheme launches.
PayLah! is the second digital refund option announced for BCRS after EZ-Link cards, including concession cards for students and seniors.
Chan Sow Han, head of payments and unsecured lending of the DBS consumer banking group, said PayLah! has more than 3 million users and "its reach and convenience also help support initiatives aimed at creating positive impact".
"We are pleased to provide consumers with a familiar digital option, demonstrating how supporting sustainability can be as easy and seamless as paying for hawker meals," Chan said.
Stephanie Yip, CEO of BCRS Ltd., said this partnership builds "digital infrastructure that supports our national journey towards circularity": "This collaboration reflects a shared belief that sustainability must be both accessible and scalable."
Top photo from DBS and Hidayat Anuar/Mothership
