Slipper, umbrella, nerf gun bullet among 'inappropriate items' found in Return Right machines

A slipper, an umbrella, a nerf gun bullet, and an electronics charging case have been found disposed at the Return Right machines meant to collect drink bottles and cans for recycling.

Such "inappropriate items" can cause disruptions and inconvenience others who are waiting to recycle, said a spokesperson for BCRS Ltd on Aug. 7.

Other litter found and highlighted by the operator of the Beverage Container Return Scheme (BCRS) include plastic capsule balls, a plastic wrapper, plastic cup, and paper cup.

Under the scheme that launched in April, over 1,000 Return Right machines have been placed across Singapore.

They are designed to ensure the recovery of a clean stream of high-quality materials that can be recycled, the spokesperson said.

"To keep Return Right machines running smoothly for everyone, we encourage the public to use them only for their intended purpose."

The spokesperson also reminded the public that recycling is a shared responsibility, and caring for the machines helps keep them accessible and reliable for the community.

BCRS Ltd told The Straits Times that inappropriate items are removed during routine maintenance, and the operator does not keep an exact count of them.

Since the launch of the BCRS, the machines have made more than one million successful transactions, with 5.5 million beverage containers returned, Senior Minister of State for Sustainability and the Environment Janil Puthucheary said in Parliament on Aug. 5.

The government is also on track to increase the number of machines to around 2,000 by April 2027.

Related stories