Singapore only ASEAN nation with a deposit refund scheme: report

Most countries in the region still use single-use plastic.

A new regulatory mapping report by the ASEAN Circularity Coalition showed Singapore has policies in place to advance its circular economy.

While the city-state has no specific strategy or roadmap targeting plastic waste, the coalition noted related policies are included in its Zero Waste Masterplan in 2019.

This includes the disposable carrier bag charge imposed for big supermarkets starting in 2023 as well as the Beverage Container Return Scheme to be implemented in April 2025.

Singapore is now the only country in ASEAN to have an ongoing deposit refund scheme with a 10-cent deposit added to the prices of beverages sold.

The Lion City had also banned the use of single-use plastics with the National Environment Agency (NEA) prohibiting hawker centres from providing disposables for dine-in meals. 

To further deter the excessive use of plastic, regulators are also working on an EPR framework for packaging waste by 2025 while a National Recycling Programme has been in place since 2001.

Singapore, meanwhile, lags in terms of import regulation with no import taxes imposed.

The report found that most countries in ASEAN still use single-use plastics despite the majority having dedicated strategies to address plastic wate.