Singapore Wants Empty Bottles Back to Reduce Plastic Waste

Don’t throw out that plastic bottle. The Singapore government wants empty beverage containers in return for cash, in a bid to boost the recycling rate.

More than 1,000 machines will be available islandwide from April 1, the National Environment Agency and the Beverage Container Return Scheme said in a statement Wednesday. The plan is to increase the number of machines to 2,000 within the first year. There’ll be a refund of 10 Singapore cents (7.8 cents) for each plastic and metal container returned.