Man buys drinks from AMK shop, can't get 10¢ deposit back as sticker on can unapproved

A consumer in Ang Mo Kio Avenue 10 discovered that a refund of 10 cents for a drink he purchased could not be obtained because the can's sticker was unapproved. He shared his experience on Facebook on Sep. 29, 2026. The extra 20 cents listed on his receipt was labeled as BCRS deposit, but the Return Right machine refused to issue a refund.

According to the man, the container's deposit mark sticker was not registered or recognized, preventing him from receiving his deposit back. He emphasized that consumers should expect a refund when a retailer collects a $0.10 deposit and urged them to always ask for a receipt when making purchases. The National Environment Agency (NEA) was informed about the issue.

BCRS Ltd stated that the drinks in question were not registered and carried an unapproved sticker, which disqualifies them from a deposit refund. They have contacted the producer to take corrective actions, including requesting a recall of the unregistered stock. Under the scheme, BCRS-approved deposit mark stickers are an accepted form of labelling for registered products.

However, the stickers must be procured through BCRS-appointed vendors and comply with the required deposit mark and barcode specifications. If a stickered container is rejected by the Return Right machine, consumers can contact hi@returnright.sg for assistance, providing a clear photo of the product, barcode, and purchase location.