Are we overengineering recycling in Singapore? The 10¢ bottle machine feels like a waste of money.
Hear me out.
I get the intention behind the 10-cent deposit scheme. Improve recycling rates, reduce waste, all good goals. But the way it’s being implemented right now feels unnecessarily complicated and not very practical.
Some issues I’ve noticed:
- Machines only accept selected bottles, so a lot of drinks can’t even be returned
- Not many machines around, so it’s inconvenient to get your 10 cents back
- It ends up feeling like drinks are more expensive
But beyond the inconvenience, I’m more concerned about the bigger picture.
These machines and the system behind them can’t be cheap. It makes me wonder:
- How much taxpayer money is being spent on this?
- Were Singaporeans actually consulted before rolling this out?
- Is this really the most efficient way to improve recycling?
Honestly, it feels like we might be overengineering a problem that could have simpler solutions.
For example:
- More recycling bins for plastic, paper, and e-waste in HDB areas
- Better public education on recycling habits
- Or even redirecting some of these funds to support lower-income households, especially with the rising cost of living
I understand the idea is to change behaviour through incentives, not just convenience. But if the system is inconvenient or confusing, won’t people just give up on it?
Curious what others think:
- Have you actually used these machines?
- Do you think this scheme will work long-term in Singapore?
- Or are there better, simpler alternatives?
Interested to hear both sides! Maybe I’m missing something here.