Singapore's NEA rejects graft claims over S$550,000 bottle refunds
What's new: The agency said 5.5 million containers were returned in more than 1 million machine transactions, averaging 5.5 items each.
Singapore's National Environment Agency pushed back on allegations of misappropriation and corruption tied to refunds under the Beverage Container Return Scheme, saying online claims misread figures presented in Parliament. The agency said more than 1 million successful transactions at Return Right machines covered 5.5 million plastic and metal drink containers returned from April to July, not refunds for only 1 million containers. At a S$0.10 deposit per item, that works out to about S$550,000 refunded. The confusion followed comments by Senior Minister of State for Sustainability and the Environment Janil Puthucheary on Aug. 5. NEA said producers can keep selling containers without the deposit mark through Sept. 30, but all regulated beverage containers sold from Oct. 1 must carry it.