Summary
Details
- Singapore
Depending on the activity, mandatory requirements can apply to:
Electrical and electronic equipment producers.
Electronics retailers.
Packaging producers.
Importers.
Retailers.
Large supermarket operators.
Beverage producers.
Beverage retailers.
Operators of prescribed buildings.
Producer Responsibility Scheme operators.
Organizations outside statutory thresholds can voluntarily implement measures such as:
Packaging reduction.
Reusable carrier bags.
E-waste take-back.
Food waste prevention.
Recycling programs.
Deep dive
- What’s Required
- 1. E-waste producer registration
- 2. Participate in the e-waste Producer Responsibility Scheme
- 3. Retailer take-back of e-waste
- 4. Mandatory Packaging Reporting
- 5. Disposable carrier bag charge
- 6. Beverage Container Return Scheme
- 7. Food waste segregation and treatment
- 8. Producer Responsibility Scheme licensing
- Important Deadlines
- Current Status
- Penalties for Non-Compliance
- Examples of Known Violations / Failure Modes
- Resources
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What’s Required
1. E-waste producer registration
Producers supplying regulated electrical and electronic equipment must determine whether registration requirements apply.
The regulatory system covers specified consumer and non-consumer electrical and electronic products.
Applicable producers may need to:
Register with NEA.
Report quantities placed on the Singapore market.
Participate in the licensed Producer Responsibility Scheme.
Finance collection and treatment.
Maintain supporting records.
2. Participate in the e-waste Producer Responsibility Scheme
Since July 1, 2021, producers exceeding applicable product thresholds for regulated consumer products must participate in and finance the licensed Producer Responsibility Scheme.
Producers of regulated non-consumer products have separate responsibilities for collecting and properly treating unwanted products supplied by them.
3. Retailer take-back of e-waste
Retailers selling regulated consumer electrical and electronic products can have take-back obligations.
Large retailers may also be required to provide in-store e-waste collection facilities.
4. Mandatory Packaging Reporting
Part 4 of the Act requires qualifying producers of packaged products and retailers to:
Report specified packaging imported or used.
Prepare reduce, reuse and recycle plans.
Report progress.
Maintain supporting records.
Companies with annual turnover exceeding S$10 million are within the current Mandatory Packaging Reporting threshold where the other statutory criteria are met.
5. Disposable carrier bag charge
Since July 3, 2023, supermarket operators with company-level annual turnover above S$100 million must charge at least S$0.05 per disposable carrier bag at applicable physical supermarket stores.
The requirement applies to carrier bags made from all materials, not only plastic.
6. Beverage Container Return Scheme
The Resource Sustainability Act now provides the legal framework for Singapore’s Beverage Container Return Scheme.
The scheme began on April 1, 2026.
Covered pre-packaged beverages in plastic and metal containers between 150 ml and 3 liters are subject to a S$0.10 refundable deposit when carrying the required deposit mark.
A transition period runs from April 1 through September 30, 2026. From October 1, 2026, regulated beverage products supplied in Singapore must carry the deposit mark and participate fully in the scheme.
7. Food waste segregation and treatment
The Act requires prescribed buildings generating significant quantities of food waste to segregate food waste for treatment.
Current provisions cover matters including:
Food waste segregation.
Segregated waste facilities.
Treatment arrangements.
Reporting of treated food waste.
Recordkeeping.
8. Producer Responsibility Scheme licensing
Organizations operating statutory Producer Responsibility Schemes must hold the required license.
The Act includes provisions concerning:
Licensing.
License conditions.
Key appointment holders.
Financial penalties.
Records.
Annual reports.
Disclosure requirements.
Important Deadlines
September 4, 2019: Parliament passed the Resource Sustainability Act.
September 23, 2019: Presidential assent.
October 4, 2019: Act published.
January 1, 2020: Initial parts of the Act commenced.
July 1, 2020: Packaging reporting provisions commenced.
July 1, 2021: E-waste EPR obligations became operational.
July 3, 2023: Mandatory disposable carrier bag charge introduced for covered supermarket operators.
2024 onward: Food waste segregation and reporting requirements progressively implemented for prescribed buildings.
April 1, 2026: Beverage Container Return Scheme commenced.
October 1, 2026: Full BCRS implementation following the six-month transition period.
Current Status
Active and legally binding.
The current version of the Resource Sustainability Act remained in force in 2026 and now contains dedicated parts covering e-waste, packaging reporting, disposable carrier bags, beverage container returns, food waste and licensed producer responsibility schemes.
The Act has therefore evolved from its original focus on three priority waste streams into a broader statutory resource-circulation framework.
Penalties for Non-Compliance
The Resource Sustainability Act contains statutory offenses, enforcement powers and financial penalties.
Depending on the provision, consequences may include:
Financial penalties.
Criminal fines.
Orders to correct information.
Revocation of Producer Responsibility Scheme licenses.
Enforcement inspections.
Requirements to produce documents.
Liability for providing false information.
Additional penalties for continuing offenses.
The precise sanction depends on the obligation breached.
Examples of Known Violations / Failure Modes
Supplying regulated electronics without required producer registration.
Failing to participate in the e-waste Producer Responsibility Scheme where required.
Failing to report regulated product quantities.
Missing packaging reporting requirements.
Submitting inaccurate packaging data.
Failing to maintain required records.
Failing to impose the mandatory carrier bag charge.
Failing to report bag charge information.
Supplying regulated beverage containers without the required deposit mark after full implementation.
Failing to participate in the Beverage Container Return Scheme.
Failing to segregate food waste in a prescribed building.
Operating a Producer Responsibility Scheme without the required license.
Providing false or misleading information to NEA.
Treating voluntary sustainability activity as a substitute for statutory obligations.
Resources
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