APBS Leads Partnership to Help Migrant Workers Participate in Singapore's Return Right Scheme

SINGAPORE, Oct. 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Asia Pacific Breweries Singapore (APBS) has brought together industry, government and community partners to help migrant workers take part in Singapore's Beverage Container Return Scheme (BCRS), known as Return Right^[1]. Through the Return Right Roadshow: Migrant Worker Outreach, workers learn how to join the national recycling effort and reclaim deposits on eligible beverage containers.

Developed in partnership with Beverage Container Return Scheme (BCRS) Ltd, the Migrant Workers' Centre (MWC), and the National Environment Agency (NEA), the campaign aims to engage at least 2,000 migrant workers across four locations through multilingual education, practical demonstrations and peer-to-peer engagement. The goal is to equip workers with the knowledge and confidence to use Return Right, reclaim their deposits and contribute to Singapore's circular economy.

A key focus of the roadshow demonstrations is encouraging proper recycling practices and responsible use of the machines. Participants are guided to empty and rinse their beverage containers before returning them, keep containers intact for scanning, and dispose of rejected containers responsibly rather than leaving them around the machines.

The first Return Right Roadshow kicked off on October 17 at MWC's Recreation Club at Soon Lee Road, where over 500 migrant workers participated, and a grand total of 1,062 containers were collected during the demonstrations.

As Return Right is a new national scheme, APBS sees an opportunity to bring information directly to migrant worker communities through a multi-stakeholder outreach initiative, making the scheme even more accessible and inclusive.

The Return Right Roadshow brings together the complementary strengths of its partners. APBS leads the outreach efforts, MWC facilitates engagement with migrant worker communities, NEA contributes public education expertise, while BCRS Ltd supports the campaign in its capacity as the licensed scheme operator.

"APBS is committed to making Singapore's Beverage Container Return Scheme accessible to all. Through the Return Right Roadshow, we are helping migrant workers understand the scheme, reclaim their deposits and participate in recycling. As a leading brewer, APBS is committed to supporting Singapore's transition towards a more circular future, and we thank BCRS Ltd, MWC, and NEA for their partnership in making this initiative possible," said Ng Eng Kiat, Corporate Affairs Director, APBS.

A Community-based Approach to Boost Participation

The roadshow features multilingual outreach activities in English, Bengali, Burmese, Tamil and Chinese, alongside live demonstrations of Return Right reverse vending machines (RVMs). Participants learn hands-on how to identify eligible beverage containers, check for the mandatory Deposit Mark, return empty containers and receive their 10-cent deposit refunds. "Public education and community participation are important contributors to the successful implementation of the Beverage Container Return Scheme. By equipping migrant worker ambassadors with the knowledge and resources to share information with their peers in familiar languages, we hope to deepen understanding of the scheme, encourage greater participation and support the adoption of recycling as an everyday habit," said Gloria Tan, Director, 3P Network Division, NEA.

Over the next two months, the four-part roadshow will take place at recreation centres and migrant worker dormitories across Singapore:

• MWC Recreation Club, 51 Soon Lee Road
• Penjuru Recreation Centre, 27 Penjuru Walk
• PPT Lodge 1A, 8 Seletar North Link
• Sungei Tengah Lodge, 500 Old Choa Chu Kang Road

By combining industry resources, public sector expertise and community networks, APBS and its partners are demonstrating how cross-functional collaboration can help more consumers understand, participate in and benefit from national recycling initiatives. The initiative reinforces APBS commitment to supporting a more circular future by making sustainability participation accessible to a broader range of communities.

About APBS
Established in 1931, Asia Pacific Breweries Singapore is the home of the world-acclaimed Tiger Beer, alongside a portfolio of premium beer brands including Heineken® and Guinness. People are at the heart of the business, and we ignite the moments that brew the joy of true togetherness. Sustainability is a force for positive change at APBS, and our Brew a Better World strategy sets ambitious commitments on the path to net zero impact, and an inclusive and fair world. Asia Pacific Breweries Singapore is an operating arm of The HEINEKEN Company.

About BCRS
Beverage Container Return Scheme (BCRS) Ltd. is the licensed, not-for-profit scheme operator for Singapore's Beverage Container Return Scheme. Licensed by the National Environment Agency (NEA), BCRS Ltd's core responsibilities during the seven-year licence period from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2033, on behalf of beverage producers in Singapore, include the collection, sorting and recycling of eligible beverage containers, as well as the establishment of return points. BCRS Ltd is also responsible for ensuring that producer fees are fair and transparent.

About MWC
The Migrant Workers' Centre (MWC) is a bipartite effort between the National Trades Union Congress and the Singapore National Employers Federation to improve the welfare of migrant workers in Singapore. Set up on 26 April 2009, it aims to promote responsible employment practices among employers, educate migrant workers on their employment rights, and enhance the social support infrastructure to help them better integrate into the Singapore society. Through humanitarian support, community engagements and educational programmes, MWC serves as a contact point for foreign workers and facilitates their harmonious co-existence with locals. Migrant workers seeking assistance can call 6536 2692 for help.

Media Resources

High-resolution event photos are available for download here.

SOURCE Asia Pacific Breweries Singapore