Can You Return It? Container Return Video Challenge 2026

The Can You Return It? Container Return Video Challenge 2026 drew 69 entries from 26 secondary schools and junior colleges across Singapore. Students took on the challenge of filming an engaging educational video to promote understanding of and participation in BCRS. 

First Prize

Name of School: Paya Lebar Methodist Girls’ School (Secondary) 

Name of video: A Plastic Bottle’s Journey  

When developing our video, our thought process was centred on how to capture and motivate the audience to participate in this scheme. We took a creative approach, imagining what might happen if current habits continued unchanged, presenting it through a video that was both humorous and educational, which allowed us to make it not only invigorating but informative as well. 

We also walk the viewers through how the programme works, how the machine operates, and how it benefits them. Something as simple as returning eligible beverage containers for a 10-cent refund can make a difference to the environment. We hope this encourages people to see the Beverage Container Return Scheme (BCRS) not just as an environmental initiative, but as something genuinely worth participating in. 

Second Prize

Name of School: Christ Church Secondary School 

Name of video: Cappy’s Last Chance 

We selected a comedic, character-driven format because traditional environmental messaging relies on guilt or fear, which desensitises rather than motivates audiences. By personifying a bottle as a terrified character named Cappy, we transformed an abstract waste problem into a relatable individual with genuine emotional stakes, making the lesson memorable without feeling like a lecture. 

Our primary message targets a specific behavioural gap. Singaporeans instinctively crush empty bottles out of habit, yet the new Beverage Container Return Scheme requires intact barcodes for scanning. We aimed to replace the instinct of crushing with a rhythmic mantra: Empty. Intact. Return. Repeat.

Name of School: DPS International School 

Name of video: A Guide to BCRS 

Our video was developed through a combination of research and our own experiences with Beverage Container Return Scheme (BCRS). We first explored the official BCRS website to understand how the scheme works, its purpose, and how returning beverage containers can contribute to recycling and reduce waste. 

We also drew on insights from our class presentations, poster-making competition, and an engagement booth, where we observed how students and the community responded to different ways of communicating environmental messages. These experiences showed us that while the BCRS is easy to understand, information about it can sometimes come across as repetitive or overly technical.  

With that in mind, our video presents the message in a simple, engaging, and relatable way, not just explaining the scheme, but showing that small actions like returning empty bottles and cans can become part of everyday life. Ultimately, we hope our video encourages greater awareness, participation, and a shared sense of responsibility towards building a more sustainable future.  

Third Prize

Name of School: Springfield Secondary School 

Name of video: Return right! Springfield leads the way! 

This video aims to raise awareness about the Beverage Container Return Scheme (BCRS), explaining why the scheme was introduced, how the Return Right machines work, and how the public can participate. 

We used simple explanations, humour and dialogue to make our video informative and entertaining. We hope to encourage more people, especially young Singaporeans, to return their empty beverage containers. 

Our key message is straightforward: returning empty beverage containers is a simple, everyday action that helps reduce waste and supports recycling in Singapore. We hope viewers walk away with a clearer understanding of the BCRS and feel motivated to use the Return Right machines themselves. 

Name of School: Yishun Town Secondary School 

Name of video: Don't Toss That Can —Here's How to Cash It In! 

Our video presents a quick, relatable walkthrough of the Beverage Container Return Scheme (BCRS) by following someone on an everyday supermarket trip. Using a first-person "follow-me" perspective and bold on-screen labels (Step 1 to Step 4), we transformed an unfamiliar process into four simple, bite-sized actions that anyone can easily replicate. 

The video highlighted four key messages. First, that BCRS is quick and effortless — simply scan, insert, and done. Second, every eligible beverage container has value, with the 10-cent refund turning recycling into a tangible reward rather than a chore. Third, refunds are flexible and accessible, with users able to receive them via different platforms including SimplyGo EZ-Link. Lastly, sustainability fits naturally into everyday life, as returning containers can become a seamless part of a regular grocery trip. 

By keeping the process practical and relatable, we hope our video shows that small actions can make sustainable living easy and rewarding.