Man at BCRS machine repeatedly scans barcode of 1 can, sparks concerns about cheating the system

A man in Singapore was filmed returning cans at a Beverage Container Return Scheme (BCRS) machine in an unusual way, prompting discussions about whether he was "cheating" the system. In a video, taken at an unidentified location, he could be seen pulling out multiple cans from a large black garbage bag on the floor. He would scan the barcode of one can, but withdraw it after the machine turns blue to signal that the barcode was accepted. He would then insert a different can into the machine. He repeated this process several times and successfully returned multiple cans. The BCRS Return Right machine provides a 10 cent refund only for eligible drink containers that bear the BCRS logo on its packaging. It is not clear whether the cans the man returned have the BCRS logo on them. "Is this legal?" The video on Facebook has picked up 2.4 million views. "Cheating," the in-video caption read. The video was also shared on TikTok, where it has attracted over 450,000 views since Nov. 9, with the caption, "Is this legal?" Many commenters pointed out that the man found a "loophole" in the BCRS system, but found it to be a "smart" hack to speed up the process, rather than abuse it. A TikTok user speculated that the cans the man was returning were dented, which might cause problems for the machine in detecting the barcodes. "He is not cheating... He used the good can to facilitate the process," they argued. Another commenter on Facebook brought up how each can needs to be rotated to a precise position for the machine to scan the barcode successfully. "Now he got hundreds to process, he isn't going to rotate hundreds of cans. Just find one code properly and use it to scan," the user said. Several others felt that everyone could "learn from him". Screenshot from Facebook Screenshot from Facebook Screenshot from Facebook "The objective was met" A common point raised by commenters was that the man was ultimately recycling used cans and fulfilling the objective of the BCRS scheme, regardless of whether the cans were eligible for refunds. A Facebook user wrote: "But at the end of the day, the objective was met. Isn't it?" Another on TikTok, believing the man's other cans might not have the BCRS labels, argued that he was helping to clear such cans, and thus "helping the environment too". Screenshot from TikTok Screenshot from TikTok Screenshot from TikTok A few on TikTok also called for the public to leave the man alone. "They worked so hard for the cleanliness of the estate," one wrote.