> Quick view: old phones, tablets and laptops can now go into a Pick! locker or a Shopee SPX service point for free, secure recycling. ALBA E-Waste's ALBA Secure-Recycle pilot runs for six months from 10 October 2026, tracks each device to an NEA-licensed recycler, and ends with a Certificate of Destruction for your data.
Senior Minister of State for Sustainability and the Environment Janil Puthucheary announced the pilot at the International E-Waste Day event at Kampung Admiralty on 10 October. The point is simple: many people keep old phones in a drawer because they worry about what happens to their photos and accounts. This pilot answers that with tracking and a certificate.
How it works
- Submit a request on alba-ewaste.sg/alba-secure-recycle. Pick either a Pick! locker or an SPX service point and declare the devices you are recycling.
- Get your drop-off details by email. Pick! users receive a locker PIN and deposit details; SPX users receive a tracking number.
- Drop off. Put the device in your chosen Pick! locker, or pack it securely and bring it to the SPX service point with the tracking details.
- Follow the journey. ALBA emails you at each checkpoint (request created, package secured or received, picked up by ALBA, successfully recycled), then sends a link to download your Certificate of Destruction.
ALBA says the whole process takes about 14 working days if every stage goes smoothly.
What is accepted
| Drop-off point | Accepted devices |
|---|---|
| Pick! locker | Mobile phone, tablet, laptop |
| SPX service point | Mobile phone, tablet, laptop, ICT peripherals, network devices |
The Straits Times reports the pilot covers about 2,000 SPX collection points, including retail shops and some HDB residential units, plus the yellow Pick! lockers islandwide.
Fine print
- Free, but no points. ALBA covers the cost of secure handling and the certificate, so ALBA STEP UP points are not awarded for this channel.
- Batteries. Do not place rechargeable batteries in the lockers or pack them for SPX. Damaged or bloated batteries are not accepted at all; ALBA asks you to call +65 3105 1608 for disposal advice.
- Deadlines. An SPX request is valid for 7 days, with a reminder a day before it lapses. Pick! users get the deposit validity period in their confirmation email.
- Declare correctly. A submission only counts once every step is completed, including declaring the right items and giving the right tracking details.
- The certificate. It is issued per order to the requestor and lists brand, model and IMEI where they are visible, plus the quantity.
- It is a trial. ALBA and its partners will use the six months to judge demand before deciding on any wider rollout.
Before you drop off
ALBA's checklist: back up what you want to keep, log out of your accounts, remove the SIM card and any memory card, and factory reset the device. The certificate proves the device was destroyed; it does not replace wiping it yourself.
What it means for you
If you have been sitting on old phones because of privacy worries, this is the most convenient secure option so far: no trip to a mall bin, and a paper trail at the end. For items the pilot does not take, the existing options remain. There are close to 1,200 ALBA e-waste bins at malls, electronics stores, supermarkets and community centres, and ALBA runs free doorstep collection for large household appliances such as monitors and air-conditioners.
*Photo: ALBA E-Waste official (ALBA Secure-Recycle campaign artwork). Details were read on 10 October 2026 from ALBA's Secure-Recycle page and FAQ.*
