Home / Environment / Goa Bets on DRS: 300 Machines Ready for Bottles
Goa Bets on DRS: 300 Machines Ready for Bottles
30 May
Summary
- 300 reverse vending machines are now in Goa for waste collection.
- Over 65% of village panchayats and 4 urban bodies approved installations.
- Goa leads India by including multi-layered packaging in DRS.
Goa's ambitious Deposit Refund Scheme (DRS) has seen significant progress with the arrival of 300 reverse vending machines. These machines, designed to scan and collect waste, will be installed alongside manual return centers across participating panchayats and urban bodies.
More than 65% of the state's 191 village panchayats have already issued no objection certificates (NOCs) for the installation of this infrastructure. Additionally, four urban local bodies have granted their approvals, demonstrating substantial backing for the scheme's statewide rollout.
This initiative, spearheaded by the department of environment and climate change, aims to create a self-sufficient waste recovery system. It uniquely includes a refundable deposit on PET bottles, glass bottles, aluminum cans, and notably, multi-layered packaging, making Goa the first state in India to do so.
Live demonstrations have provided residents with a clear understanding of the deposit and refund process. Local leaders, like Savitri Sajaro Ghadi, sarpanch of Sal village, have expressed optimism about the scheme's potential to combat roadside dumping and encourage responsible waste disposal.
