Goa set to implement deposit refund system from April '26

PANAJI

Goa, aiming to become the first state in the country, is set to implement a deposit refund system (DRS) from April 2026 onwards. The scheme, initially approved in October 2024, is focused to protect the environment, reduce the load on oceans, forest ecosystems and result in cleaner beaches.

Environment Minister Alexio Sequeira in a written reply submitted on the floor of the House said that DRS means a process or scheme where a refundable deposit secured on a DRS product shall be refunded on return of product at the collection point to redeemer.

Presently, a deposit of Rs 5 will apply to plastic bottles and aluminium cans, while Rs 10 will apply to any glass bottles. When you buy a DRS-eligible product, this small, fully refundable deposit will be collected on top of the MRP, the Minister said.

During the tender process, total six companies have shown interest in becoming the system operator to implement DRS for usage of non-biodegradable materials such as glass bottles and aluminium cans.

Sequeira said that for the scheme implementation, the contractor or agencies appointed by the government, will have to set up at least 300 collection machines across collection points, such that at lease one automated collection machine to set up in each panchayat at area and C class ULBs and at least five in each A class and B class municipal areas.

The contractor will have to ensure that the number of automated machines are increased to at least 400 and within three years from the commencement date to at least 500 across the State.

 “Will have to permit hybrid models during the initial phase, wherein up to 150 collection points having manual collection within the use of hand-held readers,” he said.

The State government has already held a pre-bid meeting with companies to resolve their queries related to the appointment of the system operator.