The Goa government proposes to pass a law to recover the cost of recycling of plastic goods by compelling manufacturers to implement the Deposit Refund Scheme (DRS). As per the Environment Minister, an additional cost will be included to products sold in Goa e.g., Rs15 to Rs20 will be added to products costing Rs100. After using the product the consumers will get the refund on returning the plastic packaging (PP) and glass bottles at a few designated collection centres. Firstly, people are already facing inflation, low incomes, no jobs, and with extra charges for PP materials they would be unnecessarily burdened. An increased price of goods may be a revenue earner for the State in the form of GST but not for the people. Secondly, the DRS looks like a doable scheme but there needs to be more centres, shops and supermarkets where the waste materials can be returned. Thirdly, in several shops and supermarkets, repacked rice, pulses, sugar, wheat, spics etc. are sold in sealed plastic bags. The proposed DRS is not cricket and needs a third umpire (may be Supreme Court) to settle the issue.
