Goa’s Environmental Minister recently informed that the Centre’s Extended Producers Responsibility (EPR) scheme to avoid plastic packaging has failed. The EPR had placed the onus of environmental impact of products on the producers. Hence, he proposes to introduce a bill to implement the deposit refund scheme (DRS) in Goa. An extra cost will be added to the products for eg Rs10 for a milk packet costing Rs 60. By returning the empty packet Rs10 would be refunded. There would be 1,000 collection centres where the refund can be obtained. Perhaps DRS could be doable provided the following issues are addressed. All grocery shops and supermarkets should be under the purview of the DRS; Will repacked rice, pulses, sugar, wheat, sweets, spices etc. be charged more? Do we return the plastic packets?; Do we have to give the plastic packets cleaned and dried? Imagine the amount of water wasted on this exercise; There are hundreds of plastic or plastic-coated/wrapped items (eg note books, thin films, chocolates, sachets, soaps, etc.) would these be charged more and are they to be returned? Finally, is it legally tenable to apply the DRS law (if passed) only in Goa?
