NT Reporter
Panaji
Goa’s Deposit Refund Scheme received a boost this week after local
breweries agreed to work with implementing authorities to address operational issues ahead of the statewide rollout scheduled for April 1.
At a consultation with the Breweries Association of India, attended by Additional Commissioner of Excise Gaurish Sankhwalkar, the association was asked to nominate three industry representatives to work directly with the Scheme Administrator and the Scheme Operator on key operational matters.
“The success of this environmental mandate relies on a shared vision. By having associations and the System Operator working together, we are co-creating a strategy that is both ambitious and practical,” said Dr Anthony de Sa, Chairman of the Scheme Administrator Committee. “This ensures that the transition for breweries is manageable while we advance Goa’s environmental priorities.”
Industry members have, however, sought clarity and workable solutions on implementation concerns that had been raised earlier.
De Sa urged all manufacturers to complete their registration under the scheme before the February 28 deadline to ensure a smooth transition.
The joint exercise between breweries and authorities will focus on integrating QR codes on packaging to enable identification and tracking of containers, along with addressing logistical and compliance issues raised by manufacturers.
Under the Deposit Refund Scheme, items sold in non-biodegradable packaging in Goa will carry a refundable deposit that consumers can reclaim upon returning the empty packaging. The scheme seeks to address litter from glass, aluminium and plastic packaging by establishing a system for collection, tracking and recycling of containers across the state.
The coordination between breweries and authorities is expected to address operational gaps before the April 1 implementation date, with both sides working to align packaging, compliance and distribution systems under the new framework.
