Margao: The Goa Deposit Refund Scheme (DRS) will introduce an app-based collection system for hotels, restaurants and cafés (HoReCa) as part of the first phase of its rollout from September 1, focusing on alcohol bottles and beverage containers.
Under Phase I, more than 1,400 HoReCa establishments, partners and participating brands have been brought on board.
“The first phase has been designed to ensure that both consumers and the hospitality sector have simple and convenient return options. With scheduled bulk pickup for HoReCa establishments, we are creating a collection system that is practical, transparent and capable of recovering significantly higher volumes of packaging,” said Chairman of the Goa DRS Authority,
Dr Anthony de Sa.
The phased approach, he said, will ensure a smooth transition while strengthening Goa’s waste recovery ecosystem.
Using the Bulk Waste Generator App, Goa-based HoReCa establishments can schedule pickups based on the volume of empty packaging generated. Empty alcohol packaging will be scanned at the time of collection,
with refunds processed instantly through digital payment modes.
The collected packaging will then be transported to designated Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs), where it will be sorted into reuse and recycling streams. Reusable bottles will be returned to participating brands wherever possible, while the remaining material will be processed and sent to authorised recyclers in support of Goa’s circular economy objectives.
For consumers, DRS-enabled bottles and containers can be returned through an expanding network of Reverse Vending Machines (RVMs) being deployed across the state. More than 100 RVMs have already been installed across Goa ahead of the scheme going live on September 1.
Additional return options include authorised collection centres and partnered retail outlets. The refundable depositis returned in full once the packaging is scanned and verified using its unique DRS QR code.
