Goa’s DRS gains momentum with six firms showing interest in System Operator Role

Six companies have expressed interest in serving as the system operator for the government’s proposed Deposit Refund Scheme (DRS), aimed at regulating the use of non-biodegradable materials such as glass bottles, aluminium cans and plastic bottles. To address queries related to the appointment process, the state government—keen to become the first in the country to roll out the DRS—recently conducted a pre-bid meeting with the interested firms.

A DRS product refers to non-biodegradable materials listed in the Schedule of the Goa Non-Biodegradable Garbage (Control) Act, including multi-layered plastics used for packaging goods sold in the state. To support the scheme, over 300 automated collection machines will be installed across Goa, strategically placed based on consumer and tourist footfall. According to a senior government official, the appointed system operator will be required to set up at least this number of machines at designated collection points.

Under the Deposit Refund Scheme (DRS), consumers purchasing glass bottles or aluminium cans in the state will be required to pay an additional deposit fee, which will be refunded upon returning the product packaging at designated collection points. The initiative is designed to protect the environment, ease the burden on oceans and forest ecosystems, and promote cleaner beaches. The selected system operator will be tasked with establishing an efficient, accessible, and user-friendly network of collection points across the state.

“At least one automated collection machine must be set up in each panchayat area and class C urban local bodies (ULBs), and at least five in each class A and class B municipal area. Further, within one year from the commencement date, the system operator shall ensure that the number of automated machines is increased to at least 400, and within two years of the commencement date, to at least 500,” the official said.

The state government has issued an Expression of Interest (EoI) to appoint a system operator for the implementation of the Deposit Refund Scheme (DRS). The selected operator will be responsible for developing and executing the scheme over an initial period of 10 years, with the possibility of a five-year extension based on mutual agreement, contingent on the scheme’s successful implementation and achievement of its objectives.