In a bid to deal with the rising challenge of plastic waste, the Kerala authorities has introduced a brand new bottle-return initiative for liquor bottles offered at its Kerala State Drinks Company (Bevco) shops.
Beginning with a pilot undertaking in September, a further Rs 20 might be charged on liquor offered in each plastic and glass bottles. The quantity might be refunded when prospects return the bottles to the outlet, the excise division stated.
Excise Minister MB Rajesh clarified that this Rs 20 shouldn’t be seen as an additional cost, however reasonably an funding in accountable consumption. A QR code might be affixed on every bottle to facilitate monitoring and refunds.
Of the 70 crore liquor bottles offered yearly in Kerala, 80 per cent are plastic. “This may assist scale back the variety of bottles dumped on the streets,” the minister stated. As a part of a broader sustainability push, the division has additionally determined that each one liquor priced above Rs 800 will now be offered solely in glass bottles.
The undertaking, launched in partnership with Clear Kerala Firm, will start in Thiruvananthapuram and Kannur. The state drew inspiration from Tamil Nadu, the place an identical bottle-return system has already been carried out efficiently.
In the meantime, the excise division can also be set to open Bevco’s first-ever tremendous premium outlet in Thrissur on August 5. These shops will inventory international liquor priced above Rs 900, with plans to launch one such outlet in each district.
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