The Kerala State Beverages Corporation Ltd. (Bevco) has reported an encouraging 40% return rate for plastic liquor bottles under its experimental buy-back scheme. This initiative, launched on a pilot basis in ten outlets each in Thiruvananthapuram and Kannur districts on September 10, aims to significantly curb environmental pollution caused by plastic waste.
Harshita Attaluri, Bevco’s Chairman and Managing Director, addressed concerns regarding long queues at outlets, especially during peak hours, and the accumulation of returned bottles. She acknowledged that the current process of affixing QR-coded labels to bottles, for which customers pay a refundable deposit, is a primary reason for the extended wait times at billing counters. Additionally, the planned deployment of Kudumbashree workers to manage bottle collection has been delayed. Consequently, Bevco staff are currently handling both the labeling and collection, leading to an increased workload.
Challenges and Customer Feedback
Attaluri also noted that shop in-charges are responsible for counting and securely storing the returned bottles daily. She conceded that customer dissatisfaction is evident, particularly concerning the additional ₹20 refundable deposit and the requirement to return bottles to the specific outlet of purchase to receive a refund.
However, Attaluri emphasized that these initial hiccups are crucial for refining the system. “The pilot program is designed to assess operational efficiency and identify areas for improvement,” she stated, affirming a commitment to incorporate lessons learned and move the project forward. Kudumbashree workers are expected to join by the end of the week, taking over tasks like verifying labels, scratching them off, and storing bottles.
Clean Kerala Company Ltd. has also begun collecting the returned bottles from outlets for recycling, alleviating previous concerns about storage space being consumed by sacks of collected plastic.
Future Expansion Plans
Looking ahead, Bevco is exploring the expansion of the buy-back scheme to include glass bottles and cans, which would necessitate a diversified collection system. Attaluri suggested that allowing customers to return bottles to any Bevco outlet, regardless of where they were purchased, could significantly improve customer satisfaction.
Bevco anticipates a three-month period to prepare for a statewide rollout of the program by January 2026. In the interim, proposals from various companies to establish dedicated collection booths or even handle bottle disposal are under consideration. Attaluri highlighted that the current in-house process, including label printing and hiring personnel, costs approximately ₹1 lakh per outlet monthly. Outsourcing these functions could eliminate these costs for Bevco.
Interestingly, Bevco employees have expressed optimism about potential revenue gains for the government from unredeemed deposits, as fewer than half of the sold bottles are currently returned daily. They have also observed a noticeable reduction in plastic bottles discarded along roadsides and near outlets, signaling a positive environmental impact from the initiative.