Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: Goa’s Deposit Refund Scheme (DRS) officials recently conducted the initiative’s first live pilot at the Panjim Potluck festival held at Garcia de Orta Garden, marking a major step in the state’s push towards a cleaner and technology-driven waste recovery system.
The pilot project was conducted in collaboration with Goa-based beverage brands Rosita, Borecha, Maka Di, Kati Patang and Thirsty Crocodile. The initiative demonstrated how the DRS model can function in a live public environment through consumer participation and traceable packaging recovery.
For the first time under the Goa DRS framework, participating brands integrated DRS QR codes onto beverage packaging, including glass bottles and tin cans. Festival-goers purchasing beverages were able to scan the QR-coded packaging and participate directly in the return-and-recycling process aimed at encouraging responsible disposal and reducing litter.
Rohit Monserrate also experienced the DRS process during the event, adding to the growing support the initiative has received from local communities, panchayats and public representatives through awareness campaigns and live demonstrations across Goa.
Officials said that during the two-day festival, more than 1,300 units of DRS-compatible packaging, including glass bottles, PET bottles and cans, were returned through the pilot system, indicating strong public willingness to participate in organised waste-return mechanisms supported by technology and on-ground engagement.
“At Rosita, we’ve always believed that great experiences shouldn’t come at the planet’s expense. Being part of Goa DRS’s first pilot at Panjim Potluck was a natural fit for us,” said Nitin Rane, Brand Owner of Rosita (Tap House).
Ishan Varshnei, CEO of Latambarcem Brewers — distillers of Borecha and Maka Di beverages — said the brands have always believed that growth should not come at the cost of the environment.
The pilot also highlighted the role of digital traceability within Goa’s upcoming DRS system. Under the framework, every eligible package carries a unique serialised QR code enabling item-level tracking, refund processing and prevention of duplication or fraud.
Officials said the initiative forms part of Goa’s broader efforts to strengthen recycling systems, improve material recovery and reduce the leakage of non-biodegradable waste into public spaces.
