Over 65% Goa’s Village Panchayats, Along with 4 Urban Local Bodies, Back DRS Rollout with NOCs

~ 127 village panchayats along with 4 Urban Local Bodies across Goa give nod to installation of Reverse Vending Machines, signalling strong grassroots support and mass public awareness for DRS aimed at innovative waste disposal infrastructure.

Panaji, April 2026 – In a major step leading to the rollout of Goa’s Deposit Refund Scheme (DRS), more than 65 percent (127) of the state’s 191 village panchayats, have issued No Objection Certificates (NOCs) for the installation of Reverse Vending Machines (RVM). Additionally, four urban local bodies have also granted the NOCs, reflecting growing institutional and grassroots support for the state’s proposed DRS ahead of its implementation.

The momentum is created through the mass DRS public awareness programs as announced by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant during the 13th session of the state legislative assembly in February. Reinforcing this momentum at the grassroots level, sarpanches have welcomed the initiative as a practical solution to local waste challenges.

The uptake spans both districts of the state. In North Goa, approximately 60% of village panchayats — 73 out of 121 — have issued NOCs, while in South Goa, around 77% — 54 out of 70 — have come on board. This strong geographic spread across coastal, hinterland, and urban-influenced regions underscores the DRS’s wide acceptance as a meaningful step towards cleaner, more sustainable communities across Goa.

According to Vishwajya Vishwanath Haldankar, sarpanch of the Nadora village panchayat in North Goa, where a DRS demonstration was held recently, “Cleanliness and environmental responsibility are values our village holds dear, and by returning used DRS-friendly packaging, residents can help keep Nadora clean. I urge every family to participate actively and set an example for the rest of Goa.”

The four Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) too have issued NOCs for the DRS rollout. Early support from key ULBs for the installation of DRS collection infrastructure is a sign of need for self-sufficient and innovative systems that reduce the financial burden of waste management on ULBs. These NOCs will enable the installation of reverse vending machines and manual collection infrastructure at identified locations. This will also ensure that infrastructure placement (collection points) aligns with community needs, accessibility and local waste management practices.

With NOCs in place, the next phase of DRS rollout is already underway. Reverse Vending Machines and manual return centres will now be installed at the identified locations across participating panchayats and urban bodies. True to the Chief Minister’s commitment, active public awareness programmes have been conducted and preparations are in full swing to begin RVM installations. Locations are currently being identified to ensure that collection points are accessible for the general public.

Echoing similar support from South Goa, Assolna sarpanch Isaca Fernandes welcomed the initiative as a step towards cleaner and more responsible waste management.

Highlighting the system’s practical benefits, Savitri Sajaro Ghadi, sarpanch of Sal, Bicholim, said, “This scheme is very useful. We cannot keep bins in the village, because people dump wet waste in the same bins, and because of which people throw waste along the roadside. Now because of these machines people will start to deposit their empty bottles in these machines, and they will also get their refund back.”

Anchored by the Department of Environment & Climate Change, Government of Goa, DRS is a state-led waste recovery system that introduces a fully refundable deposit on PET bottles, glass bottles, aluminium cans and multi-layered packaging. In a presentation to NITI Aayog, Goa’s DRS was applauded as a pioneering initiative, making the state the first in India, and the first geography globally, to bring Multi-Layered Packaging (MLP) which is widely regarded as the most challenging category of plastic waste under the DRS framework.

The system incentivises consumers to return used containers through a network of reverse vending machines and collection points. Backed by amendments to the Goa Non-Biodegradable Garbage Act, 2013 and notified DRS Rules in 2024, the system establishes a robust legal and operational framework for statewide implementation. Live demonstrations have been conducted at Village Panchayats in Bicholim, Canacona and Bardez offering residents a first-hand understanding of how returns and instant refunds will function on the ground.