Goa's Hospitality Sector Pins Hopes on Deposit Refund Scheme to Tackle Glass Litter
In Panaji, the persistent issue of glass shards from discarded liquor bottles along Goa's coastline is posing significant safety risks to both visitors and local residents. The state's hospitality sector is now looking to the rollout of a deposit refund scheme (DRS) as a potential solution to encourage people to return bottles rather than breaking them, which could help mitigate this hazardous problem.
Safety Concerns and Tourism Impact
Nilesh Shah, former president of the Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG), highlighted the challenges in waste collection. "While different agencies are involved in garbage collection, there are still many unmonitored areas where waste is not picked up. This is particularly visible near beach entry points and around tourist areas," he explained. Shah pointed to litter as one of the key factors contributing to the decline in foreign tourist arrivals in Goa, emphasizing the need for effective waste management strategies.
Support from the Food Service Sector
The organized food service industry has welcomed the move towards a deposit refund and waste return mechanism. Restaurants, especially take-away joints, are major generators of packaging waste. The DRS mechanism involves placing a small, refundable deposit on packaged goods, incentivizing consumers to return items for proper disposal.
Eligio Fernandes, owner of the popular Arpora watering hole Cajy Bar, expressed optimism about the scheme. "If a scheme like this comes in, where instead of just throwing bottles into the recycling bin, I can return them to an outlet that refunds me the amount and ensures the bottles are actually recycled or used again, then I think this is one of the best initiatives for any business that uses packaged materials," Fernandes said.
Beach Shack Operators Align with DRS Mission
The scale of the glass litter problem is starkly evident along the coastline. Beach shack operators have already aligned with the DRS's mission to promote proper disposal of glass bottles. Cruz Cardozo, president of the Shack Owners' Welfare Society, described the issue: "Tourists take bottles to the beach, they drink, they bury them, sometimes they litter, sometimes they break them. Later, people step on it. A lot of people cut their feet." This underscores the urgent need for interventions to protect public safety.
Challenges and Opposition from Waste Management Groups
However, the Waste Management Association Goa (WMAG) has raised concerns, arguing that the DRS will complicate waste collection processes. The WMAG has demanded that the government first implement a ban on single-use plastic before rolling out the scheme. The DRS focuses on ensuring discarded packaging is returned before it becomes litter, rather than dealing with it after it reaches drains, beaches, or public spaces.
The government initially planned to launch the DRS scheme on April 1, but its implementation faces hurdles due to these opposing views. Balancing the interests of the hospitality sector, which sees the scheme as a boon for tourism and safety, with the practical concerns of waste management groups remains a critical challenge for Goa's authorities.
