Tamil Nadu is launching a new initiative that will require customers buying liquor from Tasmac outlets to return their empty bottles for a refund. This new scheme aims to reduce littering and promote proper recycling.
Here’s how it works: When purchasing liquor, customers will pay an extra ₹10 per bottle, which will be refunded once they return the empty bottle. The scheme, already active in several districts, is set to expand across the entire state, including Chennai, following a directive from the Madras High Court.
Tasmac has released tenders to collect these empty bottles from shops. Unlike last year’s tender process, the new one is open only to experienced contractors to ensure that bottles are properly returned to the bottling units. A few shops in Chennai have already begun using a QR code system, which tracks each bottle and processes refunds digitally. This system will eventually be rolled out to all shops.
The Tamil Nadu government plans to fully implement the scheme statewide by April 2025. So far, the initiative has been successful, with a 97% bottle return rate in districts where it has already been introduced
