Goa Deposit Refund Scheme (Goa DRS) marked an important milestone during the state’s World Environment Day 2026 celebrations, with events held at INS Mandovi, Verem, and the KTC Bus Stand, Panaji. While the INS Mandovi programme focussed on outreach within the defence establishment, the event at the busy city bus stand was attended by Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant, highlighting the state’s continued commitment to improving waste recovery and recycling outcomes.
On Friday, the Deposit Refund Scheme (Goa DRS) inaugurated its first Reverse Vending Machine (RVM) at INS Mandovi, in partnership with Prakriti — the naval station’s dedicated environment wing. Marking the scheme’s first footprint within a defence establishment, a special presentation and live demonstration were held for naval personnel and their families, allowing participants to experience the technology first-hand.
Speaking at the inauguration of the RVM facility at the Indian Navy base, Shefali Nair, president of NWWA said: “Through the efforts of INS Mandovi and Navy Welfare and Wellness Association (NWWA) under Prakriti, we see the values of responsibility and stewardship. The Goa DRS deposit refund scheme is built around the ‘green loop’—the idea that useful materials should not become waste. Waste is not the end of a product’s life; it is the beginning of its next journey. Communities are shaped not by grand gestures, but by everyday habits. When families adopt responsible practices, they influence friends, neighbours, and society at large. I’m confident that our naval community can become a strong advocate for this initiative.”
“The journey from a cleaner Goa to a greener Goa begins with the choices we make every day. And let us also remember the health of our oceans begins with the choices we make on shore. I also take pride and would like to put on record that this is a pilot project of Goa DRS and the first machine to be installed in Goa. As we inaugurate this facility today, let it serve as a reminder that protecting our environment is not the responsibility of a few; it is the responsibility of all of us,” she further added.
The INS Mandovi inauguration and the state-level demonstration jointly reinforce Goa’s position as a pioneer in building a citizen-friendly circular economy for beverage packaging.
At another World Environment Day programme in Panaji, jointly organised by the Department of Environment & Climate Change and the Goa State Pollution Control Board at the KTC Bus Stand, Panaji, Goa DRS also RVMs were placed for live demonstrations, giving both dignitaries and the general public first-hand experience of the system. The event was attended by Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant as chief guest, alongside ministers, MLAs, and senior government officials.
Together, these two events reflect the growing scale of Goa DRS. With 132 village panchayats and 6 urban and local bodies having already issued NOCs for RVM installations, the scheme is advancing steadily from awareness to implementation.
