Goa Deposit Refund Scheme’s first RVM inaugurated at INS Mandovi premises on World Environment Day

Goa Khabar : The 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 focused 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 firsthand.

Speaking at the inauguration, Mrs Shefali Nair, President NWWA – Station Mandovi, said: “We are delighted to partner with Goa DRS for this meaningful initiative. The RVM at INS Mandovi is a significant step towards building environmental consciousness within the naval community. We reaffirm our commitment to sustainability and encourage everyone, naval families and citizens alike to do their bit towards making Goa cleaner and greener.”

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 Hon’ble 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.