India’s battle against plastic waste may finally move from policy papers to people’s homes. A used plastic bottle that once ended up in a landfill or roadside drain may soon carry a small financial value attached to it. The simple idea behind Deposit Refund Schemes (DRS) could reshape India’s plastic recycling system and broader plastic economy. Put simply, consumers would pay a small refundable deposit while buying packaged products and get the money back when the empty packaging is returned for recycling. But in a country like India, where plastic containers often find a second life in kitchens and households before becoming waste, the transition may be more complex than it appears. As states such as Goa and Himachal Pradesh begin experimenting with DRS models for non-biodegradable packaging, policymakers and industry players are closely watching whether the system can become a turning point in India’s plastic economy.
What is a Deposit Refund Scheme?
