Bevco invites tenders to set up automated bottle collection machines at outlets

The Kerala State Beverages Corporation (Bevco) has invited tenders for selecting an agency for the implementation of the Deposit Refund Scheme (DRS) and setting up automated bottle collection machines at Bevco outlets. The corporation supplies nearly 54 crore bottles of liquor to consumers. As a result, a substantial volume of bottle waste gets accumulated, posing a serious threat to the environment.

To address this issue, and as part of an environmentally friendly initiative, the corporation has decided to introduce the DRS for the efficient collection and disposal of bottle waste. The State government has earlier accorded sanction to charge ₹20 per bottle of liquor and to refund ₹20 to the customers on return of empty bottle. The bottle buy-back scheme was rolled out on a pilot basis in 10 outlets each in Thiruvananthapuram and Kannur districts on September 10 in an effort to mitigate the environmental pollution caused by plastic bottles.  

As per the details of the tender document, the bidder will be allotted 120 sq. ft.(maximum) of space for the installation of the automated bottle collection machine. The system for collection of empty bottles will be hybrid, consisting of an automatic machine which could be manned by a person appointed by the agency. The scheme will be introduced in all shops, including those operated by Bevco, Consumerfed, and any newly licensed outlets.

QR code system

The sale and return of the bottles will be based on the QR code system. Bottles can be returned to any outlet in the State, irrespective of the outlet of purchase. Customers will be permitted to redeem the bottle deposit within 365 days from the date of purchase. If the deposit remains unredeemed after 365 days from the date of purchase, the deposit will be considered irredeemable.

All collected empty bottles have to be cleared from the outlets daily by the agency. These bottles will be transported and disposed of by the selected agency in accordance with the pollution control guidelines applicable, said the tender document. The last date for submitting the tender is 5 p.m. on December 29 and the tenders will be opened at 11 a.m. on December 30.