Glass bottles not compulsory no more: Plan to collect and recycle plastic bottles also abandoned; impractical, says Bevco
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Beverages Corporation has withdrawn from the position that liquor companies should supply alcohol in glass bottles. The plan to collect and recycle plastic alcohol bottles has also been abandoned. The position of the corporation is that it is not practical to implement both decisions.
Bevco sells 56 crore bottles of liquor annually. Bottles sold to bars are moved in their own system. The waste problem is caused by the bottles sold through retail outlets. Bevco, in collaboration with the Suchitwa Mission, had negotiated to collect the unusable bottles and deliver them to the recycling facilities with the help of Kudumbashree. It was abandoned due to financial constraints and the inconvenience of collecting and storing the bottles. Last year, Bevco had suggested that alcohol should be sold in glass bottles ahead of the plastic ban. The liquor companies did not listen to it because the cost of production would increase. The companies have the right to set the price of alcohol only when they enter into an agreement with Bevco. Only Bevco has the power to increase the price later.
There are about 18 distilleries/bottling units in the state including the brewers from and outside Kerala. After the Excel Glass factory in Alappuzha closed down, they had to depend on states including Bengal for the glass bottles. A 750 ml full bottle plastic bottle costs between Rs 10 to Rs 13 while a glass bottle costs Rs 20 to Rs 30. Companies are the one that have to bear the loss of broken bottles while loading and unloading liquor in warehouses and retail outlets. This is the reason for the lack of interest in chilled bottles.
Bottle count
Usage per year: 56 crore bottles
Plastic bottles: 65 percent
Glass bottle: 15 percent
Bottled beer: 20 percent
"Local self-government bodies are collecting plastic bottles with the help of Haritha Keralam Mission. Therefore, Bevco is not currently considering clearing plastic bottles on its own.
- Yogesh Gupta
Chairman and Managing Director, Bevco