Author: Tanisha Cardozo

Recurring injuries caused by broken glass on Goa’s beaches have once again drawn attention to how waste is managed after consumption, particularly along the state’s most visited coastal stretches. As concerns grow over visitor safety and tourism reputation, Goa’s newly introduced Deposit Refund Scheme (DRS) is increasingly being viewed as a practical and incentivised solution to prevent glass litter before it reaches the sand.

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In January this year alone, two beachgoers required first aid after suffering cuts from broken glass along the popular North Goa shoreline. Data sourced from Drishti Marine, the Goa government-appointed beach safety agency, indicates that glass-related injuries were reported in 2025 from beaches including Anjuna, Arambol, Baga, Benaulim, Calangute, Colva and Palolem. In 2024, similar cases were recorded at Betalbatim, Morjim, Velsao, Baina and Palolem. The recurring pattern highlights an ongoing safety concern tied to discarded and often buried glass bottles.

Stakeholders connected to the tourism industry say the issue affects both residents and visitors. Carlos Souza, convenor of the Confederation of Indian Industries’ Goa panel on Tourism, emphasised that glass litter is a safety hazard that undermines the visitor experience and the everyday use of public spaces. Shack owners echo the concern, noting that bottles are frequently brought onto beaches, consumed, and either left behind or buried in the sand, only to resurface and cause injuries later.

Cruz Cardoz, president of the Shack Owners Association, has suggested that a deposit system for bottles sold near beaches could help address the problem. His suggestion aligns closely with the thinking behind the Deposit Refund Scheme currently being rolled out by the Department of Environment and Climate Change, Government of Goa. Under the DRS, consumers pay a refundable deposit at the point of purchase, which is returned when the empty container, including glass bottles, is brought back to an authorised collection point.

Dr Anthony de Sa, who heads the DRS Scheme Administrator Committee, has explained that the scheme was designed to cover waste streams that typically escape collection due to their low resale value, such as multi-layered plastics and certain packaging materials. While high-value waste like PET bottles and beer bottles are often recovered, low-value items such as snack wrappers and juice cartons are frequently left behind because they are costly to collect and transport. The DRS seeks to address this imbalance by creating an incentive at the source of consumption.

The broader objective of the scheme is not merely to clean up waste after it enters drains, beaches or public spaces, but to encourage its return before it becomes litter. By incentivising both consumers and waste collectors, policymakers hope to drive a behavioural shift in disposal practices and encourage more responsible packaging choices by manufacturers.

For tourism-dependent communities and beach businesses, such measures are increasingly seen as necessary. With Goa’s economy closely linked to its coastal appeal, recurring glass injuries serve as a reminder that environmental management and visitor safety are inseparable. As the DRS rollout progresses, its effectiveness in reducing glass litter on beaches may well become a key test of how policy-driven incentives can translate into safer and cleaner public spaces.