In a significant move to combat marine pollution, Mumbai authorities are preparing to install floating barriers across key waterways to stop plastic waste from entering the Arabian Sea.
The initiative, led by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), aims to intercept plastic debris and other floating waste materials before they drift into open waters.
Mumbai’s network of rivers, nullahs, and stormwater drains often carries large quantities of plastic waste — especially during the monsoon season — directly into the sea. Environmental experts have long warned that unchecked plastic flow contributes to marine ecosystem damage, coastal pollution, and flooding caused by clogged drainage systems.
The floating barriers, often referred to as trash booms, are designed to trap debris while allowing water to pass through. Collected waste will then be removed regularly by civic teams and processed through proper waste management channels.
Officials say the project is part of a broader push toward urban sustainability and improved solid waste management practices. If successful, the model could be expanded to additional waterways across the city.
Marine conservationists have welcomed the move, noting that preventive measures at the source are far more effective than attempting large-scale ocean clean-ups later.
As cities worldwide grapple with plastic pollution, Mumbai’s initiative signals a shift toward proactive environmental governance — targeting waste before it reaches fragile marine ecosystems.
Goa, February 19, 2026: Known for its pristine beaches and vibrant tourism, Goa faces a unique sustainability challenge, particularly in its rural and semi-urban areas. Godrej Consumer Products Limited (GCPL) is addressing this gap with its Integrated Waste Management Programme in the Talukas of Bicholim and Sattari, implementing long-term, community-driven waste solutions.
Partnering with Sampurn(e)arth Environment Solutions, the Mineral Foundation of Goa, municipal councils, and village panchayats, GCPL’s initiative has diverted more than 5,800 metric tonnes of waste from landfills and recycled over 490 metric tonnes of low-value plastics, including commonly discarded milk packets.
Historically, waste collection in these regions was inconsistent, with limited source segregation and informal workers operating without adequate safety or social security. GCPL’s program introduced a complete system—from door-to-door collection to material recovery at the Bicholim MRF, secondary sorting at Harvalem, and recycling at Pissurlem—ensuring accountability at every stage.
Technology plays a key role, with QR-code–based monitoring enabling local authorities to track collection coverage and segregation in real time. Community engagement, through household visits, school programs, cultural outreach, and exposure visits, has helped make waste segregation a daily habit.
A strong focus on waste worker welfare is another highlight. Over 1,300 workers are provided personal protective equipment, enrolled in social security schemes, trained in safe handling, and organised into Self-Help Groups, promoting dignity, financial inclusion, and long-term livelihood security.
The Milk Packet Collection Initiative engaged students as sustainability ambassadors, collecting nearly 140 kg of used milk packets between March 2024 and July 2025, demonstrating the impact of everyday actions on environmental change.
Pakzan Dastoor, Head – Sustainability & CSR, Godrej Industries Group, said, “With over 5,800 tonnes of solid waste diverted from landfills, our Goa initiatives reflect that sustainable change happens when infrastructure, citizen participation, and worker welfare come together.”
Omkar Manjrekar, Block Development Officer, Bicholim Taluka, added, “QR Code–based waste management brings smart accountability to every doorstep, strengthening monitoring and improving overall collection efficiency.”
By integrating infrastructure, behaviour change, and social inclusion, GCPL’s initiatives in Goa set a benchmark for corporate-driven sustainability, demonstrating how companies can foster environmental stewardship, accountability, and community-led transformation.
Godrej Consumer Products is a leading emerging markets company committed to health, beauty, and sustainability. As part of the Godrej Industries Group, it operates in over 1.4 billion households globally, leading in household insecticides, hair care, soaps, air fresheners, and wet tissues. Through its Good & Green and DEI initiatives, GCPL works toward creating a more inclusive and environmentally responsible future.
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.
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.
Panaji, January 2026 — As Goa’s waste burden continues to rise, a new state government–led Deposit Refund Scheme (DRS) is set to reshape how value is extracted from discarded materials. The reform is expected to have its most significant impact on informal waste collectors, who have sustained Goa’s recycling economy for decades while receiving only a fraction of the returns it generates.
Goa produces approximately 766 tonnes of municipal solid waste every day—nearly 2.8 lakh tonnes annually. While urban waste collection has achieved near-universal coverage, gaps remain in treatment and recycling. Operating within this gap are informal waste collectors, who recover recyclables from homes, streets and dumping sites, often in unsafe conditions and for minimal compensation that rarely reflects their labour.
Currently, PET bottles fetch between ₹15 and ₹25 per kilogram or around 50 bottles—often translating to less than 50 paise per bottle. Glass bottles earn roughly ₹2 per unit, while multi-layered plastic packaging, commonly used for snacks and biscuits, has little to no resale value and is frequently left uncollected. National estimates indicate that such packaging constitutes 30 to 40 per cent of plastic waste, much of which ultimately ends up in landfills.
India’s Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) framework was designed to address these disparities by shifting the cost of waste recovery to producers. In practice, however, EPR credits are largely traded between companies and recyclers, with limited financial benefit reaching those who physically collect the waste.
According to Dr Anthony de Sa, chairperson of the committee overseeing the implementation of the Goa DRS project under the Department of Environment and Climate Change, the scheme seeks to correct this long-standing imbalance. “DRS rewards responsible behaviour towards waste management, creates better income opportunities for the informal sector and addresses the peculiar waste management challenges of a tourism-driven region like Goa,” he said.
The Goa Deposit Refund System, notified in 2024, introduces a refundable deposit on select packaged products. The deposit is returned directly to whoever brings the item to an authorised collection point. Under the scheme, the standard refundable deposit is ₹5 per package, while alcohol sold in glass bottles carries a ₹10 deposit. Items priced between ₹5 and ₹20 attract a ₹2 deposit. Refunds are processed instantly.
For informal waste collectors, the shift could be transformative. Under the new model, collecting 50 PET bottles could earn up to ₹250—more than ten times current earnings. Glass bottles could fetch ₹10 per unit, a fivefold increase. For the first time, multi-layered plastic packaging could generate income, with collectors earning ₹200 for every 100 packets returned.
By directly linking waste recovery to financial return and enabling formal registration of collectors, the DRS aims not only to improve recycling rates but also to bring dignity, visibility and fair compensation to those at the foundation of Goa’s waste management ecosystem.
Goa, January 23, 2026 — Gourov V. Pokle, Founder of YIMBY, has been honoured with the “Inspiring Young Entrepreneur of the Year” award in recognition of his commitment to developing practical waste management solutions and creating sustainable environmental impact at the grassroots level.
The award was presented by Minister Mauvin Godinho in the presence of the Chief Minister of Goa, Dr. Pramod Sawant, and Minister Rohan Khaunte, at a prestigious ceremony organised by the Vibrant Goa Foundation in association with the Government of Goa. The event brought together leaders from government, industry, and social enterprises to celebrate young changemakers driving meaningful change.
The recognition highlights YIMBY’s work in designing and implementing decentralised waste management systems that empower communities to manage waste responsibly at the source. Through infrastructure development, awareness programmes, and capacity-building initiatives, YIMBY has consistently worked to reduce landfill dependency while promoting sustainable, scalable environmental practices.
Speaking on the occasion, Gourov V. Pokle said the award represents a collective belief that sustainability begins at the community level. He acknowledged the collaborative efforts behind YIMBY’s journey and dedicated the honour to the organisation’s team, mentors, partners, and family for their continued support.
The award marks a significant milestone in YIMBY’s mission-driven journey, reaffirming its commitment to innovation, sustainability, and responsible growth. As the organisation continues to expand its reach, YIMBY remains focused on building resilient, community-centric solutions that contribute to a cleaner and more sustainable future.
