Ponnani: A total of 1,33,417 plastic liquor bottles have been returned to Bevco outlets under a bottle buyback scheme launched two weeks ago to curb plastic pollution.

The scheme, introduced on a trial basis in 10 outlets each in Thiruvananthapuram and Kannur districts, offers customers a refund of ₹20 for every plastic liquor bottle returned.

In Thiruvananthapuram, 74,448 bottles weighing 1,640 kg were collected, while in Kannur, 58,969 bottles weighing 1,475.70 kg were returned. In total, 3,097 kgs of plastic bottles were handed over to Clean Kerala Company from the two districts.

Under this scheme, plastic liquor bottles sold at Bevco outlets have a special QR code. Along with the liquor price, customers pay an extra ₹20 deposit, and receive a separate receipt for it. This deposit is refunded when the used bottle is returned to a designated counter.

The move comes in response to growing concerns over the careless disposal of empty bottles and broken glass along roadsides, water bodies, and public spaces.

Collecting and recycling these bottles will also help liquor manufacturers reduce their production costs.