The Uttarakhand High Court directed that on each paper based carton, wherein a country-made liquor is sold, it should prominently be printed that the return of the used paper based carton will entitle the person returning the same to refund of the fixed amount, which should be at least Rs 10.
The Division Bench of Chief Justice Vipin Sanghi and Justice Alok Kumar Verma further directed the respondents to forthwith proceed to frame their Scheme / Policy in this regard, just like one that has been framed for the purpose of recycling plastic bottles used during the Char Dham Yatra.
The High Court disposed of a Public Interest litigation (PIL) filed assailing Clause 5.5 of the Uttarakhand Excise Policy Rules, 2023, which mandates the use of Tetra Packs for sale of country liquor in pouches of 200 ml.
In the affidavit, the respondent has stated that for supply of country-made liquor in paper based cartons, the Excise Department will provide barcode/QR code to the concerned manufacturing unit / distillery, and the arrangement in this regard will also be made to ensure that refund of the amount fixed is guaranteed to the concerned carrier / consumer, on returning the used carton to the concerned liquor shop, in order to ensure maximum return of used cartons so that their recycling at the level of the concerned manufacturing unit / distillery can be made.
C.S. Rawat, Chief Standing Counsel , stated that the amount to be refunded to the person returning the used paper cartons would be substantial, so as to incentivize this Scheme.
The High Court is of the view that the amount should be at least Rs. 10/- per paper carton, so that the user of the same, and if not him, any other person who finds the paper-based carton, has sufficient incentive to return the same for the purpose of recycling.
“The Scheme floated by the State to ensure return of recyclable non-biodegradable waste is a laudable Scheme, and we find no reason why the same should not be implemented in respect of all other non-biodegradable packaging in which goods are sold in the State. Paper-based cartons, plastic bottles and plastic pouches are very commonly used for selling items, particularly food items, and the respondents should examine the feasibility of implementing the said Scheme in respect of all such packaging”, the order reads.