Tasmac to roll out automated bottle return machines across Tamil Nadu

The Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (Tasmac) is planning a statewide rollout of automated reverse vending machines (RVMs) to manage its liquor bottle buy-back scheme. The corporation has invited bids to install these machines across its 4,068 retail outlets following a successful pilot program in Chennai.

During the pilot, approximately 80 percent of empty bottles sold at participating outlets were returned via the machines. The automated system is designed to reduce the manual workload for employees, who previously had to handle the receipt, storage, and management of returned bottles.

Under the new system, customers will scan a code on the empty bottle before depositing it into the machine. The Rs 10 refundable deposit, originally collected at the time of purchase, will be transferred to the customer digitally via QR code or Unified Payments Interface (UPI). The rollout will occur in phases, prioritizing urban areas and high-revenue outlets. The buy-back scheme was originally implemented following directions from the Madras High Court to mitigate environmental impacts, such as wildlife being affected by discarded bottles.