Gurpreet Singh :- In a significant step towards promoting sustainable consumption and reducing plastic pollution, a mobile milk vending van has been introduced in Mohali, offering Verka milk at a discounted price of ₹64 per litre, compared to ₹66 per litre for milk sold in conventional plastic pouches.
The initiative has been launched by the regional office of the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) in collaboration with the Verka Milk Plant, Mohali, at ATS Casa Espana. The project aims to encourage residents to bring reusable containers, bottles, or utensils for purchasing milk, thereby reducing dependence on single-use plastic packaging.
The vending unit has a storage capacity of approximately 300 litres and will operate daily within the residential complex. Officials estimate that if the unit functions at full capacity, it could eliminate the use of nearly 600 plastic milk pouches every day in a single housing society. Environmental experts further suggest that a household consuming two litres of milk daily through this system could prevent around four kilograms of plastic waste annually.
PPCB officials stated that tackling plastic pollution requires not only efficient waste management systems but also a shift in consumer behaviour. They expressed optimism that the pilot project would encourage environmentally responsible practices among residents while helping reduce the volume of plastic waste generated from routine household consumption.
If the initiative proves successful, authorities plan to expand the model to other residential societies in Mohali and eventually to towns and cities across Punjab. Additional mobile vending units and permanent dispensing facilities at existing Verka distribution centres are also being considered as part of a broader strategy to reduce reliance on single-use plastic milk packaging.
