SAS Nagar, June 7, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Dedicating to World Environment Day, the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB), Regional Office Mohali, in collaboration with Verka Milk Plant, Mohali, launched a Mobile Milk Vending Van at ATS Casa Espana, Mohali, to reduce plastic waste generated from single-use milk pouches and promote sustainable consumption practices.
The initiative is part of PPCB’s ongoing campaign against Single-Use Plastic (SUP) and seeks to encourage citizens to adopt simple lifestyle changes that can significantly reduce plastic waste generation at source. Since milk is a daily-consumption commodity present in almost every household, even small reductions in plastic packaging can translate into substantial environmental benefits at the city and state level.
Under the initiative, “Doodh Wahi, Plastic Nahi,” residents can purchase fresh Verka milk through the vending van at a subsidized rate of Rs 64 per litre, compared to Rs 66 per litre through conventional plastic pouches.
By offering milk at a lower price, the initiative aims to incentivize consumers to transition from single-use plastic pouches to carrying their own reusable utensils, bottles, or containers; reviving a sustainable practice that was once commonplace.
The vending machine has a capacity of approximately 300 litres and will be stationed at ATS Casa Espana on a daily basis. At full utilization, the initiative can eliminate the use of nearly 600 plastic milk pouches every day in a single residential society.
It is estimated that a household purchasing around 2 litres of milk per day through the vending system can help prevent nearly 4 kilograms of plastic waste annually from entering the waste stream. Scaled across multiple residential societies, such interventions have the potential to significantly reduce the volume of plastic waste requiring collection, processing, and disposal.
PPCB officials stated that reducing plastic pollution requires both improved waste management systems and changes in everyday consumer behaviour.
If the pilot proves successful, PPCB plans to work with Verka to scale the initiative across other residential societies in Mohali and subsequently in other towns and cities across Punjab, either through additional mobile vending vans or by establishing stationary milk vending units at existing Verka distribution centres, enabling a long-term and systemic transition away from single-use plastic milk packaging.
Resident Welfare Associations and housing societies interested in hosting similar milk vending facilities may contact PPCB for further information and collaboration.
FOLLOW NOW
