Gadag: Kappatagudda, a hill in Karnataka known for having some of Asia’s fastest winds and exceptionally clean air, has become almost plastic-free — thanks to a security deposit system that encourages visitors to return their plastic waste.Under the initiative, forest officials place specially printed stickers carrying environmental awareness messages on every plastic bottle and snack packet brought into the hills. Visitors pay a refundable security deposit of Rs 30 for each plastic bottle and Rs 10 for each plastic wrapper at the check post. Once they return the empty, labelled packs while leaving, the full deposit is refunded.The collected plastic waste is then disposed of by the forest department in accordance with solid waste management norms.“We collect Rs 30 for labelling bottles and Rs 10 for labelling plastic covers. Though a packet of potato chips may cost only Rs 5, we still collect Rs 10. It is not a fee, but a security deposit. Visitors get the entire amount back when they return the empty, labelled items,” said Manjunath Megalamani, the range forest officer, Kappatagudda Hills Range.According to him, around 95% of visitors now return their bottles and wrappers and claim their refund.Siddu Satyannavar, an environmental enthusiast from Dambal, said the hills have two forest check posts where personnel inspect visitors’ bags to prevent plastic littering.“Despite the initiative, a few visitors and devotees of Gali Gundi Basavanna temple still discard plastic indiscriminately. Even then, Kappatagudda is now almost 99% plastic-free,” he said.P Ananda Tirtha Pyati, an organic farmer from Koppal and a frequent visitor, recalled that heaps of plastic waste once littered the area. “Now, visitors are far more conscious of the environment. Many carry steel water bottles, while others opt to get their plastic bottles and snack packets labelled by paying the refundable deposit. The model has worked well and can be replicated in other reserved forests,” he said.Kiran Akki, a Bengaluru-based tech professional, admitted he was initially uncomfortable when forest staff checked visitors’ bags. “But once they explained the purpose of the initiative, we were happy to cooperate,” he said.
