Tamil Nadu deploys 24-hour milk vending to reduce plastic in Kodaikanal

The automated vending machine was commissioned by Dindigul District Collector Mrs Durgamoorthi, I.A.S. It serves residents, hotels and other hospitality businesses, as well as tourists visiting the hill station.

The dispensing model uses bring-your-own-container purchases instead of conventional single-use milk packaging. The district administration said the change is intended to remove thousands of multilayer, non-biodegradable pouches from municipal waste and drainage systems in the environmentally sensitive tourist area.

The equipment has enclosed stainless-steel storage tanks, automatic temperature regulation and flow meters that control the quantity dispensed. Milk is kept below 4°C from bulk delivery through sale, according to the description of the installation. The stated purpose of the temperature controls is to limit bacterial growth and avoid deterioration associated with retail handling at ambient temperatures.

For dairy co-operatives and authorised processors in Tamil Nadu, the arrangement avoids several activities associated with sachet sales, including film purchasing, pouch printing, filling and secondary crate packing. The source also identifies lower packaging costs and reduced transport volumes as operational effects of dispensing milk directly into customers’ containers.

Continuous operation allows sales outside conventional retail hours and does not require additional retail staff for those periods, according to the district administration’s account. The Kodaikanal installation combines automated temperature-controlled distribution with a packaging-reduction programme at the municipal retail level.