Foodservice

Indian state to revive milk vending

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July 16, 2026

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The Tamil Nadu Cooperative Milk Producers' Federation Ltd., in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, plans to revive its Aavin milk vending machines more than a decade after the program was discontinued, according to a report in The Hindu.

The initiative follows a directive from the state's highest court, which encouraged the state-owned dairy cooperative to explore alternatives to single-use plastic milk containers. Two automatic vending machines have been ordered for a pilot project, with each unit costing approximately $4,200.

The milk vending machines were introduced in the 1970s but were shut down in 2014 following concerns about milk adulteration. Attorneys advising the court argued that modern machines with improved safeguards could help reduce plastic waste while addressing the quality issues that led to the program's closure. The court directed TNCMPFL to launch a pilot in densely populated areas and discontinue container sales within the machines' operating zones.

According to the federation, the pilot sites have been approved and will support digital payment options. Once the vending machines are operational, nearby retail outlets will stop selling milk in plastic containers, and a public awareness campaign will encourage consumers to switch to the automated dispensing system as part of the state's broader effort to reduce plastic waste.