Bengaluru: Soon, you may have to pay up to Rs 400 to get your garbage cleared

Bengaluru's municipal body, BBMP, through its wing Bengaluru Solid Waste Management Ltd (BSWML), has proposed a new waste disposal fee system, expected to roll out in the 2025-26 financial year. The plan aims to generate ₹600 crore annually by charging the city’s 46 lakh households and businesses for waste management.

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Under the new system, fees will be based on the built-up area of residential properties. Households with less than 600 sq ft will pay ₹20 per month, while properties over 4,000 sq ft will incur ₹400 monthly charges. The proposal includes six categories, but the structure for non-residential users like hotels and offices, particularly those generating under 100 kg of waste, is not yet clear.

This new proposal replaces an earlier plan that linked fees to power consumption, following consultations with Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar. Once approved, the fee will be added to property tax bills.

For large waste producers, such as apartment complexes and offices, a fee of ₹12 per kg of waste will be charged, with an annual rise of ₹5 per kg. A 50% discount is available for those who implement in-situ composting, reducing the fee to ₹3 per kg.

BSWML cites legal backing for this fee collection under the Solid Waste Management Bye-laws of 2019, the BBMP Act of 2020, and a 2018 National Green Tribunal ruling.