Bengaluru's 'Garbage Tax' may raise apartment maintenance fees

Bengaluru’s newly introduced 'garbage tax' is creating a wave of concern among residents of large apartment complexes and gated communities. The tax, effective from this financial year, is proving to be a double burden for bulk waste generators, many of whom already manage their waste through private vendors or on-site composting.

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For these buildings, the rules require them to either compost waste on-site or engage authorized waste processors. However, many residents have voiced their objections, especially when it comes to the imposition of additional fees. These residents argue that their waste is not collected by BBMP’s auto tippers, but instead managed by private waste vendors, and yet they are being charged extra under the new garbage tax.

According to reports, the 2025-26 property tax for these apartment complexes includes an SWM use fee of Rs 1,200 or more, in addition to the SWM cess of Rs 360. The Bangalore Apartments Federation (BAF) has expressed concern, noting that this additional fee creates confusion for apartments that are already spending considerable amounts on waste management. Many residents feel the fee is unjustified, as they are complying with the solid waste management rules on their own.

The BBMP is yet to update its property tax portal to allow residents to request an exemption from this fee. In response, BBMP Chief Commissioner Tushar Girinath stated that the civic body would soon implement a system to allow residents to declare whether they are bulk waste generators. For those who fail to comply with SWM rules, a charge of Rs 12 per kilogram of waste will be imposed for BBMP collection.

Smaller apartment complexes, not classified as bulk waste generators, may be less affected by the fee. Their residents were already contributing towards waste management informally through the BBMP’s existing services. Nonetheless, the new garbage tax has led to mounting pressure on Residents' Welfare Associations (RWAs) to adjust their monthly maintenance fees to accommodate the additional charges.