Experts hail BBMP proposal to waive cess on bulk waste

The BBMP’s recent indication that it would waive the solid waste management (SWM) cess for bulk waste generators processing waste at source itself could be a promising beginning, say experts.

In a recent meeting to discuss issues related to the newly floated SWM tender, the waste management committee comprising the mayor and the BBMP commissioner decided to push for waiver of SWM cess for bulk generators who have in-situ wet waste processing system. This has been a long-pending demand from large apartments.

The BBMP collects about Rs 55 crore a year from SWM cess, calculated on the basis of the area of a property, i.e on the amount of property tax to be paid. In fact, the SWM Rules, 2016, which define those producing above 100 kg of waste per day as bulk generators, exempts them from SWM cess on the assumption that the waste generators manage their own waste. But so far, the BBMP has not been successful in getting all bulk generators to deal with their waste.


According to BBMP officials, of the 1,500 tonnes of waste produced by about 15,000 bulk generators (including apartments, hotels and restaurants, wedding halls, malls) per day, less than 300 tonnes are processed in-situ.

Activists who hail the BBMP’s moves, however, believe the initiative will be futile unless the civic body makes it mandatory for bulk generators to have an in-situ system. “The city corporation officials should ensure that at least 80% of the residential apartments process their own waste, failing which waiving SWM cess will become futile,” said Lalitha Mondreti, member of SWM Round Table.

A majority of apartments built after 2006 have waste processing systems, but they are largely unused. “Apartments find it easier and cheaper to hand over waste to vendors or contractors than process it themselves. So when the BBMP waives SWM cess, it should also stop vendors from collecting waste from these residentials units,” Mondreti said.

Waste-management activists also demand the BBMP to have a proper system to collect waste from commercial bulk generators like hotels and wedding halls. “Two systems run parallelly in Bengaluru. One, where empanelled vendors collect wet waste from bulk generators. Two, the regular waste contractors, who collect mixed waste from bulk generators through an illegal system. The parallel system has to end,” said Kathyayani Chamaraj, executive trustee of CIVIC.

The BBMP officials said that waiving SWM cess is just a proposal and no decision has been taken yet. It has to be placed before the council before getting the government’s approval. “We should also consider factors such as the SWM cess involving street sweeping and gang work besides waste collection and transportation,” Sarfaraz Khan, joint commissioner (health/SWM), BBMP, said.