BMC's Garbage Tax: Mumbaikars Have To Pay For Waste Collection; Check The Fees Inside

Mumbai's residents may soon have to pay a new 'user fee' on solid waste management, often referred to as a garbage tax. This fee aims to fund the extensive processes of collecting, transporting, and processing the city's waste. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) proposes to collect Rs 687 crore a year from residential properties to improve waste management systems, invest in modern technology, and enhance overall service delivery, according to a Hindustan Times (HT) report.

A senior BMC official from the solid waste management department stated, "The BMC had sought legal opinion on introducing the user fee. Having received the go-ahead, we will begin consultations with stakeholders in a few days, inviting suggestions and objections."

If approved, this user fee would require revising Mumbai's solid waste management bylaws, which have not been updated in nearly 20 years. Since the introduction of the Greater Mumbai Cleanliness and Sanitation Bye-laws in 2006, solid waste management laws in India have evolved significantly. The Centre established the Solid Waste Management Rules in 2016, followed by the Maharashtra government's bye-laws in 2019, under the Maharashtra Municipal Corporation Act of 1949. Notably, the BMC is governed by its own by-laws under the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act of 1888.

The proposed draft bylaws will create a comprehensive set of rules for Mumbai, addressing various waste types, including plastic, biomedical, construction and demolition waste, and e-waste.

Fee Structure

According to the new draft rules, the BMC suggests the following monthly fees for residential units: Rs 100 for units up to 50 square metres, Rs 500 for areas up to 300 square metres, and Rs 1,000 for those over 300 square metres. Commercial establishments, clinics, cottage industries, and event halls will face different charges, starting at a minimum of Rs 500.

As per the HT report, the senior official explained that the user fee is necessary due to Mumbai's increasing population and the rising volume of solid waste produced, currently at 7,500 tonnes a day. The city's per capita expenditure for solid waste management is Rs 3,141, which is significantly higher than other cities like Pune (Rs 1,724), Kolkata (Rs 1,584), and Bengaluru (Rs 1,335). "These cities already charge a fee for solid waste management, as per the central act," the official noted.

The new draft bylaws will also increase penalties for offences such as littering, spitting, public urination, and unauthorised dumping of waste. Stricter rules will emphasize individual responsibility and a complaint redressal system will be established, allowing residents to file complaints with the ward's assistant commissioner within 30 days.

Following stakeholder hearings and potential amendments based on feedback, the new draft bylaws will be presented to the state legislative assembly for an amendment to the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act of 1888.

Atin Biswas, programme director for Solid Waste Management and Circular Economy at the Centre for Science and Environment in Delhi, expressed surprise that Mumbai does not already have a solid waste management user fee. According to the same report, he stated, "Collecting waste from households is a service provided by the municipality, which incurs significant costs in processing it. There is no reason for this service to be free, and the civic body is within its rights to impose a fee, though the rates may be debated. Mumbai is lagging behind, as the SWM Rules of 2016 mandated urban bodies to adopt these changes within a year."