The sale of colour-coded dustbins has gone up a month after the High Court of Karnataka mandated that citizens segregate waste in three ways and the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) started penalising violators.

On December 17, 2015, the court ordered the use of the ‘two bins and one bag’ system to address Bengaluru’s garbage problem. Under the system, biodegradable or wet waste must be kept in a green-coloured bin, hazardous waste in a red bin and dry waste in reusable bags. People must not use plastic bags or covers.

Following the ruling, the Palike started fining violators. Houses are fined Rs 100 and apartments Rs 500. The fine sometimes goes up to Rs 10,000 depending on the type of violation and the waste generator.

The results are beginning to show. Garbage solution providers say they are getting more sales enquiries about colour-coded dustbins.

Priyadarshini Raghuram, an active waste management volunteer who runs a firm that manufactures 2bin1bag life kits, has turned busy since the court ruling. The sales enquiries have doubled since then. Sales are growing, too.

“We deliver 500-700 kits every day. On Monday, we received a call from the Army Welfare Housing Organisation, Kannamangala, for the supply of 750 kits. Along with apartments, individual houses are also making enquiries and placing orders,” she said.

Results seen

According to her, the Palike’s drive to fine people for inefficient garbage segregation is showing results. This is particularly true in eastern Bengaluru localities like CV Raman Nagar and Malleshpalya.

Shudh Labs, which provides waste management solutions, is receiving 10-12 queries every day, up from three to four earlier.

Vinod Kumar, one of the workers there, said the firm supplied colour-coded garbage trolleys to about 3,000 flats in Whitefield last week. It now plans to bring out biodegradable bags for collection of dry waste.

Violators being fined

Meanwhile, the Palike is pulling up its socks and fining violators in all wards. Palike  Special Commissioner for Solid Waste Management (SWM), Subodh Yadav, said that hotels, hospitals and other waste generators were being fined based on the violations.

“We plan to carry out a large campaign to make people aware about the three-way waste segregation. Residents’ Welfare Associations (RWAs) and non-government organisations have offered to help us in these campaigns,” he said.