BSWML 'shames' litterbugs, dumps trash at their doorsteps

Bengaluru: Litterbugs in several neighbourhoods across Bengaluru woke up to see piles of garbage dumped outside their homes on Thursday.

In a first-of-its-kind move that has received mixed reactions, the Bengaluru Solid Waste Management Ltd (BSWML) emptied the entire load of garbage from auto tippers at the doorsteps of 218 houses as a warning to habitual litterbugs. 

While BSWML termed the action as an enforcement and awareness campaign to make Bengaluru “free of garbage blackspots”, a section of the citizens did not approve of the idea, stating it reeked of high-headedness and was arbitrary in nature. 

Some residents got into altercations with the BSWML staff, marshals and link workers, who were overseeing the garbage-dumping drive. Residents argued that BSWML is unfairly targeting them as most other residents on the street, who had also thrown garbage in the past, were spared. 

BSWML, however, defended their act, stating that they have video proof of frequent littering of garbage. 

Karee Gowda, chief executive officer of BSWML, said garbage tippers collect waste from every house coming under the Greater Bengaluru Area.

Some residents got into altercations with the BSWML staff, marshals and link workers, who were overseeing the garbage-dumping drive. Residents argued that BSWML is unfairly targeting them as most other residents on the street, who had also thrown garbage in the past, were spared. 

BSWML, however, defended their act, stating that they have video proof of frequent littering of garbage. 
Karee Gowda, chief executive officer of BSWML, said garbage tippers collect waste from every house coming under the Greater Bengaluru Area.

“Yet, some residents throw garbage in public places. This is bringing disrepute to Bengaluru. We hence dumped garbage in front of houses of habitual offenders so that they realise how it feels when waste is dumped in front of others houses,” he said. 

After dumping the garbage, BSWML workers later cleared it before slapping a penalty on the litterbugs by showing proof of them dumping waste in the past. Overall, it collected about Rs 2 lakh in penalty. 

V Ramaprasad, a solid waste management expert said the government’s action was arbitrary and does not have a legal backing. “This action shows that the government itself has violated the rules in the name of sending a message against garbage dumping and about segregation. Whatever the claims, auto tippers do not visit all houses daily. Their timings are also irregular. BSWML should first fixt this,” he said. 

A senior BSWML official said it has put in place a control room to receive complaints whenever the door-to-door collection of garbage does not happen. “This will also help us keep a track of the performance of garbage contractors,” he said.