'Garbage tax' a double whammy for apartment complexes managing waste in Bengaluru

Bengaluru: The new 'garbage tax' — which has been rolled out this financial year — will prove to be a double whammy for residents of large apartment complexes who do not avail the BBMP's solid waste management (SWM) services.

This is because the bulk waste generators are already spending a significant amount each month to either compost waste on-site or engage authorised vendors for waste disposal.

According to the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), there are about 3,500 bulk waste generators, including apartment complexes.

All apartments or gated communities that produce more than 100 kg of waste per day and commercial establishments spanning over 5,000 sq meters are considered bulk generators.

Under the solid waste management bylaw of 2020, such buildings must compost or process waste on-site or engage authorised waste processors.

Many residents of large apartments told DH that their property tax for 2025-26 reflects an SWM user fee of Rs 1,200 or more, in addition to the SWM cess of Rs 360. They objected to this fee, pointing out that their waste is not collected by the BBMP auto tippers, but is instead handed over to private vendors.

The Bangalore Apartments Federation (BAF) also expressed similar concerns, stating that apartments complying with the solid waste management bylaw are being taxed. "The additional SWM user fee has caused confusion among the apartment community, as they are already paying a monthly maintenance fee that includes solid waste disposal," the members said.

So far, the BBMP property tax portal — which has imposed garbage tax for all properties in Bengaluru depending on the build-up area — has not added an option for residents to request an exemption from the SWM fee.

BBMP Chief Commissioner Tushar Girinath stated that the civic body would implement a solution allowing residents to declare whether they are bulk waste generators. "If bulk waste generators fail to comply with the SWM rules, we will collect their waste, provided they pay Rs 12 per kg," he said.

Smaller apartments, which do not qualify as bulk waste generators, may not mind paying the new SWM fee, as the residents' welfare associations (RWAs) were already paying a substantial amount to BBMP waste collectors informally.

With the BBMP rolling out SWM user fee, RWAs may come under pressure to bring down the monthly maintenance fee.