Bengaluru Homeowners to Face Higher Costs from April 1 with New Waste Disposal Fee

A new waste disposal fee to be implemented in Bengaluru from April 1, 2025, will increase the cost of waste disposal for homeowners.

Karnataka government approves new property tax bill: Bengaluru residents will have to shell out more for this from April 1, 2025, as the state government did approve a new user fee for waste disposal This decision comes soon after the increased fare in Namma Metro, putting additional burden on the pockets of citizens.

The Urban Development Department, headed by Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, newly proposed a fee by BSWML in November 2023. Targeting waste management, the initiative plans to pay for door-to-door garbage collection and disposal services of households (although the policy is yet to be translated into an official order) amid questions over its scientific basis.

The revised system will add the user fee to property tax bills and calculated based on a property’s built-up area. The charges shall be levied in a scheme of six slabs varying between ₹10 and ₹400 per month. Properties greater than 4,000 sq ft will cost the most to register, while those up to 600 sq ft will pay the least. The switch could substantially increase the annual tax burden on homeowners.

Bulk waste generators like apartment complexes and large commercial institutions, in addition to homeowners, would be impacted, the agency said. BSWML charges ₹12 per kg of waste from users without a impanelled agency handling waste if they do not opt for a user fee. This additional fee may make these organizations’ operations a bit costly.

The existing SWM Cess which is a part of property tax at present and used for street cleaning, will continue as is. That user fee is meant to supplement these existing funds, but it has divided residents. However, critics have called the implementation of the system flawed and the extra fee an unfair financial burden on citizens.

The government insists the new charge is necessary to improve waste management in the city despite protests. With the population of the city on the rise, the authorities have considered this move to be essential in protecting the quality of life and the environment in the urban context. But it’s too soon to know what its long-term effects on residents will be.