Garbage Tax for Bangalore

introduced from April 1st.

Bangalore just introduced a “𝗴𝗮𝗿𝗯𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝘁𝗮𝘅”.

Effective April 1, property owners will pay a monthly fee for waste management:
↪ ₹10/month for homes under 600 sq ft
↪ ₹60–150+ for larger homes
↪ ₹12 per kilo for commercial waste

Here's more details:

Up to 600 sq ft: ₹10 per month
600–1,000 sq ft: ₹50 per month
1,000–2,000 sq ft: ₹100 per month
2,000–3,000 sq ft: ₹150 per month
3,000–4,000 sq ft: ₹200 per month
Above 4,000 sq ft: ₹400 per month

Bulk waste generators who do not follow in-situ waste processing will have to pay an additional ₹12 per kilogram of waste.

However, those implementing in-situ composting will receive a rebate of ₹3 per kilogram.

To enhance Bengaluru’s waste management infrastructure, ₹1,400 crore has been allocated to Bengaluru Solid Waste Management Limited (BSWML). Among the key projects planned is the establishment of 27 transfer stations to manage black spots across the city.

A material recovery facility with a processing capacity of 1,226 metric tonnes per day (MTPD) will be set up at a cost of ₹104 crore. Additionally, a 50 MTPD Bio-CNG unit will begin operations, along with a 300 MTPD plant in collaboration with the Gas Authority of India Limited.

It’s a bold move.
But it’s already triggering political backlash.

Union Minister Prahlad Joshi called it “garbage for the nation.”

Here’s the thing:
🏙️ Indian cities are drowning in waste.
⚠️ Most don’t even recover 25% of it.
📦 Collection, segregation, and recycling systems are broken.

This fee could fix that.

If (big if) it’s:
- Used to fund real infra
- Transparently reported
- Tied to measurable outcomes

Because people don’t mind paying —
They mind paying for nothing.

💬 What’s your take on “pay-for-waste” models?

Will this help clean up cities or just add another line to our tax bills?

What do you think?