Mumbai’s Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is set to introduce a ‘user fee’ for solid waste management, marking the first amendment to the city’s waste management by-laws in two decades. This initiative aims to generate approximately ₹687 crore annually from residential properties alone, bolstering the city’s waste collection, transportation, and processing infrastructure.
Proposed Fee Structure
The draft rules outline a tiered monthly fee system for residential units:
- ₹100 for units up to 50 square meters
- ₹500 for units up to 300 square meters
- ₹1,000 for units exceeding 300 square meters
Commercial establishments, clinics, cottage industries, and event halls will face different rates, starting at a minimum of ₹500.
Legal Framework and Implementation
The BMC sought legal counsel before proceeding with the user fee proposal. With legal clearance obtained, the corporation plans to initiate stakeholder consultations, inviting suggestions and objections in the coming days. This move necessitates revising Mumbai’s solid waste management by-laws, which have remained unchanged since 2006.
The proposed amendments will align Mumbai’s regulations with the Central Solid Waste Management Rules of 2016 and Maharashtra’s Solid Waste Management Bye-laws of 2019. These comprehensive updates will also address specific waste categories, including plastic, biomedical, construction and demolition debris, and electronic waste.
Rationale Behind the User Fee
A senior official from the BMC’s Solid Waste Management department highlighted the city’s escalating waste generation, currently at 7,500 tonnes daily, as a primary driver for the user fee. Mumbai’s per capita expenditure on solid waste management stands at ₹3,141, significantly higher than cities like Pune (₹1,724), Kolkata (₹1,584), and Bengaluru (₹1,335). Notably, these cities already impose waste management fees in accordance with national regulations.
Enhanced Penalties for Non-Compliance
The draft by-laws propose increased penalties for various offences, including:
- Littering
- Spitting
- Public urination and defecation
- Failure to segregate waste appropriately
- Unauthorized dumping of construction and demolition waste
- Hawking without a waste bin
- Neglecting the cleanliness of house gullies
To ensure compliance, the BMC will introduce grievance redressal mechanisms, allowing aggrieved individuals to file complaints with the ward’s assistant commissioner within 30 days.
Next Steps
Following the stakeholder consultation process and incorporation of feedback, the revised by-laws will be presented to the state legislative assembly for formal amendment to the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act of 1888.
This initiative underscores the BMC’s commitment to modernizing Mumbai’s waste management system and promoting environmental sustainability through shared responsibility.
