BBMP has, for the first time, drafted bye-laws on Solid Waste Management (SWM). Aiming towards complete waste segregation, the bye-laws define eight different streams of waste – wet, dry, sanitary, non-recyclable, non-biodegradable, domestic hazardous, construction and demolition waste, and slaughterhouse waste. It defines specific strategies for processing each of these.

The draft bye-laws also prescribe steep penalties for offences such as burning or not segregating waste, for violating the plastic ban, and so on. D Randeep, BBMP Additional Commissioner (SWM), says the penalties have been increased by five times.

The bye-laws also have new provisions such as door-to-door collection of e-waste, and the option to use BBMP’s SWM services at public gatherings. It gives ward committees greater role in the preparation of ward-wise SWM plans, and has provisions for welfare of pourakarmikas.

Randeep says the bye-laws would soon be sent to the state Urban Development Department for gazette notification. “Currently the draft is being translated to Kannada. Once the translation is completed, both the English and Kannada versions would be sent to the UDD for notification,” he says.

After the notification, the public would have 30 days to file their objections and suggestions on the draft. BBMP Council is supposed to discuss and incorporate valid suggestions into the draft. Once this revised draft is approved and notified by the UDD, the bye-laws would come into force.

Road map and vision

In July, the BBMP released the city’s ‘Solid waste management road map and vision’ that aims to achieve:

• 100 percent door-to-door collection of waste
• 100 percent segregation of waste by December 2019
• Only 13-15 percent of the collected waste going to landfills
• Zero tolerance for plastic use and garbage black spots

Framing SWM bye-laws was among the strategies of the BBMP to achieve these goals.

What do the draft bye-laws say?

Collection, transportation, processing and disposal of solid waste:

• Waste generators have to segregate solid waste at source, into the following categories:

1. 1. 1. Wet waste (bio-degradable)
      2. Dry waste (non-biodegradable)
      3. Domestic hazardous waste (includes sanitary napkins, diapers, tampons)
      4. Construction and demolition waste
      5. Garden and horticulture waste
      6. E-waste

• You should not put waste in plastic garbage liner bags for handing over to BBMP/service providers. Only receptacles/bins should be used, and only bin-to-bin transfer is allowed.
• Colour of the bins should be:

1. 1. 1. Green for bio-degradable/wet waste
      2. Blue for non-biodegradable/dry waste
      3. Red for domestic hazardous and sanitary waste

• You can also deposit segregated waste in designated collection points/Kasa kiosks.
• BBMP will collect e-waste door-to-door, at least once every two weeks. You have to pay for this service based on the weight of the waste. Currently you can only deposit e-waste at specific drop-off points.
• Poultry, fish, meat and slaughter waste from commercial establishments should be stored fully-closed, in hygienic condition. BBMP should designate closed-container bins and vehicles for primary collection and secondary transportation of such waste. The waste generator should pay a user fee for this, depending on the quantity of waste.
• Market association or shop owners should compulsorily install segregated waste bins in commercial areas.
• Construction and demolition waste should be stored within the premises of the owner/occupier. If such waste needs to be storied in public spaces, permission should be taken.
• BBMP will take up door-to-door collection of certain categories of segregated solid waste (such as bulky waste from individual houses), on payment of service charges. The service charges for different categories are mentioned towards the end of this article.
• BBMP will specify at least one day a week for door-to-door collection of bulky waste – that is, waste more than 10 kgs per day – as well as bulk horticulture and garden waste.
• Eco-friendly options like battery-operated/electric vehicles for door-to-door waste collection and transportation. There will be one e-vehicle in each ward in the short term.
• GPS tagging of vehicles, and biometric attendance for all waste collectors, will be mandatory. BBMP will also monitor this remotely through a Central Smart Data Centre.
• New buildings with more than 50 dwelling units, or area exceeding 5000 square metres, should have suitable space for waste collection and on-site processing.
• Waste generators who do not use the services of BBMP have to submit an annual report on the amount of waste generated, segregated and processed in their premises.
• BBMP to set up processing facilities like composting and bio-methanation in fruit and vegetable markets that generate over 100 kgs of wet waste daily.
• In-situ processing facilities and small-scale bio-methanation plants to be set up in parks and gardens
• Composting processes approved by the state/central pollution control board – such as vermin-composting, anaerobic digestion, bio methanation etc – will be encouraged at all levels.
• BBMP will analyse all old and operational dumpsites, and take up biomining and bioremediation where feasible.

Steep penalties for offenders

• Here are the penalties you’d have to pay once the draft bye-laws come into effect

Welfare of pourakarmikas, integrating the formal and informal SWM sectors

• BBMP has to comply with all labour and welfare regulations, offer regular medical check-ups and protective gear to pourakarmikas. Adequate monetary compensation should be given in case of a pourakarmika’s injury or death. If he/she is employed by a garbage contractor, these would be the contractor’s responsibility.
• Waste pickers, traders and other informal sector players should be supported to upgrade their work conditions, and be integrated into the formal SWM system. They would be given ID cards, formal training etc.

Littering and public nuisance

• BBMP to provide and maintain suitable community bins and Kasa Kiosks in public spaces.
• Nuisance detectors from BBMP would have the power to levy spot fines against littering.
• SWM marshals and an SWM nodal officer to be deployed in every ward. SWM Marshals – ideally ex-servicemen – keep vigil on waste dumping, public urination etc, and are authorised to penalise offenders. SWM nodal officer – not lower in rank than an Assistant Executive Engineer – will liaison with BBMP on ward-level SWM issues.

Events and public gatherings

• Organisers of public events with over 100 people should ensure waste segregation at source, and hand over the segregated waste to BBMP no later than 12 hours after completion of the event.
• Organisers should pay a cleanliness deposit which will be refunded after the event, if the concerned authority is satisfied. If the space is not clean within 12 hours of the event, the deposit will be forfeited.
• Organisers can avail BBMP’s SWM services on paying service charges in advance

Ward committees and Shuchi Mithras

• Ward committees will review the SWM action plan of their respective wards. They should take steps to comply with the recommendations in BBMP reports, identify land for processing and other in-situ facilities, and ensure visual cleanliness.
• Shuchi Mithras are volunteers who will prepare regular reports about the implementation of SWM rules in their ward, monitor cleanliness, suggest bin placement, and so on. They can submit their reports to the ward committee, which will be forwarded to the BBMP’s grievance redressal system if necessary. But they are not empowered to implement or enforce the bye-laws.

Cess and Service charge

• Waste Generators should mandatorily pay SWM cess to BBMP for services of waste collection, transportation, processing and disposal. This cess will be payable as part of the property tax collected annually by BBMP.

• The SWM service charge will be increased by 5 percent every year, with effect from April 1st of each year. If the service charge is not paid within three months of BBMP raising the demand, a surcharge of 2 percent will be levied per month.