Bruhat Bengaluru Mahangara Palike (BBMP) has proposed a Solid Waste Management (SWM) Cess of ₹100 per month for each household.

• Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016 enables Urban Local Bodies to levy user fees or SWM cess.
• Solid waste refers to the byproducts of household or commercial activities that have lost their value to the original owner(s) but may hold significance for others. e.g., Municipal solid waste (items discarded by households), industrial waste, etc.

Current state of SWM in India

• Solid waste generated stands at 160,038.9 tons per day, out of which ~95% of waste is collected in an efficient manner. (CPCB, 2020-21)
• Out of the total collected waste, ~50% undergoes some form of treatment whereas 31.7% of the total waste generated remains unaccounted.

Challenges in SWM in India

• Segregation of waste: Inadequate segregation of waste at source results in increased cost of waste disposal.
• Collection and transportation: Underdeveloped waste storage infrastructure at its source, limited door-to-door waste collection, etc.
• Disposal and treatment: Use of open dumps which emit methane gas as biodegradable waste decomposes in anaerobic conditions, contributing to fires, explosions, and global warming.
• Municipal Finance: Struggle to make enough money from the services they provide, challenges in attracting private capital on market terms due to inadequate creditworthiness, etc.