Bengaluru’s solution for garbage woes: Let’s make money out of it

With Rs 450 cr spent on garbage disposal, BBMP now plans to earn revenue from waste
Bengaluru’s solution for garbage woes: Let’s make money out of it
Bengaluru’s solution for garbage woes: Let’s make money out of it
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Bengaluru generates around 4,000 tonnes of waste every day and one of the major problems faced by the government has been its proper disposal. Now, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) is looking at ways to generate revenue from waste, The Times of India reported. 

The TOI report states, "With technology advancements to convert waste into energy and bio-methanization -a natural process of decomposition of organic matter by microorganisms -waste is today more valuable than any other commodity which municipalities own."

The BBMP spends around Rs 450 crore annually for waste disposal, an amount reportedly set to increase to Rs 600cr- Rs 650cr from 2015-16. The expenditure includes contracts to garbage contractors, pourakarmikas, expenses for transportation of waste to dumping yards and rents/leases for using private land for landfills, states the report. 

Subodh Yadav, BBMP special commissioner for solid waste management, told TOI that a proposal to earn revenue from the garbage-disposal system is being considered. "As a first step, we have thought of stopping the tipping fee or waste disposal fee which is paid to private waste-disposal companies and other waste-to-energy projects," he said.

Apart from this, around eight biomass plants are using the city's waste to generate power and supply it to the grid and three waste-to-energy plants are being set up in and around the city, the report adds. 

According to a report in The New Indian Express, the BBMP spends more on garbage disposal than its municipal counterparts in other south Indian cities and the expenditure is only likely to increase. 

The TNIE report states, "Bengaluru has 198 wards and a geographical area of around 800 sqkm. The city generates 4,000 tonnes of waste every day, and BBMP spends around Rs 450 crore annually to dispose it. In comparison, the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GJMC), with a jurisdiction of 625 sqkm, spends Rs 100 crore to dispose of 3,800 tonnes of daily waste. Chennai produces more waste but spends less to manage it. The Corporation of Chennai spends around Rs 400 crore to dispose of 6,000 tonnes of waste."

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