Bengaluru: Bengaluru’s solid waste management system has come under the spotlight after Bengaluru Solid Waste Management Ltd (BSWML) disclosed that none of the city’s 5,150 auto-tippers used for door-to-door garbage collection are equipped with GPS tracking.
The revelation has raised concerns over transparency and accountability in waste collection as residents continue to report uncollected garbage and instances of illegal dumping across the city.
Thousands of garbage vehicles operate without GPS
According to BSWML, all 5,150 auto-tippers deployed for collecting household waste operate without GPS-based tracking, making it difficult for authorities to monitor their routes and ensure timely waste collection.
The city generates approximately 5,800 to 6,000 tonnes of solid waste every day, placing immense pressure on the waste management system.
Compactors are GPS-enabled
While the smaller garbage collection vehicles lack tracking devices, BSWML officials clarified that all 680 compactors, which transport waste from transfer stations and sorting facilities to processing plants, are fitted with GPS systems.
These vehicles are monitored to ensure waste reaches designated processing facilities efficiently.
Questions over accountability
The absence of GPS tracking in door-to-door collection vehicles has sparked concerns about monitoring field operations, particularly amid recurring complaints from residents about missed collections, delayed pickups and illegal dumping of waste.
Experts believe GPS-enabled monitoring could improve route planning, ensure better attendance of collection vehicles and help civic authorities respond more effectively to public complaints.
As Bengaluru continues to expand and generate increasing volumes of municipal waste, technology-driven monitoring is expected to play a crucial role in improving efficiency and strengthening accountability within the city’s waste management network