“Bengaluru’s Garbage Cess Sparks Outcry from Hotels and Apartments”

Bengaluru: Hotel associations and resident welfare groups in Bengaluru are pushing back against the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike’s (BBMP) newly introduced garbage cess, labeling it unfair and economically draining. They plan to approach Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, seeking relief.

According to BBMP’s updated structure, a property measuring 1,000 sq ft must pay ₹2,000 per month as cess, adding up to ₹24,000 a year. Hotels and lodges face a steeper fee—₹4,000 monthly or ₹48,000 annually.

PC Rao, president of the Bruhat Bengaluru Hotels Association, criticized the policy as “unscientific,” highlighting its heavy toll on small-scale establishments. “We’ll request the DCM to revise and reduce the cess,” he stated.

Similarly, the Bengaluru Apartment Federation (BAF), which represents over 1,300 complexes, voiced concerns over what they called double taxation. BAF’s vice-president, Satish Mallya, said residents are being asked to pay both the cess and individual user fees.

After meeting BBMP Solid Waste Management chief Harish Kumar, BAF was assured of adjustments. “For complexes with over 100 flats, only the association will pay, provided daily waste exceeds 100 kg,” Mallya clarified.

Still, apartment dwellers feel singled out. Mallya noted, “We’re charged ₹12 per kg in user fees, same as commercial units, but only apartments are pressed to segregate waste and compost—even when older buildings lack composting infrastructure.”

The debate reflects growing dissatisfaction with BBMP’s waste management reforms, particularly among those already managing waste responsibly.

Read Also:

• Bengaluru’s ‘Garbage Tax’ Sparks Outrage Among Apartment Residents
• Garbage Collection Disrupted in Bengaluru Amid Workers’ Protest