BENGALURU: Nearly six years after it relaxed norms allowing contractors to lift garbage from apartment complexes,

(BBMP) has again decided to stop garbage collection from bulk generators, a move which may affect over 9,000 apartment complexes.

It also means contractors won’t lift waste from large commercial establishments. In all, over 15,000 bulk generators will be hit. The BBMP, in the latest tender inviting bids from contractors for this year, has exempted them from picking waste from bulk generators which includes apartments with more than 50 units.

“The service provider shall carry out collection of segregated wet waste and sanitary waste from households (including slums) and Small Commercial Establishments (SCEs) not categorised under Bulk Generator — waste generators producing more than 10kg wet waste per day or apartments having more than 50 units,” the tender reads.

In 2012, the Palike had introduced the same policy — which residents said was discriminatory — but was later forced to withdraw following widespread criticism from taxpayers.

According to Sarfaraz Khan, joint commissioner, BBMP (Solid Waste Management), apartments or hotels generating more than 10kg waste a day are treated as bulk generators, who, as per SWM rules, 2016, must dispose it themselves.

“The same criteria continues which is why they’ve been excluded from the wardwise tenders,” Khan said.

On why the policy was being reintroduced, BBMP commissioner N Manjunatha Prasad, said: “There are already 15 contractors handling bulk generator-waste. Separate tenders are being floated simultaneously for door-to-door collection of dry waste. Preference is being given to ragpicker’s associations and NGOs.”

Garbage contractor SN Balasubramaniam said the tender is unethical and “just another means to make money”. The BBMPshould have invited tenders for everything, including dry waste but it hasn’t done it, he added.

“Bulk generators have been included in the SWM rules 2016. The BBMP should adopt a single-tender system as a multiple system means more taxpayer money is spent on garbage. The cost of door-to-door collection has already touched Rs 425 crore. Imagine how much more would be added for other tenders,” he said.

Vikram Rai, treasurer, Bangalore Apartment Owners’ Association, said the Palike should be more transparent and also provide solutions for small apartments. “BBMP should not burden smaller apartments. Every apartment cannot install organic waste convertor and it should not become a diktat,” he said.

Digital monitoring

The BBMP, under criticism for shabby garbage maintenance, has decided to monitor it digitally. Movement of all SWM vehicles doing door-to-door collection and street sweeping waste collection would be digitally monitored through mobile apps.

“The RFID/GPS technologies will be used to a central control room and made available for citizens to view. The service provider would have to comply with mandatory requirements of data uploads and tracking systems imposed by BBMP for monitoring performance standards and imposition of penalty,” a BBMP engineer explained.