Mumbai News | New ‘Garbage Tax’ proposed, 'user fee' to streamline waste management

Mumbai residents might soon have to shell out a ‘user fee’ for solid waste management as the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) plans to introduce 'garbage tax' to improve the city's waste disposal system. The proposed fee—₹687 crore annually from residential properties—aims to fund waste collection, transportation, and processing while upgrading technology and service quality.

A senior BMC official confirmed that the civic body has received legal approval for the fee and will soon begin consultations with stakeholders to address suggestions and objections. If implemented, this would mark the first update to Mumbai’s solid waste management bylaws in nearly two decades.

Under the draft rules, residential units will be charged monthly fees ranging from ₹100 for homes up to 50 sq. m to ₹1,000 for properties over 300 sq. m. Commercial establishments will face higher rates, starting at ₹500. The move comes as Mumbai grapples with 7,500 tonnes of daily waste and rising per capita expenditure on waste management, which stands at ₹3,141—significantly higher than other major cities.

The new bylaws also propose stricter penalties for littering, unsegregated waste disposal, and other offences, alongside improved complaint redressal mechanisms. With stakeholder consultations underway, the final draft will be presented to the state legislative assembly for approval, marking a significant step in Mumbai’s efforts to modernise its waste management systems.