Waste collection services resumed in Bengaluru on Wednesday, after a day of disruption in more than 50 wards triggered by differences over how waste segregation rules should be implemented, amid a broader tussle between contractors and civic authorities over policy changes and pending payments.
The Bengaluru Solid Waste Management Limited (BSWML) is pushing for stricter compliance at the household level, while contractors have resisted directives that, according to them, shift the burden of segregation onto collection staff.
Sanitation workers say that in practice, mixed waste continues to arrive at collection points, forcing drivers and cranes to sort it by hand, increasing collection time and exposing them to potentially hazardous materials.
S N Balasubramanian, president of Garbage Contractors Association, said the issue has been formally taken up with the authorities. “BSWML is directing our truck drivers and cranes to ensure segregation of waste, which is not possible,” he said, adding that operational changes had also been introduced without adequate consultation.
Even as services resumed, legal proceedings initiated during the outage added to the tension. On March 23, cases were recorded at three police stations under the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA), with officials citing a collapse in garbage collection resulting in garbage piling up in several areas.
More than 20 contractors have been named, with around 35 FIRs registered, including multiple cases against some agencies, authorities said. They accused the contractors of failing to transport low-value plastic waste to designated facilities and not adhering to collection schedules between 6am and 2pm.
Officials stressed that uninterrupted garbage collection is critical to public health. They described these lapses as serious violations of duty and said legal action had been taken in the public interest.
Meanwhile, the administration acknowledged the delay in payments to contractors, with officials saying that the dues of the past four months will be cleared on the directions of the Chief Commissioner of Greater Bengaluru Authority. However, they clarified that the requirement for separation at source will remain in place.
The contractors have disputed the allegations, insisting that the disruption was not a coordinated protest but rather the result of operational restrictions. Pointing to the shortage of manpower, they said many drivers and waste pickers had traveled to Tamil Nadu and West Bengal due to the ongoing elections, affecting collection capacity.
Kari Gowda, CEO of Bengaluru Solid Waste Management Limited (BSWML), said the authority would not give in to pressure tactics.
According to BSWML, contractors are required to collect separated wet and dry waste from households and ensure its transportation to recycling centers and landfill sites.
“Daily waste collection is very important from a public health point of view. If the waste is not disposed of properly, black spots will be created on the roads, which will have a serious negative impact on the beauty of the city and the health of the public. There will be a risk of spread of infectious diseases, and the city’s sanitation will completely deteriorate,” Gowda said.
