Marathahalli Residents Report Waste Collection Gaps Under BSWML Vendor System

Apartment complexes in Marathahalli and across Bengaluru continue to experience irregular pickups and operational issues months after the rollout of Bengaluru Solid Waste Management Limited’s (BSWML) new vendor regime for bulk waste generators.

Residents reported that while many communities have adopted four-way waste segregation, collection services from empanelled contractors remain inconsistent. At Rohan Vasantha Apartments in Marathahalli, wet waste pickups have been missed repeatedly despite rules mandating daily collection.

Prabhu Patil of Rohan Vasantha Apartments noted that contractor Mukka has been handling collection for nearly three months, but gaps persist. While separate vehicles are provided for wet and dry waste, the contractor fails to show up on certain days, turning what residents initially assumed were temporary teething issues into ongoing disruptions.

Similar difficulties were reported elsewhere in the city. At Bhuvana Greens in Kasavanahalli, residents still rely on an older vendor, reporting that waste is not weighed properly and is occasionally mixed together prior to disposal, despite segregation training conducted by Hasiru Dala.

The Bangalore Apartments Federation (BAF) stated that the introduction of empanelled vendors has failed to resolve key problems. BAF president Satish Mallya raised concerns over fee structures, pointing out that although an official circular outlined a collection fee of Rs 12 per kilogram, vendors have been levying steep charges for sanitary and fourth-category hazardous waste, with some fees climbing as high as Rs 40.

Additionally, several apartment complexes reported delays in completing their registration on the Central Pollution Control Board’s centralised platform. While applications have been submitted, the majority of requests remain pending approval from the Greater Bengaluru Authority.