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Over 4000 bins were removed. Collecting from bins means segregation suffers. There is opposition to bins as it is a visual eyesore. Bins are being reintroduced in phases across the city while opposers claim that it will create additional “black spots”.

The city produces an astonishing 5575 tonnes of garbage per day. That is as much weight as a thousand African elephants! The growing population, consumerism, unnecessary packaging, a boom in food-delivery to homes, etc. are all cited as reasons for the increase. There is data available to show that the city generated only 650 TPD 30 years ago.

The garbage that is collected from households must be segregated and kitchen / garden waste must be composted for best results. However, decomposable waste is blatantly dumped on roadsides or near villages in the city outskirts. Nearly 400 such spots are in use. This in turn affects the water in those areas, turns them into breeding grounds for mosquitoes and pests and so on.

This number is mind-boggling. The BBMP is investing in tipper autos, compactors and other equipment to get out of the clutches of contractors. The report also says, “Though there have been attempts to implement scientific disposal of garbage, the garbage mafia is not allowing the government to implement them.”

Contractors have been known to overbill. It was once discovered that they were billing for 100 additional trucks. Each truck is paid Rs 2.5 Lakhs every month, so that is an illegal 2.5 crores monthly! Many attempts to install RFID chips to track trucks have been resisted for a long time. Whenever the BBMP tries to rein them in with better policies, the contractors respond with strikes bringing the city to its knees.