BMC’s proposal to privatize waste collection sparks opposition from municipal workers in Mumbai | File Photo
Mumbai: The BMC has proposed a service-based contract where a single agency would handle waste collection, transportation, manpower for loading waste, and vehicle maintenance in Mumbai.
However, municipal workers organisation have strongly opposed this proposal, arguing that the civic body already employs its own conservancy workers and contractual labor for these tasks. They have demanded that the privatisation plan be canceled.
Mumbai generates approximately 7,200 to 7,300 tonnes of waste daily. To manage this, around 1,334 vehicles are deployed some owned by the BMC, while the majority are provided by private contractors.
Currently, the BMC operates on a hiring-based contract model where contractors supply vehicles on a rental basis, while all other waste management operations are handled directly by the civic body. Only four wards—L (Kurla), M East (Govandi), and M West (Chembur)—use municipal vehicles, as these areas are closer to the Kanjur Marg and Deonar dumping grounds.
The BMC has proposed to streamline waste management by appointing a single agency to handle all tasks related to waste collection and transportation in 20 civic wards. This agency will be responsible for maintaining 1.1 cubic metre community bins, installing and servicing roadside litter bins, and regularly collecting waste from them.
Additionally, the same agency will collect dry waste segregated by citizens. A dedicated call centre with a toll-free number will be set up to address public complaints.
However, the workers union in BMC has strongly opposed the proposal to outsource waste collection and transportation. Baba Kadam, president of the Municipal Karmachari Kamgar Sena, stated “The workers of the BMC’s Solid Waste Management (SWM) department already perform the tasks efficiently. Outsourcing would make the BMC dependent on contractors, undermining its autonomy. Additionally, the reassignment of workers would disrupt their duties and affect their working conditions, which they consider unfair.”
He has requested BMC chief Bhushan Gagrani to cancel the proposal. Ramakant Bane, General Secretary of ‘The Municipal Union’, also voiced opposition to appointing a contractor for this work.
“Currently, multiple agencies handle waste collection and transport, making coordination challenging and affecting service quality. Under the proposed system, a single agency will manage the entire waste collection and transport process, ensuring streamlined operations. This agency will also provide laborers for waste segregation and loading. Meanwhile, BMC-appointed workers will focus solely on street cleaning and sweeping, with no job loss expected for them as their duties are redefined,” said a senior civic official.
