Nearly 10% fleet of garbage collection tippers fail frequently: BSWML
Out of the 5,200 waste collection vehicles in the city, nearly 8-10%, or around 500 vehicles, either break down or fail to commence operations due
Out of the 5,200 waste collection vehicles in the city, nearly 8-10%, or around 500 vehicles, either break down or fail to commence operations due to mechanical issues on a regular basis, according to Bengaluru Solid Waste Management Limited (BSWML) records, as admitted by its CEO, Karee Gowda. A senior official from South Bengaluru explained that frequent breakdowns are compounded by the reduced waste-carrying capacity of garbage tippers, resulting in incomplete route coverage by the vehicles. “The efficiency of these vehicles has also dropped 60-70% because they are now a decade old.
None of them operate at full capacity. This means that one auto tipper has to make two trips to complete what was originally a single task,” said the official. This is one of the reasons behind the unusual waste collection timings. While auto tippers operate between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m., several areas — particularly in the southern, eastern, and southeastern parts of the city — continue to witness waste collection until 11 a.m. or even 11:30 a.m. V. Ramprasad, a solid waste management expert, pointed out that even the tenders lack strict norms regarding collection timings, which need to be fixed.
According to civic officials, in most places, tippers operate with only one worker, even though the mandated norm requires two staff members per vehicle. This too contributes to delays in collection. “These auto tippers are being sent for servicing more frequently, which means waste collection is completely affected on those days. What is concerning is that many of these tippers may stop operating altogether within a few months,” said another official. “The attendance problem also disrupts door-to-door collection, worsening the garbage crisis,” he added. Ramesh K.N., Commissioner of the South City Corporation, pointed out that there is also a shortage of auto tippers.
Since 2013, the number of tipper vehicles has fluctuated between 5,000 and 5,500. However, the city has expanded significantly since then, and population growth has led to a multifold increase in waste generation. Bengaluru generates 5,500 tonnes of solid waste every day, according to official BSWML data.
The BriefWire