Almost 10% of waste collection tipper fleet fails frequently: BSWML

According to civic officials, in most places tippers operate with only one worker even though the mandated norm requires two workers per vehicle.. | Photo credit: SUDHAKARA JAIN

According to the records of Bengaluru Solid Waste Management Limited (BSWML), as admitted by its CEO Karee Gowda, of the 5,200 waste collection vehicles in the city, nearly 8-10% or around 500 vehicles regularly break down or fail to start due to mechanical problems.

A senior official from Bengaluru South explained that the reduced capacity of the garbage dumpers that carry the waste is contributing to the frequent breakdowns, leading to incomplete coverage of the route by vehicles.

“The efficiency of these vehicles has also dropped by 60-70% as they are ten years old now. None of them are working at full capacity. This means that one automatic tipper has to make two runs to complete what was originally a single task,” the official said.

This is one of the reasons for the unusual timing of garbage collection. While the automatic tippers operate between 6am and 10am, in several areas – particularly in the south, east and south-east of the city – waste collection continues until 11am or even 11.30am.

V. Ramprasad, an expert on solid waste management, pointed out that even tenders lack strict rules regarding the timing of collection, which needs to be rectified.

According to civic officials, at most places, tippers operate with only one worker, even though the mandated norm requires two workers per vehicle. This also contributes to the delay in collection.

“These automatic dump trucks are being sent for service more frequently, which means garbage collection is completely affected these days. What is worrying is that many of these dump trucks may stop working completely within a few months,” another official said. “The attendance problem is also disrupting door-to-door collection, exacerbating the garbage crisis,” he added.

Ramesh KN, commissioner of South City Corporation, pointed out that there is also a shortage of dumpers for cars.

As of 2013, the number of tippers varies between 5,000 and 5,500. However, the city has expanded significantly since then, and the increase in population has led to a multifold increase in waste production. According to official data, BSWML Bengaluru generates 5,500 tonnes of solid waste every day.

Published – 09 Jun 2026 18:30 IST