In a significant policy shift, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has announced it will no longer provide free door-to-door garbage collection, imposing a monthly user charge on residential and commercial property owners for the first time. The move, aimed at generating additional revenue for the cash-strapped civic body, is expected to bring in nearly ₹150 crore annually.
This marks the end of an era of free doorstep garbage pickup in Delhi, a service that had long been considered a civic right by the city’s residents. Now, garbage collection will come at a price, bundled with the annual property tax payment.
User Charges Based on Property Size
For residential properties, the MCD has structured the fees as follows:
- Homes up to 50 sq m: ₹50/month
- Homes between 50–200 sq m: ₹100/month
- Homes above 200 sq m: ₹200/month
Street vendors are also not exempt and will need to pay ₹100 per month. For the average homeowner, this translates to an additional ₹600 to ₹2,400 annually.
Higher Fees for Commercial Properties
Commercial entities and institutions will bear steeper charges:
- Shops & eateries: ₹500/year
- Guesthouses & dharamshalas: ₹2,000/year
- Restaurants (50+ seats): ₹3,000/year
- 3-star+ hotels: ₹5,000/year
- Clinics/labs with 50+ beds: ₹4,000/year
- Banks and coaching centres: ₹2,000/year
- Marriage halls: ₹5,000/year
- Hazardous waste industries: ₹3,000/year
These figures represent the MCD’s effort to make the “polluter pays” principle a functioning reality in the capital.
Political Controversy Erupts
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has strongly opposed the implementation of the user charges. Delhi Mayor Shelly Oberoi criticized the MCD’s unilateral move, questioning the legality of the charges without approval from the municipal House. The party called the fee “arbitrary” and “unjustified,” particularly in the face of economic challenges faced by the middle and lower-income groups.
In a letter to MCD Commissioner Gyanesh Bharti, Mayor Oberoi demanded a rollback and consultation with stakeholders before enforcing the policy.
Seven Years in the Making
The new charges are being implemented under the Solid Waste Management Rules, which were first notified by the Centre in 2016 and adopted by the Delhi government in 2018. However, implementation was stalled due to resistance from the previously BJP-led municipal corporations.
Now, under a unified MCD structure, the civic body claims the policy is aligned with national guidelines and long overdue.
Residents React With Concern
Many citizens expressed their dissatisfaction, noting the lack of improved sanitation services in their neighborhoods. “Why should we pay more when there are still garbage dumps on every corner?” asked Rohit Sharma, a resident of East Delhi. Others raised concerns over how these funds would be utilized and whether service quality would improve.
Experts Call for Transparency
Urban planning experts have urged the MCD to ensure full transparency in the implementation and expenditure of the newly collected funds. “If the MCD uses this revenue to genuinely improve solid waste management infrastructure, then it could be a positive step,” said environmentalist Vimla Bhargava.
Revenue Hopes vs. Public Resistance
The MCD hopes that the additional ₹150 crore annually will help streamline garbage disposal operations, improve infrastructure, and promote sustainable waste segregation.
However, analysts warn that the plan may backfire if not accompanied by visible service improvements and clear communication with the public.
Next Steps
The user charges are expected to be rolled out in phases, starting from the next billing cycle. Property owners will receive updated tax bills reflecting the new charges.
As the debate intensifies, all eyes are on how the MCD will address public outrage while pushing forward with its long-stalled waste management reforms.
Whether this will result in cleaner streets or just more bureaucratic hurdles remains to be seen.
