Bengaluru: Less than two months into its ambitious “turning trash to cash” experiment, Bengaluru Solid Waste Management Ltd (BSWML) is already reaping tangible rewards. By monetising non-recyclable plastic, the agency has not only found a new revenue stream but also made strides toward a self-sustaining model.Between Dec 2025 and Jan 2026 alone, BSWML secured 3,600 Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) credits for plastic waste processing — a noteworthy achievement in its mission to transform low-value, hard-to-recycle plastics into financial gains. The credits were submitted by Dalmia Cement Ltd under the Plastic Waste Management Rules for Producers, Importers, and Brand Owners (PIBOs). Based on current market rates, these credits are expected to generate revenue for BSWML ranging from Rs 54 lakh to Rs 1.8 crore. Officials said monetising the credits will not only bolster BSWML’s finances but also ensure the environmentally sound disposal of plastic waste.Senior BSWML officials credited the gains to a sharp rise in segregation at source, driven by sustained information, awareness, education, and communication (IEC) campaigns led by civic workers and volunteers across the city. “Prior to Oct 2025, the collection of low-value plastics stood at around 10 metric tonnes (MT) per day. After targeted behavioural change initiatives and a series of campaigns, this quantity increased 50-fold. Currently, 520 MT of Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) is being collected daily,” said Karigowda, IAS, CEO of BSWML.Between Oct 9, 2025, and Feb 26, 2026, Bengaluru collected 19,470 MT of RDF). “Of this, around 18,625 MT of RDF, sourced between Dec 15, 2025, and Feb 26, 2026, was transported under a tender agreement to Dalmia Cement for co-processing at its plant in Kadapa district, Andhra Pradesh, roughly 250 km from Bengaluru. The initiative officially began on Dec 15, with 160 tonnes of waste dispatched on the first day. The cement plant can handle up to 1,000 tonnes of RDF daily, providing operational flexibility as segregation levels continue to improve,” officials said.Financially sustainable systemWhen the initiative was launched in Dec 2025, Bengaluru was generating about 6,000 tonnes of solid waste daily, including 350–400 tonnes of low-value plastic. Of this, 100–150 tonnes of RDF were being sent to the waste-to-energy plant near Bidadi for power generation, while 200–250 tonnes were transported to Kadapa for co-processing. Officials noted that daily dispatches to the cement plant have now stabilised at 250–300 tonnes per day, significantly exceeding the capacity of the Bidadi plant operated by Karnataka Power Corporation Limited (KPCL).Officials highlighted that the EPR mechanism is central to the success of the model. For every tonne of plastic co-processed, one EPR credit — valued at Rs 2,500 — is generated. With transportation costs estimated at Rs 1,500 per tonne, BSWML earns a net surplus of roughly Rs 1,000 per tonne.
