Mumbai: The BMC has collected 12,042 metric tonnes (MT) of construction and demolition (C&D) waste from Mumbai city and suburbs in the past six months following the relaunch of its 'Debris on Call' service. As per civic estimate the city generates over 8,000 MT of C&D waste daily, resulting in a considerable amount of waste remaining uncollected or being disposed of illegally.
The BMC initially launched a debris collection helpline in 2014, but it struggled to gain public traction. After a decade, the service was revamped in December 2024. The service now includes a centralised 24/7 helpline integrated into the MYBMC app, offering free collection for up to 500 kg of household or small-scale debris.
For quantities above 500 kg, the charge is Rs 1,425 per tonne for the city and eastern suburbs, and Rs 1,415 per tonne for the western suburbs. Additionally, two state-of-the-art recycling plants located in Dahisar and Shilphata–Kalyan, with a combined capacity of 1,200 tonnes, have been set up to process the waste.
Despite these improvements, the plant capacity and daily debris collection remain minimal compared to the massive volume of construction and demolition waste generated across Mumbai.
According to civic data from January to June 2025, approximately 1,600 MT of debris was collected from the city and eastern suburbs, while the western suburbs alone accounted for nearly 10,396 MT.
“A debris management plan is already taken at the time of building approvals,” a civic official said. “But under the new rules, developers must register, comply, and build responsibly," he added.
The Union government has notified the Construction and Demolition (C&D) Waste Management Rules, 2025, set to take effect from April 1, 2026, giving the BMC and waste generators a year to prepare.
The rules introduce Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), requiring registration, waste reporting, recycling targets, and traceability. To prevent illegal dumping, the BMC is also developing a mobile app to track C&D waste from from collection to disposal, ensuring greater transparency and accountability.
