#THTalksBengaluru: All garbage tippers will be replaced in six months, says Greater Bengaluru Development Minister

Greater Bengaluru Development Minister Krishna Byre Gowda during The Hindu’s #THTalksBengaluru interaction, in Bengaluru on August 13, 2026. | Photo Credit: MURALI KUMAR K All garbage collection vehicles and auto tippers will be replaced with new ones with bigger capacity over the next six months, said Greater Bengaluru Development Minister Krishna Byre Gowda, participating in #THTalksBengaluru, The Hindu’s interactive programme through which he addressed questions from readers on Thursday (August 14, 2026). Responding to questions over the poor condition of auto tippers transporting garbage, from which waste and liquid often overflow onto the roads, he said, “I agree the auto tippers are in a bad shape. We will replace all vehicles in six months. The auto tippers used to collect waste have a one tonne capacity at present. The new vehicles will have 3 tonnes capacity.”Multiple waste collection time slots unfeasibleResponding to appeals by several readers to either introduce dustbins where residents can give waste any time of the day or have pourakarmikas collect waste multiple times a day, as many citizens who go out to work are unable to hand over waste at a fixed time, the minister said these solutions were not feasible. “Worldover everywhere, waste is collected once a day, usually during early morning hours. Everyone will have a different convenient time slot and we cannot collect waste 24 hours a day. It is my responsibility to ensure the waste collection happens everyday and comes to your house,” he said. A view of garbage-filled tippers, operated by the GBA, which are struggling to handle Bengaluru’s ever-growing waste burden. | Photo Credit: MURALI KUMAR K “Even with dustbins or waste collection points, we will end up having to open thousands of such points across the city. When we are coming to your doorstep and collecting waste, why do you want to travel a distance and throw your it?” he asked. “If you are not at home, put your waste in a bucket that is hooked to your compound wall or the gate. I will ensure it gets picked by the waste collectors everyday,” he added. Protective gear for SWM workersResponding to an appeal to provide protective gear to Solid Waste Management workers, he said they are forced to pick waste because people dump them at blackspots. “You are forcing them to pick your waste, when you do not want to do it yourself. If you do not want their dignity and human rights to be violated, the simplest thing to do is to give your waste in a bucket at your doorstep. That way, they will directly put it into the vehicle and won’t be forced to handle waste with their hands,” he said. Published - August 14, 2026 07:01 pm IST