Mumbai’s clean-up drive: BMC rolls out fines up to Rs 25,000 for pet waste, spitting and more - Full details

Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) HQ, Mumbai

• BMC enforces strict waste management by-laws with fines up to Rs 25,000
• Waste segregation into six categories now mandatory for all generators
• Community service required for those unable to pay fines

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In a decisive move to transform public hygiene standards, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has ushered in a stringent new regulatory regime targeting waste management and public cleanliness.

The Solid Waste Management and Handling, Cleanliness and Sanitation By-laws 2025, which came into force on February 3, 2026, define 21 specific offences with penalties ranging from Rs 200 to Rs 25,000.

The comprehensive by-laws, drafted by the BMC’s Solid Waste Management Department under Municipal Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani and Additional Municipal Commissioner Dr Ashwini Joshi, establish a rigorous legal framework for maintaining the city’s cleanliness. The regulations align local practice with the national Solid Waste Management Rules of 2016 and follow a period of public consultation.

A core provision mandates that all waste generators — from individual households to large offices — must segregate refuse into six distinct categories: wet, dry, domestic hazardous, biomedical, garden and construction debris.

Fines for non-segregation start at Rs 200 for households, while bulk generators, such as large residential societies and commercial complexes, face a Rs 1,000 penalty. These entities are now legally required to process their own biodegradable waste on-site.

The schedule of offences delineates clear penalties for public nuisances long considered endemic. Spitting in public will incur a Rs 250 fine, open urination or defecation Rs 500 and allowing pet animals to soil public spaces Rs 1,000.

The by-laws also target activities that contribute to litter and unsanitary conditions, with penalties for washing vehicles or utensils in public (Rs 500 and Rs 300 respectively) and for hawkers operating without dustbins (Rs 750).

Significant fines are reserved for larger-scale violations. Commercial burning of waste attracts a Rs 10,000 penalty, while the illegal dumping of construction debris carries a fine of Rs 20,000 per vehicle. Transporting such debris without a permit will result in a hefty Rs 25,000 fine.

The BMC has introduced a notable community service clause for those unable to pay levied fines. Offenders may be required to perform at least one hour of compulsory service, such as street sweeping or graffiti removal. Furthermore, the rules impose strict post-event cleanliness obligations on public event organisers, who must restore the site within four hours of conclusion or risk forfeiting a designated cleanliness deposit.

According to civic officials, the by-laws aim to systematically overhaul citizen responsibility and civic administration efficiency. By codifying responsibilities and penalties, the BMC seeks to instil a new culture of accountability in the pursuit of a cleaner Mumbai.