The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has collected more than Rs 90.22 lakh in fines from 5,256 enforcement cases since the city's revised Solid Waste Management Bye-laws came into effect on April 1, 2026.
The civic body took action against a range of violations between April 1 and August 31, including littering in public places, unclean premises, improper waste segregation, public urination, waste burning and unauthorised dumping or transportation of construction and demolition (C&D) debris.
The BMC has said the enforcement campaign is aimed at improving civic cleanliness and ensuring that residents, establishments, waste generators and contractors follow the city's prescribed waste-management practices.
Failure to keep the immediate surroundings or 'aangan' clean emerged as the most frequently penalised category during the five-month period.
The BMC collected Rs 21.64 lakh from owners and another Rs 13.39 lakh from other responsible occupants under this category, taking the combined penalty to more than Rs 35 lakh.
General littering also contributed significantly to the enforcement figures. Citizens were fined Rs 11.36 lakh for throwing waste on roads, footpaths, gardens and other public areas.
Unauthorised disposal of construction and demolition waste remained a major focus for the civic administration.
According to the BMC, C&D waste can contribute to road dust and air pollution, clog drainage systems and result in the occupation of public or environmentally sensitive areas.
Between April and August, the civic body recorded 419 C&D waste violations and recovered Rs 31.64 lakh in penalties.
Of these:
The pace of enforcement increased considerably in August, with the BMC recording 1,250 cases and collecting Rs 20.19 lakh in fines during the month alone.
Unclean premises accounted for the largest share, with 492 cases attracting Rs 8.14 lakh in penalties.
The civic body also recorded:
Among the C&D cases recorded in August, 26 involved unauthorised dumping, with penalties of Rs 4.30 lakh, while 39 concerned transportation without approval, resulting in Rs 4.22 lakh in fines.
The BMC also penalised residents and establishments for several other offences during the five-month enforcement period.
The fines included:
Street vendors and hawkers were also fined for waste-management violations. These included operating without a dustbin and failing to follow prescribed waste-segregation requirements.
The civic body additionally took action over failures involving the segregation and handing over of dry waste, garden waste and non-household meat and poultry waste. Violations related to cleaning up after public events within the prescribed four-hour period were also penalised.
The Solid Waste Management Bye-laws introduced from April 1 give the BMC powers to penalise a broad range of activities that can affect public cleanliness, health and the environment.
The rules cover offences such as littering, spitting, open defecation, improper feeding of animals or birds, washing vehicles or utensils in public areas, neglecting cleanliness around private premises and handing over waste without proper segregation.
The provisions also apply to street vendors, hawkers, bulk waste generators and other stakeholders involved in waste generation, collection, transportation and disposal.
The civic administration has maintained that the enforcement campaign is intended to create greater accountability rather than simply generate revenue through penalties.
The BMC has urged residents, institutions, businesses and other waste generators to segregate waste at source, maintain cleanliness around their premises and rely only on authorised systems for waste collection, transportation and disposal.
With enforcement activity increasing in August, the civic body's latest figures indicate that compliance with the new waste-management rules is likely to remain a key focus across mumbai in the coming months.