Kochi: In a move that has hit families caring for bedridden and elderly members, the agency contracted for bio-waste collection in Kochi city has sharply increased its service charges.

The agency had been collecting bio-waste, including used diapers, from households at ₹12 per kg, a rate that offered significant relief to families with elderly or bedridden members. The charge has now been raised steeply to ₹47 per kg, pushing disposal costs above the purchase price of the products themselves and placing a heavy financial burden on affected households.

The agency had earlier approached the Kochi Corporation seeking a revision of rates. However, the previous council decided to maintain the existing charges until the end of its term. After the new council assumed office, the agency went ahead and implemented the revised rates on its own.

To justify the hike, the company has claimed that the subsidy earlier provided by the Corporation is no longer being disbursed.

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Commenting on the issue, Kochi Mayor V K Minimol described the fee hike as unacceptable. Once the incinerator at Brahmapuram becomes fully operational, bio-waste will be processed there and households will not be charged inflated fees for the service, she added.

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