As waste mounts, Bengaluru residents question civic response

Bengaluru: Bengaluru continues to face waste-management challenges, with residents reporting irregular garbage collection, illegal dumping and recurring waste fires despite increased enforcement efforts by civic authorities. The worst hit is New BEL Road.

“BBMP workers are not coming to collect waste at the scheduled time. What are tenants supposed to do with their garbage?” said Iftekaar Syed, a landlord living on New BEL Road, reflecting concerns voiced by residents in several parts of the city.

The issue comes as Bengaluru generates approximately 6,500 tonnes of municipal solid waste every day from nearly 1.3 million households and around five lakh commercial establishments, according to Bengaluru Solid Waste Management Limited (BSWML).

Residents and environmental groups have also raised concerns about garbage accumulation and waste-burning incidents across the city. In Bellahalli, recurring fires involving accumulated waste, including plastic materials, have prompted complaints about air pollution and potential health risks. Similar incidents have been reported in other localities in recent months.

The city’s waste-management system has faced additional pressure due to disruptions at waste-processing facilities. Earlier this year, concerns surrounding landfill operations and local protests affected waste handling in some areas, leading authorities to announce measures aimed at improving infrastructure and addressing environmental concerns near processing sites.

Civic authorities have responded with stricter enforcement. Official figures show that thousands of violations related to littering, illegal dumping and improper waste disposal have been recorded in recent months, resulting in substantial penalties. Officials say the measures are intended to improve compliance with waste-segregation rules and discourage unauthorised dumping.

However, residents argue that enforcement alone has not resolved persistent problems. Complaints regarding delayed collection, overflowing bins, illegal disposal of construction debris and open burning of waste continue to surface across different neighbourhoods.

Urban planners and civic activists have repeatedly pointed to the gap between Bengaluru’s growing waste generation and the city’s ability to process and manage it efficiently. They argue that long-term improvements will require stronger collection systems, expanded processing capacity and stricter monitoring of waste-disposal practices.

For many residents, the problem remains visible in their daily lives through garbage heaps, overflowing collection points and recurring complaints about sanitation services. As Bengaluru’s population continues to grow, waste management remains a significant urban governance challenge for the city’s civic authorities.