Bengaluru generates about 3000 - 3500 tons of Solid Waste daily. We carry out collection, street sweeping, transportation, processing and disposal of Municipal Solid Waste from generators. We follow a door to door collection system for waste which is then sent to the respective processing facilities based on the stream. Only reject and inert waste is sent to the landfill.

City Status

Since 2012 we have aimed to transform the once prevalent SWM system of dumping mixed waste (landfill), into stream-wise value extraction (processing). The progress and activities have been listed under the respective components of the Municipal Solid Waste Management System.

Key Statistics

Name of the City Bangalore(BBMP)
Population 96 Lakhs
Area (Sq. Km.) 800 Sq kms
Number of Households in the city/town
Number of non-residential premises
Number of election/administrative wards
Street Length
(incl. roads, streets, lanes, bye-lanes in the city that need to be cleaned)
27 Lakhs Approx.

3.5 lakhs


198 wards


14,356 kms
Quantity of Solid Waste generated (excl. C&D Waste) 3500 TPD
Waste Treatment Technologies used Several Processing Units have been set up which adopt various technologies - Composting, Windrow Composting, Bio-methanation, Vermi-composting, Pelletizing/briquetting/RDF, Incineration (Sanitary Waste)
No. of sanitary landfill sites available with the local body 3 no of quarry pits have been identified and developed for scientific disposal of MSW
Hazardous Waste with properties that make it dangerous or potentially harmful to human health or environment. Waste listed in Hazardous waste management rules 1989 - batteries, cleaning fluids, pesticides etc.)
Action Plan prepared for improving solid waste management practices in city Ward wise Micro plan is prepared for effective implementation of SWM
Special Streams of Waste Dairy related activities:

Slaughter houses waste:


C&D waste (construction debris):
Separate vehicles have been designated for collection of cow dung and supplied to Bio gas plants.

Animal waste is being collected separately and disposed by deep burial method at Kogilu, Yelahanka.

Guide lines have been issued for C &D waste management. Tenders for collection, Transportation and processing of C & D Waste are under progress.
Innovative ideas being developed 1. Festival Waste management
2. Bulk waste management
3. Focusing on source segregation/imposing penalties on defaulters
4. Actively involved NGOs, RWAs, Suchimitras, SHGs in monitoring SWM activities.

Bengaluru’s SWM Journey

The build-up of negative impacts of pollution (air, water & soil) due to open dumping (especially for the village communities living alongside) & a rapidly urbanising metropolis, coupled with a steep population growth had put extreme pressure on our city’s SWM system. September 2012 saw the shutting down of 6 of the city’s 7 landfills which led to mountains of waste rotting on city streets & large scale opening burning. Collection too had to be stalled for over a week, as there were no landfills available to take waste. The city had barely any infrastructure for processing & nearly no investment in recycling due to underdeveloped regulations and a lack of incentives.

The challenge since then has been to transform this system in a short span of time through initiating decentralised processing instead of dumping of waste.

In order to enable a self-sustaining & efficient new system that is quick to execute, the Hon’ble High Court of Karnataka intervened and set up a specialised SWM Cell & an Expert Committee to work with the BBMP SWM/Health department. In consultation with think-tanks, experts, civil society groups, waste picker collectives, academicians & private players, we have since then defined principles to guide the city's plan that is integrated and inclusive.

CLICK HERE to access High Court Directives.