Bengaluru: The stench of rotting garbage, swarms of insects around waste bins, and piles of trash accumulating inside homes have become a daily reality for many residents as door-to-door garbage collection continues to remain irregular in many parts of the city.
While some residents told TOI that waste is being collected once in two days, others said collection has become as infrequent as once a week in their localities. Several of them said despite their filing online complaints with Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) and Bengaluru Solid Waste Management Ltd (BSWML), no action has been taken so far.
Residents, particularly from south Bengaluru, said some garbage blackspots have remained uncleared for close to four days. “Why should we pay solid waste management user fee to BSWML if garbage can’t be collected properly?” one angry resident asked.
A resident from Marathahalli, east Bengaluru, said the garbage-collection vehicle did not visit the area for close to 4-5 days. “There are PGs on our road and after four days (on Tuesday), a different vehicle came in the afternoon and collected garbage only from those PGs. Individual houses were not allowed to hand over their waste. However, I still managed to hand over my garbage. By then, I started noticing bugs in my wet waste,” the resident said.
BSWML CEO Karee Gowda said he was not aware of the issue but would check with assistant general managers concerned. However, sources in BSWML said the problem could be linked to resistance from existing contractors as the proposed 21 new garbage-collection packages await govt approval.
Residents Speak
Chaya VBR | HBR Layout Resident
Garbage has been lying uncleared for at least 4-5 days. Despite lodging complaints through the app and BBMP WhatsApp numbers, I was redirected between departments and received no response from the solid waste management team. Many residents are forced to leave waste on empty roadsides, which stray dogs scatter across the streets.
Lakapati | Bommasandra Resident
While wet waste collection has become regular over the past month, that of dry waste continues to be a major concern. Earlier, dry waste vehicle would visit once in every two days, but now it comes only once a week or sometimes after 10 days. We have no option but to store and pile up waste at home.
Sunil Pichamuthu | Rest House Road Resident
For senior citizens, irregular garbage collection creates serious hygiene concerns. When waste is not collected for days, people are forced to keep it outside their homes. During rain, garbage overflows onto roads, clogs drains and creates foul smell.
About the Author
Hamsaveni N is a correspondent covering city corporation and civic issues. With a keen eye for detail and ground reporting, she reports on urban governance, infrastructure projects, and environmental issues such as lake restoration and flood mitigation. Her compelling storytelling captures the pulse of the city, sparking awareness and dialogue around Bengaluru’s growth, challenges, and transformation.
