Bengaluru: Textile waste emerges as urgent challenge

A new study by the Institute for Social and Economic Change (ISEC) has revealed that Bengaluru is grappling with mounting textile waste, underscoring the urgent need to transition towards a circular economy.

The findings, presented at a recent workshop attended by industry leaders, policymakers, and academics, highlight gaps in governance, unsafe working conditions in the informal sector, and unsustainable disposal practices.

Fragmented data and governance gaps

Researchers S Manasi, Channamma Kambara, and Mrinalini Goswami identified one of the biggest hurdles as the absence of a unified database on textile waste. While bodies such as the Department of Handlooms and Textiles (DHT) and the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) maintain fragmented records, their focus remains on compliance rather than waste management.

This disjointed system creates what the study calls a “missing link” in governance, leaving significant portions of the problem unaddressed.

What happens to Bengaluru’s textile waste

According to the study:

  • Around 40% of the city’s textile waste is shipped to Tiruppur and Panipat for recycling.
  • About 20% is downcycled locally into products such as mattresses, dolls, and cushions. However, these have a short lifespan of 8–10 years, after which they are burned or dumped in landfills.
  • More than 75% of the remaining waste is incinerated, releasing toxic emissions into the atmosphere.

A worrying revelation is the mixing of hazardous industrial cotton waste with regular trash, further compounding the environmental risks.

Informal sector under strain

The burden of sorting and managing textile waste largely falls on the informal sector, which is dominated by women workers. Despite their central role, these workers often face unsafe conditions, lack protective equipment, and remain outside formal social support systems.

Roadmap for circularity in waste management

The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) and the KSPCB have acknowledged the urgency of addressing textile waste, especially given that the city generates nearly 6,000 tonnes of solid waste daily, much of it unsegregated.

The ISEC study proposes the following steps:

  • Structured collection systems: Introducing source segregation and formal collection networks for textile waste.
  • Technological investment: Setting up modern sorting and recycling facilities, including AI-driven systems.
  • Policy and regulation: Drafting a dedicated national textile waste management policy and introducing Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) frameworks to hold manufacturers accountable.
  • Data harmonisation: Creating a centralised, reliable database to guide policy and improve accountability.

Conclusion

The study makes it clear that Bengaluru’s textile waste problem is not just about discarded fabric, but a systemic challenge requiring integrated solutions. Without urgent reforms in policy, technology, and governance, the city risks deepening its environmental and public health crisis.