Bengaluru: Frustrated citizens turn to makeshift solutions to tackle mounting waste crisis
Bengaluru: In several neighbourhoods of the city, a curious new fixture has appeared on compound walls and gates—cage-like metal boxes. Far from being decorative pieces, these cages are serving as garbage bins, a grassroots response by residents to the city’s erratic waste collection system.
With garbage trucks arriving at odd hours—sometimes early in the morning, sometimes at noon, and at times skipping entire streets—frustrated residents have resorted to makeshift fixes. The result: fewer waste bags left on streets, but more questions about why India’s Silicon Valley is struggling with such a basic civic service.
Residents voice growing frustration
For homemakers like Nalini KS from South End Circle, the situation has gone beyond mere inconvenience.
“Every day, I wake up hoping the garbage will be cleared, but the trucks either come late or skip our street entirely. The stench is unbearable and we’re left to deal with it. This is not just about cleanliness—it’s about dignity. We pay taxes for these services, why can’t they be consistent?” she said.
In Doddanekundi, residents fixed cages to their walls to ensure waste is collected whenever pourakarmikas show up. “At least this way, the waste is off the street. Otherwise, techies rushing to work simply dump bags on the road,” explained one resident.
Not all have taken to cages. Some, like H Begum from JP Nagar, now pay pourakarmikas privately. “We’re tired of tracking the vehicles. We just pay Rs 200 a month, and our local pourakarmika calls and comes on time. It’s better than garbage piling up at home,” she said.
Complaints of blackspots and strays
Across the city, the irregular collection has worsened garbage blackspots, attracting stray dogs and creating health hazards. Deepa P from Whitefield expressed her anger:
“The vehicles are supposed to come daily, but for 4–5 days no one turns up. The excuse is always a breakdown, but if that’s true, we should be informed. Instead, blackspots keep growing, and waste is dumped by maids or workers. Why should the system work only after we complain?”
Transition woes from BBMP to BSWML
Civic activists argue that the ongoing transition from Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) to Bengaluru Solid Waste Management Ltd (BSWML) has worsened matters. R Rajagopalan, convener of Bengaluru Coalition, criticised the approach:
“The shift has been chaotic, marked by erratic door-to-door collection and confused responsibilities. Fresh tenders keep stalling in litigation, leaving residents to endure foul stench across the city. Expecting a single vendor to handle all waste is unrealistic. Meanwhile, decentralised waste management, mandated under the SWM Rules of 2016, remains only on paper.”
While residents complain of poor service, a BSWML official denied the problem. “Garbage collection happens on time. We have even changed timings for active collection. We haven’t received any complaints so far. If we do, we’ll resolve them immediately,” the official said.
The scale of the challenge
Bengaluru generates nearly 6,000 tonnes of waste daily, collected by over 4,900 auto tippers and 400 contractors. Yet, civic experts say the mismatch between capacity and execution leads to erratic coverage, particularly in high-density localities.
Citizens remain sceptical about paying extra—either through private arrangements or through higher property taxes—when the mandated system itself remains unreliable.
Conclusion
The growing sight of iron cages on compound walls highlights not just citizen ingenuity but also civic helplessness. While residents scramble for stopgap solutions, systemic reforms remain stalled. Until accountability improves and decentralised waste management is prioritised, Bengaluru’s mounting garbage crisis may continue to spill over onto its streets—cages or no cages.