Bengaluru: Broken sofas stacked along narrow lanes, cracked commodes hauled out of renovated homes, and sagging mattresses dumped at street corners — in Shantinagar, Bengaluru’s bulk waste crisis is not hidden. Over just the past three months, the dense inner-city locality generated 473 tonnes of bulky household waste, the highest among 27 divisions, revealing how rapidly the city’s consumption and discard patterns are changing.As per citywide data on tractor operations management, Bengaluru produced nearly 4,700 tonnes of bulk waste in a single quarter, comprising discarded furniture, mattresses, and sanitary fixtures. What was once considered an occasional disposal issue has now become a daily urban challenge, with the city generating close to 52 tonnes of bulk waste daily.Furniture dominates the waste stream. Sofas alone contributed 1,687 tonnes, accounting for more than a third of the total bulk waste collected. Beds (877 tonnes) and chairs (837 tonnes) followed, together pushing furniture-related waste to over two-thirds of the overall volume. Mattresses added 621 tonnes, while toilet commodes and other sanitary fixtures accounted for another 674 tonnes, pointing to a surge in home renovations and interior remodelling across neighbourhoods.After Shantinagar, Govindaraja Nagar (415 tonnes), Chamarajpet (386 tonnes), Sarvagnanagar (341 tonnes), and Shivajinagar (335 tonnes) emerged as major bulk waste generators. These areas are characterised by ageing buildings, mixed residential-commercial activity, and high rental turnover — conditions that experts say accelerate furniture replacement and disposal.In contrast, neighbourhoods such as Rajajinagar and Malleswaram reported single-digit tonnages during the same period. Civic officials cautioned, however, that lower figures may also reflect informal dumping or private disposal mechanisms that fall outside municipal tracking.According to urban planners, bulk waste poses unique challenges. Unlike wet and dry waste, bulky items are difficult to compact, expensive to transport, and consume disproportionate landfill space if not diverted through reuse or recycling channels.Bangalore Solid Waste Management Ltd (BSWML) CEO Karee Gowda said the numbers reflect deeper shifts in urban lifestyles. “Frequent renovations, increased tenant movement, and lifestyle upgrades are driving bulk waste generation. This is no longer an occasional issue — it requires structured planning, dedicated logistics, and proper processing systems,” he said.Gowda added that BSWML is working to strengthen separate collection mechanisms and reduce landfill dependence by promoting reuse and recycling options for furniture and sanitary ware.BOXTHE BIG WASTE HEADACHETotal bulk waste collected: 4,698.6 tonnes Period: Nov 2025 to Jan 2026Daily average: 52 tonnes Largest waste category: Sofas — 1,687 tonnes (36%)Beds – 877 tonnesChairs – 837 tonnes Mattresses – 621 tonnes Toilet commodes & sanitary fixtures – 674 tonnesBOXWHERE & HOW MUCHShantinagar: 473 tonnes Govindaraja Nagar: 415 tonnes Chamarajpet: 386 tonnes — Source: BSWML
