Bengaluru generates 4,500 metric tonnes of construction waste daily, plans new processing units

Bengaluru, amid its rapid vertical growth, now faces a significant challenge in managing its construction and demolition (C&D) waste. Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar recently revealed that the city generates a staggering 4,500 metric tonnes (MT) of C&D waste daily, a record figure for the region. This information came to light during a response in the Assembly.

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To address the mounting waste, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has implemented a public-private partnership (PPP) model to handle the collection, transportation, and processing of C&D debris. The initiative operates under seven tender packages, with three focusing on collection and transportation and four covering the full waste management cycle, including disposal.

Currently, two processing units are operational. Located in Kannur Village and Chikkajala, they manage a combined 2,750 metric tonnes of waste daily. The Kannur unit, on a 10-acre BBMP-owned site, processes 750 MT of waste, while the Chikkajala facility processes 1,000 MT.

Importantly, private companies running these units do not receive direct payments from BBMP but charge ₹134 per tonne for processing privately sourced demolition waste. To further strengthen waste management, BBMP plans to build four additional processing units with a 750 MT daily capacity each on Bengaluru’s outskirts. The tender process for these units is currently underway.