Bengaluru, widely recognised as India’s garment capital, is confronting a growing textile waste crisis, with an estimated 5,000 tonnes of discarded fabric generated annually. A recent study by the Institute for Social and Economic Change (ISEC) has revealed that the city’s booming apparel industry is fuelling an escalating environmental challenge, raising urgent calls for a transition to a circular economy.
The study highlights a critical governance gap, pointing to the absence of a centralised database for textile waste. While agencies such as the Department of Handlooms and Textiles and the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board maintain fragmented data, their efforts largely revolve around compliance, leaving broader management needs unaddressed.
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Large export-focused factories tend to manage textile waste more systematically, but thousands of small tailoring units and retail shops often dump scraps with household waste. This practice is adding pressure to Bengaluru’s already burdened municipal waste system.
Garment waste disposal
The research tracked the post-disposal pathway of fabric waste, showing that about 40 percent is transported to recycling hubs like Panipat and Tiruppur, while another 20 percent is downcycled locally into low-durability products such as mattresses and toys. Once these items wear out, they are often incinerated or sent to landfills, causing further pollution.
Adding to the concern, over 75 percent of waste is eventually burnt, with hazardous cotton residues mixed into general trash, releasing toxic emissions. Much of the sorting is handled by informal workers, predominantly women, who operate without protective measures or social safeguards.
The study emphasises the urgent need for a national textile waste policy and producer accountability frameworks to address this mounting crisis.