Bengaluru To Host Circular Economy Innovation Cluster, Setting A New Benchmark In Waste Management From Waste To Worth: A Citywide Shift Towards Circular Innovation
Bengaluru is poised to become a national trailblazer in sustainable urban development with the launch of a Circular Economy Innovation Cluster (CEIC) focused on waste circularity. This initiative goes beyond reducing waste—it seeks to redesign the entire urban waste ecosystem, making local communities the cornerstone of change, rethinking the value of waste, and advancing models that eliminate waste before it is even created.
A new report released by Climate KIC, GrowthAfrica, and SecondMuse, with support from the IKEA Foundation, outlines a compelling roadmap for transforming urban waste management.In a report entitled “How Strong Innovation Ecosystems Create Inclusive Circular Economies”, lessons are provided for CEIC’s in Bengaluru and Nairobi, additionally framing those cities as rising leaders on circular innovation. Bengaluru generates over 5,000 metric tonnes of waste on a daily basis, with only 30% managed via municipal sources. Bengaluru is grappling with a waste management crisis. But the CEIC initiative is turning this crisis into a generational opportunity.
“Despite Bengaluru’s vibrant startup scene, innovations that tackle waste upstream—before it’s even created—remain vastly underexplored,” said Bjarke Kovshøj, Strategic Programmes Manager at Climate KIC, during a recent seminar in the city. “This report shows that localized, inclusive innovation clusters can scale solutions that go far beyond managing waste—they can prevent it.”
Empowering the Informal Sector and Driving Climate Action
A key focus of the CEIC initiative is the inclusion and empowerment of informal waste workers. These workers are often the backbone of urban waste systems, yet sit in a precarious position without recognition and security. The report makes a call for a just transition, which means training them and paying them more and including them in new business models. CEIC-backed enterprises now operating in Bengaluru have directly reached over 130 informal workers and enabled estimated annual reduction of over 21,000 tonnes of CO₂.
Bengaluru’s Moment of Change
As landfills fill and climate impacts worsen, Bengaluru is on the precipice of change, similar to what is happening in many Indian cities. The report urges us to change our lens on waste, from waste as a burden to waste as a design challenge. CEIC has brought forth examples of circular approaches such as reuse, repair economies, and service-based consumption as pragmatic solutions for scaling up and for closing the loop on the root causes of the crisis.
“By prioritising waste prevention and integrating informal workers into the solution, Bengaluru is shaping a replicable and scalable model for India’s sustainable urban future,” said Shalini Goyal Bhalla, Founder & MD, International Council for Circular Economy (ICCE).
Shalini Goyal Bhalla, Founder and MD of International Council for Circular Economy (ICCE)
Three Key Takeaways from Bengaluru’s CEIC
- Upstream Innovation Is Essential
True transformation lies not just in recycling or segregation, but in business models that prevent waste from being created—like product-as-a-service, modular design, and reuse-based systems.
- Informal Waste Workers Are Key Stakeholders
Recognising their expertise and integrating them into formal systems is crucial for both equity and efficiency.
- Local Context Matters
Circular solutions must be grounded in the local socio-economic and governance landscape, enabling adaptive, trust-based, and cross-sector collaboration.
A Design Plan for Urban India
With its Circular Economy Innovation Cluster, Bengaluru is well-aligned with India’s national policies, such as Swachh Bharat, Smart Cities and India’s nascent Circular Economy Mission. It demonstrates a tested way and a scalable model for any Indian city focused on urban sustainability, economic inclusion and climate resilience through innovation.
As multiple Indian metro cities begin to explore circular pathways, Bengaluru’s journey offers a strong case study; a case where something that is regarded as waste can become a resource, and inclusive innovation will facilitate the transition to a cleaner, more regenerative future.
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