Pune Struggles As Garbage Piles Up Across City Areas
Pune’s mounting garbage problem exposes deep flaws in civic enforcement and public compliance, as multiple neighbourhoods across the city continue to grapple with open dumping and waste burning despite regular collection services. The issue, now spreading from the core areas to the outskirts, highlights both institutional inefficiency and growing citizen apathy towards sustainable waste management.
Across areas such as Pashan, Hadapsar, Mundhwa, Wakad and Wagholi, heaps of uncollected garbage line the streets. Residents say that even though the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and its waste partner SWaCH provide daily door-to-door collection, a large section of citizens refuse to pay the nominal monthly fee of ₹100 and instead dump their waste on open plots and roadside corners.
Community members allege that this behaviour cuts across socio-economic groups from slum dwellers and hawkers to residents of housing societies creating a cycle of negligence and pollution. The waste piles often lead to foul odours, vector breeding, and local air pollution, particularly where open burning is frequent.Urban planners argue that PMC’s response remains largely reactive. “The civic body clears waste from chronic dumping sites but does not follow up with enforcement or penalties. If officials simply tracked households not handing over segregated waste, the root cause could be addressed,” said a local urban researcher.
Environmental groups echo the same frustration. A Pune-based non-profit that mapped waste dumping and burning hotspots in Pashan and Baner last year found that enforcement remains weak and grievance redressal largely ineffective. According to the organisation, waste burning peaks during winter months, worsening air quality across neighbourhoods such as Aundh-Baner, Viman Nagar and Bibwewadi.
“The absence of penalties allows this cycle to persist. Even when residents file complaints, response systems are slow or unresponsive. As long as people face no consequence, dumping will continue,” said an environmental programme associate from the NGO.The issue is particularly severe in semi-urban areas like Wagholi and Kesnand, where residents dump garbage early in the morning before collection vehicles arrive. Many small business owners and daily commuters reportedly toss waste bags from two-wheelers to avoid charges.
Despite efforts by some residents’ groups to coordinate with SWaCH for improved collection, reluctance to pay even minimal user fees has undermined these initiatives.A senior official from PMC’s solid waste management department acknowledged the challenge. “We impose fines where we detect dumping and plan to increase vigilance and awareness campaigns. However, lack of cooperation from residents and vendors remains the key hurdle,” the official said.Experts believe the problem calls for stronger policy enforcement, decentralised monitoring, and sustained behavioural change campaigns. Unless Pune combines citizen responsibility with civic accountability, its vision of becoming a clean and sustainable city will remain out of reach.
