Assessing the health outcomes associated with solid waste management practices in Urban Bengaluru: A cross-sectional study

Background: In Bengaluru, rapid urbanisation has outpaced waste service delivery, contributing to poor sanitation, health risks, and reduced quality of life. This study aimed to assess the association between solid waste management practices and quality of life (QoL), evaluate public awareness, and identify predictors of well-being in urban Bengaluru. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 420 adults across eight BBMP zones, using stratified random sampling of wards based on development and waste infrastructure. Structured interviews collected data on demographics, waste behaviours, awareness, and QoL using the WHOQOL-BREF tool. Statistical analysis included Chi-square tests, Spearman correlation, ANOVA, multiple linear regression, and logistic regression in R software. Results: Significant associations were found between demographic variables (education, income, occupation, and residential zone) and solid waste management (SWM) practices (p < 0.001), with higher education and income levels associated with more frequent waste segregation and greater satisfaction with cleanliness. SWM practices were significantly associated with all domains of quality of life (QoL), showing strong positive correlations with environmental (ρ = 0.85) and physical (ρ = 0.52) QoL. Multiple regression confirmed waste segregation (β = 0.47, p < 0.01) and cleanliness satisfaction (β = 0.42, p = 0.047) as independent predictors of QoL. Furthermore, participants who reported “often” segregating waste had 94% lower odds of reporting low QoL (OR = 0.06, 95% CI: 0.01–0.46, p = 0.007). Conclusion: Solid waste management practices, socio-demographic characteristics, and public awareness are associated with the quality of life of Bengaluru’s urban residents. Poorer QoL and service dissatisfaction were concentrated in underserved zones like East and Mahadevapura. These findings call confirm that household waste practices and awareness have a significant impact on urban well-being and calls for integrated municipal planning that incorporates behavioural interventions and equitable access to waste services.