Ten food outlets running at Bengaluru’s Nexus Mall in Koramangala have been fined a total of ₹85,000 for violations related to waste management and the use of banned single-use plastic. Local bodies are now conducting frequent inspections of commercial establishments and food businesses in the city to ensure compliance with solid waste management rules.
Some of the outlets that were punished were well-known food brands such as McDonald’s, KFC and Burger King. It also seems that wet and dry waste were not being separated at source and that banned single-use plastic was also prevalent, according to the inspection. These practices are against the city’s waste management requirements and businesses who do not comply can be fined.
According to the details of the civic inspection, the highest individual penalty was imposed on Chaska Bun, which was fined ₹25,000. McDonald’s, Burger King and Fish & Chips were each fined ₹10,000. Popeyes, Good Flippin’ Burgers and Wow Wow China were each fined ₹5,000. Nagas, KFC and Shiv Sagar were also fined ₹5,000. All together, the penalties amounted to ₹85,000.
The inspection was conducted at the food court of Nexus Mall in Koramangala which falls within the BTM Assembly Constituency and the Bengaluru South City Corporation limits. Civic officials were checking whether commercial food establishments were following prescribed procedures for handling and disposing of different categories of waste.
Waste segregation at source is a key requirement under solid waste management regulations. Food establishments produce huge amounts of organic or wet waste, packaging material and other dry waste every day. Separate categories of waste help to process waste more efficiently and reduce the amount that goes to landfills.
The segregation practices required in the inspected outlets were not being followed, the officials said. Mixing wet and dry waste can make collection and processing more laborious in a city like Bengaluru, where waste management has been a major civic challenge.
The inspection also highlighted the continued use of banned single-use plastic. Commercial establishments have been repeatedly pushed by Bengaluru authorities to remove banned plastic products and adopt alternatives. The latest enforcement action indicates that civic officials are continuing to monitor restaurants and food outlets rather than relying solely on warnings.
The fines are part of a broader enforcement effort in Bengaluru on hygiene, food safety and waste management. In a recent inspection campaign, Karnataka food safety officials visited dozens of hotels and food businesses and found expired and unhealthy food, improper storage, labelling violations and other hygiene concerns. International food chains including McDonald’s, KFC and Subway were also inspected during that campaign.
McDonald’s had also received an additional notice during the food safety inspection when officials at its Brigade Road outlet found Magnesium Sulfite in the handling of used frying oil, a source said.
The new waste-related penalties, however, concern the handling of solid waste and banned plastic at Nexus Mall outlets. Civic officials have said inspections will continue and repeat offenders could face stricter action.
For restaurants and food courts, the enforcement is an affirmation that compliance is not just food preparation and kitchen hygiene. Businesses should also be making sure they have appropriate waste segregation, avoid plastic products and that waste generated during daily activities in the city is handled according to local laws.
With Bengaluru under pressure for waste collection, segregation and disposal, these inspections will still be part of the city’s efforts to enhance waste management. But those establishments that break the rules in future inspections will be subject to penalties and legal action, the agency said.
The ₹85,000 penalty against the 10 Nexus Mall outlets is more than a one-time civic fine. It reflects the growing scrutiny on commercial establishments and the expectation that major food brands, restaurants and smaller eateries alike follow Bengaluru’s waste management rules consistently.
