Municipal solid waste (MSW) management is a major environmental and economic challenge for rapidly urbanising cities. Conventional waste management practices, including landfilling and open burning, contribute to greenhouse gas emissions, environmental degradation, and resource depletion. In contrast, circular economy approaches promote waste prevention, reuse, recycling, and resource recovery, thereby transforming waste into an economic resource. This review synthesises published literature and government reports to compare municipal solid waste management systems in Sweden and Bengaluru, India. The review examines waste generation, segregation, recycling efficiency, waste-to-energy technologies, biogas production, landfill diversion, governance, and economic performance. Sweden demonstrates an advanced circular economy model characterised by near-complete landfill diversion, extensive recycling, waste-to-energy facilities, and strong policy enforcement. Bengaluru, despite comprehensive policy frameworks, continues to experience challenges related to inadequate segregation, high transportation costs, landfill dependency, and periodic waste burning. Based on the comparative analysis, this review proposes decentralised ward-level recycling centres and biomethanation facilities as practical strategies for improving resource recovery and reducing waste burning. The review concludes that adaptation of circular economy principles offers Bengaluru an economically viable and environmentally sustainable pathway for municipal solid waste management.
