Old clothes get a new life; textile recycling eases environmental burden

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar

Large quantities of old and unused clothes were often discarded with household waste, causing accumulation along roadsides, drains, and air pollution when burned. To tackle this, the Municipal Corporation, in collaboration with EcoSattva, launched a Textile Recovery Facility (DRF) two years ago in the Railway Station MIDC area. Collection nets and boxes are placed in housing societies, schools, colleges, and hospitals, with two dedicated vehicles transporting old garments to the center.

Around 10–12 tons of textile waste are processed monthly, preventing pollution of rivers and dumping grounds. Public awareness campaigns by the Municipal Commissioner have boosted citizen participation, encouraging donations instead of disposal.

Five-Step Classification Process:

1. Good clothes are cleaned, repaired, and resold.

2. Old jeans and torn clothes are converted into gloves and other items.

3. Cotton fabric is recycled.

4. Fashionable garments are downcycled.

5. Clothes with blood stains or health hazards are rejected.

Ravi Jagtap, project coordinator, said, “We process all old clothes received and regularly collect garments from across the city as part of waste management efforts.”