Delhi’s government and DMRC have introduced a new initiative to collect unused garments at metro stations, reduce textile waste, and support local livelihoods through upcycling.

Metro station interior with commuters near a donation kiosk

What is being launched

Delhi has launched the Old Clothes Donation Project with DMRC, with Arpan Kendra centres to collect used clothes from passengers and residents.

The project is tied to the State Urban Livelihood Mission and trained Self-Help Group members, with technical support from textile recycling partners.

The goal is to reduce textile waste entering landfills and create additional livelihood opportunities through sorting and reuse.

Where and when it starts

Ten collection centres are in the first phase, and they are expected to be operational in the first few days of launch across Delhi Metro stations.

Kiosks collect from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and issue a digital donation record after verification.

  • ShahdaraPhase one Arpan Kendra location.
  • Dr Baba Saheb Ambedkar HospitalPhase one Arpan Kendra location.
  • Malviya NagarPhase one Arpan Kendra location.
  • Hauz KhasPhase one Arpan Kendra location.
  • DwarkaPhase one Arpan Kendra location.
  • Mohan EstatePhase one Arpan Kendra location.
  • Lajpat NagarPhase one Arpan Kendra location.
  • Mayur Vihar Phase-IPhase one Arpan Kendra location.
  • Punjabi Bagh WestPhase one Arpan Kendra location.
  • Shalimar BaghPhase one Arpan Kendra location.

How donated clothes are processed

The collected garments are expected to be separated by condition and destination for maximum use of material value.

Items that are reusable can be upcycled into bags, decorative items, and similar products.

Unusable textiles are expected to be recycled into raw materials such as yarn and fabric.

Why this matters

Textile waste is a visible part of urban waste in India, and this launch is presented as a pilot model for cleaner material handling.

For metro users, it also creates a visible public-facing sustainability option close to daily travel points.

Officials have said the model may be scaled to more stations after phase-one operations settle.

Sources

CIRCULAR ECONOMY

Collecting, sorting, and reusing at station level.

The pilot links donation convenience with local enterprise, aiming to keep old clothes out of landfills while generating repeatable recovery pathways.

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