New Delhi:Delhi Metro’s Arpan Kendras have collected 76.7 tonnes of old clothes and registered nearly 7,600 donors since they became operational in August, officials said on Sunday.
The initiative allows commuters to donate used clothes at metro stations, where the material is sent for recycling and upcycling. The 10 collection centres had received 76,700 kg of clothes and registered 7,597 donors as of September 17, according to official data.
The project is a joint initiative of the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), the DMRC Ladies Welfare Organisation (DLWO), the State Urban Livelihoods Mission (SULM) of the Delhi government and two textile recycling organisations — Clothes Box Foundation and Respun. Upcycling involves turning used or discarded materials into products with greater value or utility. The initiative combines waste management with livelihood generation, encouraging sustainable disposal practices while supporting women-led self-help groups, officials added.
A MoU for the project was signed on July 14 in the presence of chief minister Rekha Gupta.
Officials said the initiative aims to promote a circular economy by extending the life of textiles and keeping discarded clothes out of landfills.
