Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 18 Feb: In view of the growing challenges of textile waste, Social Development for Communities (SDC) Foundation, in collaboration with Anko Sourcing and Vaapsi, a brand of BTR Global completed the first phase of a “Textile Collection and Recycling Campaign”.
The campaign was conducted during January–February 2026 across 20 schools in Dehradun, with participation from more than 1,000 students.
The objective of the campaign was to instill environmental awareness, responsible consumption habits, and recycling practices among students. During the programme, students were educated on how old clothes can be reused, repaired, or recycled instead of being discarded. They were also informed about the importance of segregating waste at the household and school levels.
Each school witnessed the participation of approximately 50–60 students. The awareness sessions explained in simple language the complete lifecycle of clothing, from production and usage to disposal. Students were also made aware that excessive purchasing of clothes and disposing them quickly places an additional burden on the environment.
As part of the initiative, old garments were collected from several participating schools. Students actively engaged in sorting and categorising the collected clothes, gaining practical experience and developing a stronger sense of responsibility.
According to available data, India generates approximately 7,800 kilotons of textile waste annually. When not managed properly, this waste ends up in landfills, drains and rivers, posing significant environmental and health risks.
Dinesh Chandra from SDC Foundation stated that the problem of textile waste is rapidly increasing and requires active participation from society to address it effectively. He emphasised that instilling responsible habits in students at an early age can lead to meaningful long-term change.
Pyare Lal said that the campaign went beyond merely collecting clothes and was an effort to bring about a change in mindset. Parveen Upreti of SDC expressed gratitude to all participating schools, teachers, and partner organisations, and affirmed that similar initiatives will continue in the future.
The second phase of the campaign will run from the last week of March through April. During this phase, the collection of used garments will continue. Students will receive training in sorting, labelling and classification techniques. Practical demonstrations will also be conducted on removing buttons, zippers, and other metal or plastic components before recycling.
The initiative aims to ensure that a greater volume of textiles enters the recycling process and to promote responsible consumption practices within the community.
